We celebrate National Reconciliation Week from 27 May to 3 June each year.

This year’s theme is 'Bridging Now to Next'. It reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future and calls on all Australians to step forward together, guided by past lessons, in our collective journey of reconciliation.

We’re taking action locally to create a welcoming community. We continue to strengthen our relationships and deepen our connections with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and peoples. Find out more about Reconciliation Week at the Reconciliation Australia website.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us at community events to celebrate. There’s still time to join 2 events this month. See ‘Upcoming events’ below for more information.

Upcoming events

Community events

How we celebrated this year

  • A Reconciliation Week yarning circle, hosted by Murnong First Peoples Gathering Place on 27 May
  • 'Lipwurrunga' community exhibition and events at Town Hall Gallery. The exhibition features paintings, traditional wood carvings and didgeridoos by artist Les Huddleston and is open until 14 June.
  • A special musical performance by Les Huddleston and Inventi Ensemble on 28 May at Hawthorn Arts Centre.
  • Sound healing sessions hosted by Les Huddleston at Hawthorn Arts Centre on 31 May.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural guidelines workshop for volunteers and volunteer leaders on 2 June. This was delivered by Oonah Aboriginal Health and Community Services.

National Sorry Day

We recognise National Sorry Day on 26 May, the day before National Reconciliation Week starts. It’s a day to pause and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and communities. We now know them as ‘The Stolen Generations’.

This year we marked National Sorry Day with a free community screening of the documentary Servant or Slave at Lido Cinemas. The screening was followed by a Q&A with representatives from Connecting Home, a dedicated, culturally safe support service for the Stolen Generations across south-eastern Australia.

For more information about National Sorry Day, visit the Healing Foundation website

In Boroondara

National Reconciliation Week is a good time to: