Reconciliation Week Events and Celebrations
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.
A Girl from Alice
On Tuesday of Week 5, all the Year 7 English students were honoured to have Aunty Ros Cameron speak to them about her experience as a Stolen Generations Survivor. All classes are studying the verse novel Sister Heart by Sally Morgan, about a young First Nations girl, Annie, who is taken from her family and sent to a dormitory school.
Aunty Ros is an educator and author whose work has been dedicated to healing, truth-telling and supporting others on their own journeys of understanding. Her presentation, ‘A Girl from Alice’, provided an important personal context and had connections to the experiences of ‘Annie’. Through Aunty Ros’s firsthand account of her lived experience, she reminds us why Apology Day and reconciliation matter.
The girls asked thoughtful questions and took much away from the session about the power of truth-telling, its connection to identity, and the importance of valuing oneself.
– Ms Mel Smith, Year 7 English Teacher
Aunty Ros was a part of the Stolen Generation, meaning she was taken away from her family as a child because of government policies that tried to make Aboriginal children forget their culture. Even today, she still feels the pain of losing her family, language, and connection to her heritage, but has the strength to let the future generations know so that the same mistake is not made later. The Stolen Generation shows how these policies didn’t just hurt one generation but continue to affect Aboriginal communities today. – Sayumi Attanayake, 7DERE
It is important for us to learn about what has happened in the past and how the authorities removed their names, their language, and their culture, so that their parents couldn’t find them, they couldn’t find their families either. I felt it was sad to know those things happened to First Nations people, because it would have a huge impact on their families, generations, culture, and community. It is important to respect everyone, to give them their rights, and to listen to their voices. – Julie Qiu, 7DERE
Aunty Ros is a courageous woman. She spoke about how belonging never mattered until the 1967 Referendum. She was wrongly told that her biological mum didn’t want her, and how that shaped her growing up. It is truly heartbreaking, and these stories still impact First Nations people all around Australia today. – Evie Leedham, 7DERE
Aunty Ros captivated the Year 7s with stories about her life and living in Alice Springs. I particularly loved the story about a Bearded Dragon coming into her house, and her running for safety onto the roof of a car! We listened as she shared her journey of discovering who she was and how she located her family despite many challenges. She was engaging and memorable, and we appreciate her sharing her story with us. – Matilda Roesch, 7DERE
Her story was different to the many others I have heard. What I took away was how she is trying to learn about her past and trying to find healing from what happened to her. This was important because when you find out things like this, it can change your perspective, and the process of healing is long and hard. Aunty Ros made me think about how things like these can be viewed in different ways and how everybody’s story is different. – Mila Nicholls, 7DERE
An Assembly to Remember
Students entered the Assembly to Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil playing; a call to action to be All In for justice and reconciliation, and for all Australians to know our history. The sound of clapping sticks led the RAP Ambassadors onto the stage, where they introduced inspirational guest speaker Jade Akamarre. She is a fourth-generation artist from the Utopia Region in the Northern Territory. Growing up surrounded by stories, paintings and culture, she has a deep connection to Country. Through her family and culture, she has experienced art as part of everyday life, with each painting passing on knowledge, stories and the responsibility to keep her culture alive. Jade shared her story about her family, culture and the legacy she draws on as an artist.
Years 9 and 10 Ambassadors then asked those present to reflect on two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey, the successful 1967 Referendum and the High Court Mabo Decision, respectively. It was the actions of a few championing the rights of First Nations peoples that brought change to our nation.
Year 10 students who participated in this year’s APY Lands trip shared their experiences highlighting the learning and connections they were able to make during their immersion into a remote community.
A powerful on-stage performance by the Year 10 Dance/Dama students who interpreted interview testimonials from survivors, to develop a piece of physical theatre which told the story of being stolen through dance, movement and monologue. Audrey Fox, Gracie Cheung, Maddy Schroeter and Annie Christo performed their piece titled “My name is Donna Meehan.”
The final video, No More Racism, produced by Jasmin Cetinkol and Tia Bal, invited the audience to watch the short video and think about the role each of us plays in shaping a safe and inclusive school environment. They asked all take a moment to reflect on their attitudes and actions towards others within our community.
Consider how you respond when you witness unfair treatment or discrimination based on someone’s background, culture, or beliefs. Do you choose to speak up, offer support, and promote respect and inclusion? – Tia Bal, 11PAT
Each of us has the ability to make a positive difference. Will you choose to take action and stand against racism or remain a bystander? – Jasmin Cetinkol, 11KEN
Historical Events that made a Difference
Australians understand the wrongs of the past and their impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. By learning of past policies and practices this ensures these wrongs are never repeated. Throughout the week, students in Years 8 and 9 have engaged in research activities in which they have been challenged to identify the impact of the Mabo Decision and the 1967 Referendum. Undertaking a group research activity using AI, they investigated the actions of Eddie Koiki Mabo to gain Native Title land rights and the vote by all citizens in 1967 to change our Constitution. They have gained insights into how people can drive change and bring about equality for all First Nations peoples. By looking into the past and better future can be created.
ALL IN with the ELC
Each lunchtime, our RAP Ambassadors visited the ELC, sharing the different Acknowledgements within our School, which commenced with our ELC Friends saying their ELC Acknowledgement, then the Ambassadors reciting our School Acknowledgement in Kaurna and English and concluding with playing the extended dual language Acknowledgement performed by our Senior Dance students. This was followed by sharing picture books, either We are Australian or Finding the Heart, with the Ambassadors asking our friends to make connections with the words they were hearing. Finally, our Ambassadors invited each friend to create a friendship band in red, yellow and black to symbolise the importance of making friends as part of the reconciliation process.
NRW Breakfast with Special Guests
This year’s annual breakfast was expertly hosted by Shelly Ware, a respected and familiar voice across media and television for more than 25 years. The event featured an outstanding lineup of entertainment and inspiring stories, including a powerful performance by Indigenous artist and singer Casey Donovan, an engaging address from former AFL footballer Eddie Betts, and a second performance by Nathan May, a talented guitarist and vocalist who has toured both nationally and internationally.
In celebration of National Reconciliation Week, I was honoured to attend the largest Reconciliation Breakfast in the country with 3,000 people in attendance. Hosted in the Convention Centre, First Nations art, plants and music were beautifully integrated into the event, which created an environment where First Nations culture felt truly appreciated. Speakers shared both personal stories and calls to action, inspiring us all. A personal highlight of the morning was Eddie Betts’ authentic speech, as he emphasised that Indigenous people don’t need others to provide the answers, but rather resources and support so that children like him have the same starting point as everyone else, a solution that starts the process of generational reconciliation, especially with the young. – Iszy Lochowiak, 12KIL
Bake Sale Success
Every year, the RAP Ambassadors volunteer time to make items to sell at the annual NRW Bake Sale. Always a popular event, this year’s sale coincided with Sorry Day, May 26. Profits from this activity go to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation (ILF), a worthy cause. ILF, responds to requests from remote Communities for culturally relevant books, including early learning board books, resources, and programs to support Communities to create and publish their stories in languages of their choice.
Selwyn House Charity Day
The Year 10 Selwyn girls are very excited to announce that on Friday 5 June (Week 7), we will be hosting a sausage sizzle! All money raised will go towards our House charity, The Smith Family. This organisation is a children’s charity that supports disadvantaged Australian children, providing them with the resources and money they need to access better education.
Individual sausages and drinks will be available for $4. Additionally, you can buy a meal deal of two sausages and a drink for $8, or 1 sausage and a drink for $6. Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available.
Parents of girls in Reception to Year 2 can pre-order a sausage and apple juice box for $6 via the button below, and the Year 10 Selwyn girls will deliver the food to them. Older girls can buy sausages and drinks on the day. Orders close on 2 June at 5pm.
The sausage sizzle will be located on the lawns in front of the Emily Centre. Please note, we will be accepting cash and EFTPOS on the day.
We’d love it if you came down and supported the Selwyn girls and the Smith Family!
Kilburn House Charity Day
The Year 10 Kilburn girls are very excited to announce a bake sale that will raise money for Baptist Care on Friday, 5 June (Week 7). Baptist Care is an organisation based in South Australia that aims to provide daily relief to anyone facing homelessness or other struggles that prevent them from living their life to the fullest.
There will be a range of sweet treats from $1 – $3. Gluten-free and vegetarian options will be available.
Parents of girls in Reception to Year 2 can pre-order a vanilla cupcake for $2 via the button below. These will be delivered to the classrooms by Year 10 students. Bookings are open and will close on Tuesday 2 June at 5pm.
Students in Years 3 to 12 may purchase our baked goods on the day of the event, and we will be accepting cash and EFTPOS on the day.
We will be set up on Chiverton Lawns, and we would love to see you there supporting Baptist Care with us!