Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

Reconciliation Website

What is National Reconciliation Week?

The dates for NRW remain 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.

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.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

Learn more about the history of National Reconciliation Week.

A Brief History

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 National Reconciliation Week.

In 2001, 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 National Reconciliation Week-and subsequently across bridges in cities and towns-to show their support for reconciliation.

Today, National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in workplaces, schools and early learning services, community organisations and groups, and by individuals Australia-wide.

Check out the factsheet on National Reconciliation Week.

National Reconciliation Week - 2026 THEME

DATES: 27 MAY TO 3 JUNE

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2026 is All In, a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

All In makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.

The theme also reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.

Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us.

The #NRW2026 campaign was created in collaboration with Carbon Creative, a First Nations-owned and operated marketing and creative agency.

About the Artwork

The artwork for this campaign is by renowned Gumbaynggirr/Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey, who applied his distinctive style to create a colourful and optimistic visual representation of people from all walks of life being ‘all in’ to make change.

The Five Dimensions of Reconciliation

Race Relations

All Australians understand and value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous

cultures, rights and experiences, which results in stronger relationships based on trust and

respect and that are free of racism.

Goal: Positive two-way relationships built on trust and respect exist between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Australians throughout society.

Action: Overcome racism

Equality and Equity

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participate equally in a range of life opportunities and the unique rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are recognised and upheld.

Goal: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians participate equally and equitably in all areas of life—i.e. we have closed the gaps in life outcomes—and the distinctive individual and collective rights and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are universally recognised and respected. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are self-determining.

Action: Renew focus on Closing the Gap

Historical Acceptance

All Australians understand and accept the wrongs of the past and their impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Australia makes amends for past policies and practices ensures these wrongs are never repeated.

Goal: There is widespread acceptance of our nation’s history and agreement that the wrongs of the past will never be repeated— there is truth, justice, healing and historical acceptance.

Action: Acknowledge our past through education and understanding.

Unity

An Australian society that values and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait

Islander cultures and heritage as a proud part of a shared national identity.

Goal: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and rights are a valued and recognised part of a shared national identity and, as a result, there is national unity.

Action: Achieve a process to recognise Australia’s First Peoples in our Constitution.

Institutional Integrity

The active support of reconciliation by the nation’s political, business and community structures.

Goal: Our political, business and community institutions actively support all dimensions of reconciliation.

Action: Capitalise on the RAP Program to create a wider range of opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

LESSON IDEAS

UNPACK THE ILLUSTRATION

Show children the NRW POSTER for the year and use it to facilitate a simple discussion around the theme. To deepen their connection with the illustrations, you might like to invite children to carefully complete the accompanying colouring in activity (Available on the Reconciliation Australia Website) after the discussion.

Some examples of prompt questions to frame or further the discussion are shown under the ‘Inquiry Questions’ tab of this Narragunnawali curriculum resource.

You might wish to adapt and scaffold these questions further to suit your learners and their context.

RECONCILIATION: PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE.

Individually, in pairs or small groups, or as a class, research key events and people who have made change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since colonisation and through the reconciliation movement in the past. Some ideas can be found in the ‘Need to Know’ tab of the Teach About Days of National Significance RAP Action, and the Reconciliation Timeline: Key Moments article.

How were these events and the people involved at the time being brave?

How did their actions make change, both then and now?

Expand this research to more recent times and the present. Some ideas to start brainstorming are: 2021 State of Reconciliation in Australia Summary Report, The Uluru Statement from the Heart, the people and events listed in the Narragunnawali Subject Specific Resource Guides. You might also like to use rich texts authored and illustrated by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people about First Nations people and events.

How are these events and the people involved at the time being brave?

How are their actions making change, or what change are they advocating for?

Invite students to discuss and answer the Inquiry Questions. Facilitate a discussion about the ways that students can contribute to reconciliation in brave ways to make change for the present and future.

Display/discuss/share/present this research in meaningful ways, such as creating a reconciliation timeline, establish a reconciliation yarning circle (see example below), share or present the information to the class or wider peer group.

Some of the ideas for action under each of the Narragunnawali RAP Action pages may also help to support your research.

CREATE YOUR OWN POSTER

As a group, or individually, students create their own NRW poster based on this years theme. While they are creating their poster, encourage them to think about:

What colours or symbols might help to show reconciliation and represent the theme from this year?
Explore what words or phrases they might like you to help them write or spell on the poster, and what might those words might teach people about NRW?
Who might they like to show their poster to?
How would they like people to feel, and what would they like them to learn, when they see/read the poster?

Display the posters proudly in the classroom or around your school to remind students and educators – and their families/communities – about the significance of NRW.

Take a picture of your posters and send to Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali team.

Consider also opportunities for collaborating with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and Traditional Owners to share their histories and cultures with students, and guide the discussion from a localised perspective.

RECONCILIATION IN OUR HEADS, HEARTS AND HANDS

*Adapted from the Head, Heart, Hand: Reconciliation Yarning Circle Professional Learning resource

Positive change starts with conversations which encourage the open exchange of ideas and build shared understandings. Yarning circles are a process that allows collective learning to take place. Yarning circles are about making turns, rather than taking turns, making sure that everyone has the opportunity to be heard.

Ensure you respect the protocols of the yarning circle process by providing all participants with an opportunity to have their say. Each participant should speak, one at a time, and be heard without interruption. This process develops deep listening skills and the ability to show respect in the face of differing views.

Establish a yarning circle to unpack the term ‘reconciliation’ and talk about what it means to your students.

Use the ‘head, heart, hand’ model to unpack the term ‘reconciliation’ with students. You might like to invite students to answer individually or reflect as a group.

Head (children put their hands of their head to demonstrate 'think'):

Ask:
What do I/we already know about reconciliation?

What would I/we like to learn more about, and why?

Who do we know making brave change in reconciliation?

Responses could include: reconciliation is about coming together; all belonging; acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the Land; being a good friend and showing respect to everyone; and knowing about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags.

People could include: local members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in your area, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people leading change in their chosen fields (eg medicine, sport, maths and sciences, Languages and literature, education, politics, environmental issues and sustainability, community support services, business, media and more), and non-Indigenous people who are leading action towards reconciliation.

Heart (children put their hands on their heart to demonstrate 'feel'):

Ask:
How does reconciliation make me/us feel?

How is reconciliation part of my/our story?

How does being brave feel?

Responses could include: belonging makes us feel happy; being respected makes us feel safe and included; it is interesting and exciting to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures, histories, Languages and perspectives. Being brave means showing up and taking action even though it may feel hard, knowing that its helping people. Being brave is also about taking responsibility for our actions.

Hand (children hold their hands up or out to demonstrate 'act'):

Ask:
What is one action that I/we could take towards reconciliation?

How can the actions of those before me, and alongside me guide my actions?

How can we be brave, take action and make change towards reconciliation everyday?

Responses could include: caring for Country; Acknowledgement of Country; learning about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, both in our local community and around the country; being a respectful friend to everyone; calling out racism.

You might like to use the ‘head, heart, hand’ model to unpack other reconciliation terms, phrases or actions with children, such as care/caring for Country, respectful relationships/anti-racism, and/or 'Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags' .

POSTCARDS

You might like to ask your students to imagine they are living in a reconciled Australia, and send a postcard from the future outlining the changes that have occurred. If your school has a RAP, that could be a focus of the week, highlighting your school commitments to your RAP Actions. Some of the ideas for action under each of the Narragunnawali RAP Action pages may also help to support your planning.

WHY IS SORRY SO IMPORTANT

Read the following story book with your class ”Sorry, Sorry” By Anne Kerr.

Talk about how some of the actions in the past were unkind and why reconciliation or saying sorry for these hurtful actions is important?

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