'In This Together'
Wednesday 27 May – Wednesday 3 June
Reconciliation Australia coordinates National Reconciliation Week (NRW), each year developing the theme and resources while Reconciliation Victoria promotes NRW at a local level.
NRW 2020 is a key activity in the Reconciliation Movement’s strategy to support Australians in making progress on the Five Dimensions required to achieve reconciliation. Each year the theme engages with one of the Five Dimensions, and the theme this year will focus on building positive race relations
This year's theme is 'In This Together'.
To foster positive race relations, the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the broader community must be grounded in truth. Whether you’re engaging in challenging conversations or unlearning and relearning what you know, this journey requires all of us to walk together with courage.
Find out more about Reconciliation Australia's Five Dimensions.
We agree with Reconciliation Australia that 'Reconciliation must live in the hearts, minds and actions of all Australians as we move forward, creating a nation strengthened by respectful relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.'
Plan, attend and support events that celebrate and build on respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians, and that show how non-Aboriginal Australians can be active supporters of reconciliation. You can also promote NRW on social media, at your workplace, school, faith and community organisation.
Some examples of events or activities you could organise for your community include:
- Film screenings, festivals, concerts, poetry or book readings (we highly recommend hosting a screening of the film 'The Final Quarter' and facilitating a 'Racism. It Stops With Me' discussion afterward)
- Aboriginal heritage walks and cultural tours
- Public forums on reconciliation (e.g. at the Town Hall or local library)
- Exhibitions, talks or performances by local Aboriginal artists, musicians, craftspeople or businesses
- Reconciliation breakfasts or festivals featuring Indigenous cuisine
- Dreamtime story-telling and displays in local schools, libraries, council offices or public spaces.
- Supporting the permanent display of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags or banners where they haven’t been before
You could also support activities within local schools by:
- Helping to arrange guest speakers or workshops
- Supporting an Aboriginal flag raising event, art competition or display
For more ideas on how to get involved, check out Reconciliation Australia's website
NRW Posters, logos, Fact Sheets, info kits and other Resources are now available on Reconciliation Australia's website
Find the latest NRW resource (a guide to NRW 2019) here. We will update this page when the 2020 resource becomes available.
If you are holding an event we encourage you to promote it by registering it on Reconciliation Australia's NRW Events Calendar (even if it's a private event we encourage you to register it so that we get a picture of the number and diversity of exciting events happening around the country).
You'll also find an extensive list of Victorian events on the Deadly Story website
And follow us on Facebook for regular event updates and information.
If you are holding or attending an event please be sure to tag us on Facebook and Twitter, using the hashtags #NRW2020 and #InThisTogether
Click here for more ideas about how you can get involved in meaningful reconciliation, both during National Reconciliation Week and throughout the year!
NRW Small Grants
Reconciliation Victoria offers a limited number of Small Grants (up to $500) to local reconciliation and community groups, schools and Early Learning Centres to assist with the planning of events to celebrate National Reconciliation Week.
We encourage community groups, schools and local councils to work together, and in partnership with local Aboriginal groups or organisations, to strengthen relationships between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people and engage your entire community.
Applications for this year's grants close on Monday 30 March, 11:59pm. Read about our Small Grants and apply for one here.
Reconciliation Victoria acknowledges the valuable support we receive from our funding partners.
