Reconciliation Australia

📣National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme announced📣 The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. At a time when Australia faces uncertainty in its reconciliation journey, this theme calls on all Australians to step forward together. Bridging Now to Next urges us to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us. In the #NRW2025 theme artwork created by Kalkadoon woman Bree Buttenshaw, native plants − which are known for regenerating after fire and thriving through adversity − symbolise our collective strength and the possibilities of renewal. This is a time for growth, reflection, and commitment to walking together. Australia’s history of reconciliation is not a linear one, we have made great strides and experienced disappointing setbacks. Twenty-five years ago, Corroboree 2000 brought together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous leaders in a historic call for reconciliation. We continue that work in 2025, inviting all Australians to join us in Bridging Now to Next - building a more united and respectful nation. See more information on #NRW2025: https://lnkd.in/d3hGDGY6 📌More assets, activity, and information will be released in February 2025. #Reconciliation #BridgingNowtoNext

In classrooms, halls, churches, and workplaces across Australia, nearly 500 choirs came together in May to raise their collective voices for 2024’s Voices for Reconciliation: Louder Than Ever project as part of National Reconciliation Week. Taking on the anthemic rock classic Blackfella/Whitefella by Warumpi Band, thousands sang in support of both observing the week and the ongoing need for reconciliation in Australia. 📌 Read how it all came together with the power of song: https://lnkd.in/gdby7ssM 📣 Stay tuned for the announcement of the song chosen for #NRW2025 Voices for Reconciliation. 📰 Read the latest issue of Reconciliation News #52: https://lnkd.in/gxCwisFk 📷 Photo credit: Pascal Burger #Reconciliation #ReconciliationNews

Ready to find some excellent new music and holiday reading? In the latest issue of Reconciliation News, we review some recent book and music releases from First Nations authors and artists. 📙 The Skin I’m In by Steph Tisdell 📗 gawimarra gathering by Jeanine Leane 📘 Warra Warra Wai by Darren Rix and Craig Cormick 📕 Always Was Always Will Be by Aunty Fay Muir and Sue Lawson 🎵 Waku – Minaral A Minalay by Christine Anu 📰Check out all the releases: https://bit.ly/3ZdT4D6 Read the latest issue of Reconciliation News #52: https://bit.ly/3ZoPyWJ 📷 via: Simon & Schuster Australia, University of Queensland Press (UQP), Magabala Books, Pan Macmillan Australia, ABC Music. #Reconciliation #ReconciliationNews

Katie Kiss, the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for the past 25 years. She spoke to Reconciliation News about the necessity of a human rights-based approach and her commitment to working with communities to develop positive solutions and outcomes. 📰 Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g6FB_3My 📌 Read the latest issue of Reconciliation News #52: https://lnkd.in/gxCwisFk #Reconciliation #ReconciliationNews Australian Human Rights Commission

Reconciliation Australia welcomes two new co-chairs to its board of directors following the retirement of Professor Tom Calma AO and Ms Melinda Cilento. The new co-chairs are long-standing director Ms Kirstie Parker and the newly-appointed director, Mr Michael Rose AM. They expressed their deep gratitude to Professor Calma and Ms Cilento who have been leading the board since 2011. The Board also farewelled director Kenny Bedford, a Meuram man from Erub in Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait Islands), who the new co-chairs thanked for his unwavering commitment to reconciliation and generosity in sharing his unique perspectives from remote Australia. Ms Parker and Mr Rose bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their leadership of Reconciliation Australia. Read the full statement: https://lnkd.in/eydCrUK5 📷: Peter Morris

2024: A year of reflection, action and moving forward. This year has been a year of reflection but also of continuing and determined action towards reconciliation and justice for First Nations peoples. Last year’s Voice to Parliament referendum demonstrated that we still have a long walk on our reconciliation journey, but it also reaffirmed that our work over the past decades has created a powerful force for positive change. Now more than ever we know our supporters, partners, and allies will listen to the voices of First Nations peoples and act for a more just, equitable and reconciled Australia. In truth-telling, education, child removals, incarceration I know our supporters will join us to advance the cause of First Nations self-determination. We thank you all for your continued commitment to the reconciliation movement. On behalf of Reconciliation Australia’s board and staff I wish you a safe summer break and urge you to continue raising your voices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people into 2025 and beyond. In preparation, see the National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next: https://lnkd.in/d3hGDGY6 Karen Mundine CEO – Reconciliation Australia 📌Please note our offices will be closed from Wednesday 25 December until Thursday 2 January. #Reconciliation

Cairns-based First Nations designer and artist, Leigh Harris, has always dreamed of using his talents to help Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth with a pathway into the creative design and digital industries. A good proportion of his work has been designing Reconciliation Action Plans for corporate clients, and it was this work which formed the economic base for a new social enterprise, Indigenous Design Labs (IDL). 📰Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/g4eef6pX 💻Read the latest issue of Reconciliation News #52: https://lnkd.in/gxCwisFk #Reconciliation #ReconciliationNews

NITV has launched ‘Muy Ngulayg’, a space dedicated solely to First Nations story-telling – a streaming hub that will be home to Blak movies, TV series, documentaries and more. The launch is designed to make it easier for audiences to access the network’s extensive range of First Nations content and continue to drive ongoing audience growth across NITV, which each month reaches 3.3 million Australians on television. 📰Read more about the streaming hub: https://lnkd.in/g8tCY2Ex 📺Explore the hub and start streaming now: https://lnkd.in/gqtCTcWG #MuyNgulayg #NITV #Reconciliation Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) Australia

The latest Family Matters report from SNAICC - National Voice for our Children spotlights the inequitable outcomes in child protection systems that lead to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children increasingly in out-of-home care compared with non-Indigenous children. Governments with responsibility for child protection systems are not making adequate system-level reform to turn the tide on the rising rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care (OOHC). Current trends indicate that the National Agreement on Closing the Gap’s (National Agreement) Target 12, to reduce the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care by 45% by 2031, will not be met. 2024 KEY FINDINGS: 📌 22,908 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children currently in out-of-home care 📌10.8 times more likely to be living in out-of-home care than non-Indigenous children 📌Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children represent 41% of the total number of children in out-of-home care but only represent 6% of all children in Australia. The Family Matters report presents Aboriginal-led solutions to what is working best for First Nations children and communities. The report makes clear that increasing self-determination and authority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to make decisions to care for and protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children is critical. Reconciliation Australia supports the recommendations of the Family Matters Building Blocks that provide a roadmap for governments to commit to comprehensive investment in Aboriginal community-controlled approaches to family support and child protection services. We also welcome the recent news that the Australian Government will establish a National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, with legislated power to investigate and make recommendations on issues impacting First Nations children. 📋Read the report: https://lnkd.in/ga8Bmx_P 📷See the 2024 snapshot: https://lnkd.in/gXu-qcff 💻 Register for SNAICC’s Friday 6 December webinar discussing the Report: https://lnkd.in/gH8FNC79 📷: Image via SNAICC #FamilyMatters #SNAICC #Reconciliation

Online submissions have re-opened to allow all Queenslanders who have not yet had a chance to share their story to contribute to the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry’s work. 📝Make your submission: https://lnkd.in/eqKQKQ-e 🎤Read the statement from Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry: https://lnkd.in/gk3n3P3Y 📰 Read the news article via NITV: https://lnkd.in/geb2zNZm #Reconciliation #Truthtelling #Queensland