National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how we can all play a part – as educators, parents and carers – to help young people understand what it means to achieve reconciliation in Australia.
With many ways to get involved in the celebrations of Indigenous history and culture – and understand the theme of year’s National Reconciliation Week 2024, EducationDaily has compiled some helpful resources.
What does ‘Now More Than Ever’ mean?
The theme this year is a response to the unsuccessful Voice To Parliament Referendum in 2023 and aims aims to be an encouragement that, “when reconciliation seems furthest away, is when it is most important to keep fighting”.
“Now More Than Ever is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue,” reads a statement from Reconciliation Australia — the founders of the event.
“Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty-making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change,” the Reconciliation Australia statement says.
“Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.”
When and what is Reconciliation Week?
The National Reconciliation Week dates – from 27 May – 3 June – were chosen for their historical significance to Indigenous rights and reconciliation in Australia.
On May 27 in 1967, Australia passed a referendum that gave Indigenous Australians the right to vote. June 3 commemorates Mabo Day, which is the anniversary of the High Court’s decision in the 1992 Mabo Land Rights case, which overturned the concept of “terra nullius” and set a legal precedent for the recognition of Indigenous land ownership. AKA the Native Title Act.
The day before it begins (May 26) is National Sorry Day, which remembers and acknowledges the historical mistreatment of Indigenous Australians, and in particular, the atrocities of The Stolen Generation.
The first official National Reconciliation Week in Australia was in 1996, however, the celebration of the week *technically* first began in 1993 when a commemoration for the “Week of Prayer for Reconciliation” was held – and eventually evolved into the week we know today.
How to get involved in Reconciliation Week
Campaign
Campaigns recommended by Reconciliation Australia that lends support to advancing reconciliation include:
Attend events
Reconciliation Australia has put together a helpful calendar here that displays different events running between 27 May – 3 June across Australia.
Start a RAP
Starting a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) is a great way for an organisation to take its first steps toward creating meaningful action to advance reconciliation. You can use these in schools, businesses of all sizes, and community groups.
For more information on how to start a RAP in your community, check here.
Creating a better future
Get creative with the #NRW2024 colouring resource! Perfect for use in schools, early learning services, disability services; at work, home or at your NRW event.
- Colouring sheet
Use the colouring resource learning guide to help you design an activity around the resource that all age groups will enjoy while still considering the NRW 2024 theme Now More Than Ever.
Explore educational resources to use all year
Incorporating Aboriginal education in the classroom helps students build the shared knowledge needed to understand and respect the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
By understanding professional development options and available resources, teachers can educate students about important Indigenous issues during Reconciliation Week – and beyond.
Wingaru Kids is a digital platform designed to support teachers in the classroom to provide Aboriginal perspectives to all students within their teaching programs.
Its resources explore history pre-1770 contact, first contact, and customary life for Aboriginal people before colonisation. The resources also dig into Indigenous science and technologies, land-management practices, and cultural expression. Issues investigated include reconciliation, the Stolen Generation, Aboriginal identity and political movements that have influenced Aboriginal Australia today.
The platform also has a range of Dreaming lessons, with stories from all over Australia that consider language and explain the concept of language groups, so students begin to understand there is not just one Aboriginal language. New lessons are added regularly.
Professional development for teachers keen to feel more confident about teaching Indigenous issues and history in Australian classrooms is also available.
Sharing stories
Online storytelling resource, Story Box Library (SBL) has stories, as well as related resources for parents and teachers to suit a diverse range of events and commemorations. For Reconciliation Week 2024, they suggest parents, carers and educators help children access a variety of books authored and/or illustrated by First Nations people – and learn together.
For this year’s Reconciliation week, Jordyn from Learning to Ngangaanha – a proud Wiradjuri, Ngemba and Paakantji woman, primary teacher and Story Box Library ambassador – recommends the following books that provide opportunities to learn about reconciliation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, activism and the impacts colonisation had (and continues to have) on First Nations peoples.
- Welcome to Country by Aunty Joy Murphy and Lisa Kennedy (available on SBL here)
- Our Flag, Our Story: The Torres Strait Islander Flag by Bernard Namok Jnr, Thomas Mayo and Tori Jay-Mordey (coming late 2024 to SBL)
- Somebody’s Land by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing and David Hardy
- Say Yes: A story of friendship, fairness and a vote for hope by Jennifer Castles and Paul Seden
- From Little Things Big Things Grow by Paul Kelly and Kev Carmody
- Our Race for Reconciliation by Anita Heiss
- For 60,000 Years by Marlee Silva and Rhys Paddick (available on SBL here)
- We are Australians by Duncan Smith, Nicole Godwin and Jandamarra Cadd (available on SBL here)
- Walk With Us by Adam Goodes, Ellie Laing and David Hardy
Teaching meaningful reconciliation initiatives
With a wealth of resources available online to suit primary school-aged students as well as secondary school students, the Narragunnawali program has tools and resources for schools and early learning services to take action towards reconciliation between non-First Nations Australians and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Narragunnawali online platform is free to access and provides practical ways to introduce meaningful reconciliation initiatives in the classroom, around the school and with the community. Through the Narragunnawali platform, schools and early learning services can develop a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), and teachers and educators can access professional learning and curriculum resources to support the implementation of reconciliation initiatives.
