National Reconciliation Week 2024 is among us for another year! The dates each year remain the same; 27 May to June 3. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey- the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively. ‘
With the recent and very contentious referendum at the end of 2023, it has highlighted that there is still so much work to be done towards reconciliation. All Australians have a role to play when it comes to collectively building relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, truth-telling, addressing racism and shaping our future generations.
Last year our blog: Reconciliation Week: Change Starts with you, provided advice around the theme of “being brave to make a change.” We provided tips on how you can engage and actively include First Nations peoples, culture and actively participate in your spaces. I encourage you to have a read back through and self-reflect if you were able to start to implement First Nations practices across the last 365 days, and if not why?
The hardest step for any individual or new organisation to take, is the first one. The saying of “doing something, is better than doing nothing” resonates the deepest with this years NRW theme. Some of the main barriers that we have come across are:
“We haven’t done anything before, so if we started now wouldn’t it look tokenistic?”
NO – the longer you put a hold on something that should be done or underway, which resonates with most things in life, is only going to get worse the longer you hold out for. Remember you don’t have to do a Reconciliation Action Plan, as you can create your own in-house strategy or action plan. But the RAP program does provide a foundational STRUCTURE that can be easily adopted into any organisation, big or small. You can make a start before that decision by coming up with your answer for “what does reconciliation look like to me?”
“Everyone is a bit nervous to discuss anything when this topic is brought up”
If this is your organisation, then we need to chat now! Just like any skill, anything new or a bit uncomfortable to do will stay like this until we start doing it more and repetitively – like talking about it! An aspect of our cultural learning sessions is getting fellow colleagues to literally discuss their thoughts about Aboriginal culture. Doesn’t sound that hard does it?
“We already do a National Reconciliation Week event though”
If you do something that gets staff involved in reconciliation once a year, how authentic is it really? Are you really moving the needle? Would you consider just doing the one staff meeting per year as well? Why not? Reconciliation isn’t a document or inspirational speech you came up with for a morning tea – it’s action, and many of them. If your organisation is serious about reconciliation and wanting to make a difference, what are the tangible and intangible actions that are going to occur THROUGHOUT each year? Who are you pulling into your organisational scrum to make sure you and the whole team succeed (and can feel the impact) on your reconciliation journey?
At Deadly Ed we have so many offerings that can get you started. This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme is “Now More Than Ever.” Now is the time you can start or continue to strengthen your connections and learnings with community.
Reconciliation Australia described the theme as “a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue."
There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect. Now more than ever, we need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation.
So how can Deadly Ed help you on your reconciliation journey?
This National Reconciliation Week
- Book our expert guest speakers for your NRW event; Whether it’s to discuss the best practices we have either been a part of or witnessed that your organisation can adopt, through to learning from our personal experiences and expertise.
- Book in an experience for your workplace - yes adults should also have fun while learning! Learning about culture in the workplace isn’t just the formal cultural awareness session anymore
Reconciliation Action Plans
Engage our experienced staff to help you develop an organisational strategy or RAP to take the important steps to achieve outcomes for First Nations people, community, and country. Deadly Ed can provide consultation sessions around your RAP, artwork design, cultural learning sessions, assist on embedding First Nations Practices within the workplace beyond the RAP and executive mentorship to ensure governance and cultural practices are carried out in proper ways. We are currently working with the good folks over at Foodbank on all of this.
Education to strengthen your knowledge and incorporate First Nations practices into the everyday workplace
Any workplace can sign up for our cultural learning courses which aim to equip you with the tools, resources, and confidence to connect, talk about and understand your own connection with culture. We debunk the nervous topics and help the least to most experienced individuals in a room (or on the screen) to embed culture into their life and workplace environment
Support reconciliation within your organisational network
One method that some of our corporate partners create reconciliation impact is by giving back to their own community
HOW: By purchasing & donating our teacher resource packs – to bring authentic cultural education to the classroom. If you want to equip your local school or Early Years centre with the tools, we have got you
FREE Deadly Ed Resources
The Deadly Dose Podcast: Stay across our podcasts and keep up to date with our yarns! Something great to tune into on your walk, car ride or run.
Tap into our blogs via our website. We post so much material which helps you continue your cultural learning journey.
As we circle back to the theme “Now More Than Ever” don’t wait for another year of NRW to come around to say I haven’t started. You now can start to have an impact today. Start the conversation with our Deadly Ed team, engage with your Inclusion leads, managers, and your workplace. It’s now more than ever that First Nations communities need you to help us keep our culture alive, speak the untold truths and forge a path where we can live, work and play in two worlds towards reconciliation and sustainable outcomes.