National Reconciliation Week: 27 May – 3 June

The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2022 theme, ‘Be Brave. Make Change’ is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisation and government – to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just in National Reconciliation Week but ever week of the year. We saw unprecedented response to our suggested actions for every day and for braver action.  See here for a list of NRW events on in 2022.

This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with actions in their daily lives – where they live, work, play and socialise. National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australian to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievement as well as to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia

The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.

• 27 May 1967 On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90% of Australian’s vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the census.
• 3 June 1992 On this day, the Australian High Court delivered Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiko Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torries Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.