Reconciliation Week 2012

Sunday 27 May - Sunday 3 June 2012

Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) celebrates the rich culture and history of the First Australians. It is the ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and to think about how we can help turn around the disadvantage experienced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

The theme will be "Let's Talk Recognition!" with a particular focus on constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

History of National Reconciliation Week

In 1993 faith communities of Australia started the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation. Following its success, the week was expanded in 1996 to become NRW to provide nationwide focus for all reconciliation activities.

NRW began in 1996 to provide focus for nationwide reconciliation activities. It’s a time to reflect on achievements so far and focus on what is still to be done to achieve reconciliation in Australia.

NRW coincides with two significant dates in Australia’s history which provide strong symbols of the aspirations for reconciliation.

May 27 marks the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum in which more than 90 per cent of Australians voted to remove clauses from the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Indigenous Australians. The referendum also gave the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal people.

June 3 marks the anniversary of the High Court's judgment in the 1992 Mabo case. The decision recognised the Native Title rights of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the original inhabitants of the continent and overturned the myth of terra nullius – the belief that the continent was an empty, un-owned land before the arrival of Europeans in 1788.

 Some images from Reconcilation Week 2011

In 2011, to raise the awareness of Reconciliation Week the Department of Indigenous Affairs secured banner sites across the city in celebration of Reconciliation Week.

Organisations with Reconciliation Action Plans were approached to participate in the project.  Fourty one (41) organisations from the public and private sector, from universities, small businesses and mining companies all joined together in the project.  One hundred and thirty eight (138) banners were displayed along St Georges Terrace and in the Hay Street, Murray Street and Forrest Place malls during Reconciliation Week.

Each organisation was encouraged to create their own message about Reconciliation and the theme for 2011 which was "Let's Talk Recognition".

The Department of Indigenous Affairs wishes to thank our supporting partners; Reconciliation Australia; the Bringing Them Home Committee and the City of Perth. 

 Also an Official launch of Reconciliation Week was held in the foyer of the Governor Stirling Tower with a large screen monitor displaying the banner reconciliation messages during the week.