Now More Than Ever: Reconciliation Week 2024 

Today marks the start of National Reconciliation Week (NRW), which runs from 27 May to 3 June every year. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the history of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision.  

NRW started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993, during the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. Today, it is celebrated in workplaces, schools and communities across Australia, and is supported by Rural Doctors Network (RDN) as an opportunity to encourage national conversation about Australia’s reconciliation journey. The 2024 theme of NRW is “Now More Than Ever”. 

Each year, NRW follows National Sorry Day which takes place on 26 May and is the anniversary of the day the ‘Bringing Them Home’ report was tabled in Federal Parliament in 1997.  

Last week, ahead of Sorry Day, the Chair of RDN, Wiradjuri man Professor Peter O’Mara, invited reflection upon the meaning of the occasion when speaking to RDN staff. 

“This is a significant day which remembers and acknowledges the unjust treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly separated from their family and community, otherwise known as ‘The Stolen Generations’,” he said.  

“The Day is also a day to recognise the strength and resilience of the Stolen Generations survivors and for individuals to reflect on how we can all play a part in fostering healing for our people and nation…  

“The Stolen Generations and their families have suffered a huge amount of grief, trauma and loss of connection to family, cultural identity, land, language and culture. The impacts of these policies are still being felt by individuals, families and their communities to this day,” he said.  

Professor O’Mara also shared some suggestions on how each of us can embrace the spirit of this time of reflection: 

• Learn about the history and experiences of The Stolen Generations and raise awareness with others. 
• Lead by example and speak out against racism.  
• Engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in a culturally respectful manner and recognise that their ways of ‘Knowing, Being and Doing’ might be different to ways of non-Indigenous people. 

Some resources for further education: 

• Telling Our Stories – Our Stolen Generations (Aunty Julie Black) – The Healing Foundation.