National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) marks time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute towards achieving reconciliation in Australia. The 2019 National Reconciliation Week theme is Grounded in Truth; Walk Together with Courage.
The dates for National Reconciliation Week commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey, the successful 1967 referendum and the 1992 High Court Mabo decision.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia’s major faith communities. In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia’s first NRW. In 2000, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue to provide national leadership on reconciliation. In the same year, approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of NRW, to show their support for reconciliation.
Today, NRW is celebrated by businesses, schools and early learning services, organisations, and individuals Australia-wide.
To find out more about National Reconciliation Week visit Reconciliation Australia website: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/
VFBV is encouraged by how CFA volunteers are working towards improved inclusion and engagement with traditional owners to gain understanding on how to protect and care for the land, particularly in relation to embracing traditional burning practices and how they can integrate and benefit current planned burning conducted by CFA.
Read more about how ‘Lessons from history drive new approaches to planned burns’ which was published last week as part of VFBV’s series of stories celebrating National Volunteer Week http://vfbv.com.au/index.php/component/k2/item/703-lessons-from-history-drive-new-approaches-to-planned-burns
CFA has a strong relationship with Indigenous communities and is committed to continuing to improve inclusion and engagement with traditional owners to better protect and care for country. You can find CFA resources such as the CFA Koori Inlcusion Action Plan and Aboriginal Engagement Guidelines at: https://news.cfa.vic.gov.au/-/cfa-walks-together-with-indigenous-communities
