Joy Impiombato Nepean Community & Neighbourhood Services Reconciliation Week is an opportunity to start an important conversation with others

From May into early July we commemorate and celebrate some key dates and events, important for Aboriginal people, and for all Australians. Over the next few weeks this column will take a closer look at these events – and let you know where you can get involved in them!

First up is Reconciliation Week – which is May 27 to June 3 every year. These dates are chosen as they commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court

Mabo decision respectively.

Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

This year’s theme is “Be a Voice for Generations” – it calls on all of us to keep up the momentum for change. The theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives – where we live, work and socialise. Reconciliation Australia says: “For the work of generations past, and the benefit of generations future, act today for a more just, equitable and reconciled country for all.”

Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, strengthening respectful relationships between the wider Australian community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Reconciliation Week is an especially important time for non-Aboriginal Australians to lead the way.

Sometimes we don’t speak

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up, for fear of saying something wrong.

Reconciliation Week is our chance to start conversations. If we are respectful and speak from the heart – there is nothing to fear. Reconciliation Australia has lots of ideas on how to be involved at https://nrw.reconciliation.org. au/actions-to-be-a-voice-forreconciliation-2023 and we will highlight some local events in upcoming columns.

We will also reflect on another May date – Sorry Day – and why that is important to commemorate.