Each year National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is celebrated across Australia between 27 May and 3 June. NRW celebrates, commemorates and builds on the respectful relationships shared by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians.
This year CREATE took part in a number of events around the country and reflected on Australia’s national identity, histories, cultures and rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
On National Sorry Day, Thursday 26th May, CREATE in Western Australia participated at an event in Perth. There were plenty of organisations, presentations, cultural dancing and food present. CREATE facilitated an art activities with young people and asked them to decorate a person and indicate what they are proud of in terms of themselves and their culture.
On the first day of National Reconciliation Week, Friday 27th May, three CREATE young people attended and participated in the NSW Ministerial Forum on Over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People in Care. CREATE young people joined other inspiring and resilient Indigenous young people from across NSW to speak about their lives in the out of home care system as indigenous young people, their connections to culture and community and their contact with family and siblings.
Indigenous young people were joined by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community representatives, organisations, family members to discuss the experience of their communities in having young people removed from their care at an alarmingly high rate. The forum was a meaningful conversation between government, Indigenous communities and the non-government sector.
Thank you to all the young people that participated in National Reconciliation Week with us.
