National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements. It is also the time to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Each year, the dates for NRW are the same, 27 May to 3 June, to commemorate two significant dates for the indigenous communities across the country; the 1967 Referendum and the 1992 Mabo decision.
This year’s theme is Be Brave, Make Change – a call to all Australians to make a change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives. As a supporter of a reconciled Australia, Pearl Consulting took a step forward by adopting the Reconciliation Action Plan early this year.
During the NRW 2022, Gillian Pearl (CEO) and Diana Soedardi (Managing Director, APAC) of Pearl Consulting attended a Lunch with Leaders webinar organised by Auspire – Australia Day Council WA, a strong supporter of a united Australia. Over 200 people joined this webinar and actively engaged in the discussion.
“We were inspired by Alison Page and Dr Robert Isaacs AM for sharing their truth and helping us understand more about our history. As advocates for social impact, we strongly support the government and other non-government entities in their efforts to reconcile Australia,” stated Gillian.
The speakers in the webinar are two members of the Australia Day Council. Alison is a Walbanga and Wadi Wadi woman and is an award-winning Designer and Film Producer whose career, spanning 22 years, links indigenous stories and traditional knowledge with contemporary design. Dr Robert is an Aboriginal elder from the Whadjuk-Bibilmum Wardandi Noongar language group and has devoted his career to improving the well-being of Aboriginal Australians.
During the webinar, Dr Robert shared his experience growing up as a member of the Stolen Generation. Dr Robert was raised in institutions; unaware he had a family and that he was Aboriginal until he was released at the age of 16. He spoke about the importance of education and how it brought him to this point of advocating for well-being, housing, and education for First Nations people. He has seen an increase in young Aboriginal people entering university and is looking forward to more initiatives to liberate Aboriginal people from disadvantages and discrimination.
Alison Page shared her recent work: a movie commissioned by the National Museum of Australia. The movie tells the story of Captain Cook’s arrival in Australia during his scientific voyage in 1770. This film tackles many misconceptions related to his first encounter with the two indigenous warriors on the east coast of Australia.
She emphasised the importance of telling the truth about history and open-mindedness in starting a conversation about what happened during the colonial era. She also encouraged the First Nations people to exercise their voice and become active citizens. She added that she is looking forward to a Treaty that will solidify the government’s commitment to acknowledge the Aboriginal people as the custodial owners of the land.
Both Alison and Dr Robert agreed that Australians are ready for a reconciled nation, considering how the NRW movement is getting bigger each year and how the new government pledged to listen to more Aboriginal input in their decisions. Dr Robert welcomed the government’s commitment to fulfilling the Uluru Statement From the Heart while also calling for the government’s accountability to turn its promise into action.
Pearl Consulting believes that change is led by people – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government. As a company, Pearl Consulting supports reconciliation by working on a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). along with a diverse group of over 1,100 organisations that directly impact over 3 million Australians at work every day.
The RAP framework can help your organisation’s reconciliation effort. Learn more about the Reconciliation Action Plan HERE.
Check out our RAP HERE.