The Hon Linda Burney MP at Reconciliation Australia's IGA 2022 Gala Dinner.
Photographer: Joseph Mayers

The National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2024 theme, Now, More than Ever, emphasised the urgent need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation in education and across the nation. Great momentum was (re)built between May 27 and June 3, as citizens across the continent participated in events, more than 400 choirs joined the Voices for Reconciliation initiative and we saw the NRW curriculum resources among the top resources engaged with on the Narragunnawali platform. 
 
Below is a snapshot of some of the inspiring conversations and contributions that took place during NRW: 

• Check out the compilation of schools and early learning services participating in the Voices for Reconciliation: Louder than Ever initiative, singing the iconic Warumpi Band anthem, Blackfella/Whitefella.
• Hear Narragunnawali team member, Nina Ross speak to Behind The News in a special NRW edition about reconciliation after the referendum.
• Listen into a NRW roundtable discussion about reconciliation in schools, facilitated by the NSW Department of Education team, featuring Narragunnawali General Manager, Tessa Keenan.
   

Of course, the work of reconciliation both in and through education must continue well beyond NRW and should be actively enacted and embedded throughout every week of the year. Just two weeks after the end of NRW 2024, the Hon Linda Burney MP, Minister for Indigenous Australians, spoke with ABC Late Night Live about the future of reconciliation. She highlighted how ‘schools and education are one of the most powerful forces for reconciliation.’   


What is your school or early learning service community's next steps on the reconciliation journey? 

• Getting started? Consider engaging with the Narragunnawali Reconciliation Toolkits, designed to support diverse members of education communities to engage in reconciliation conversations and action.  
• Diving deeper? Consider engaging with the range of Narragunnawali professional learning opportunities, whether self-guided resources or live and on-demand webinars and workshops.   
• Sustaining whole-school/service change? Re-commit to developing, implementing and refreshing your Narragunnawali Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and join our team for a virtual office hours session if you have any questions about your RAP journey.