Australian Diggers are known for their bravery, fighting for their country with all that’s inside them. When it comes to reconciliation, it might take the same kind of bravery, not shying away from putting our hands in the soil of this land, especially to see that no one is left behind.

According to Reconciliation Australia, at its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of all Australians.

Generations of Australians have fought hard for meaningful change, but there is still much to be done to see a just, equitable and reconciled Australia, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children will have the same life chances and choices as non-Indigenous children, not based on race.

Reconciliation Australia envisages reconciliation based and measured on five dimensions: historical acceptance; race relations; equality and equity; institutional integrity and unity. They believe that true reconciliation comes when the rights of First Australians are not just respected but championed in all the places that matter, and that it must transcend the political arena and promote a sense of national unity.

Many of our clients from a migrant or refugee background, have also had to walk a journey of reconciliation in their countries of origin. Their lived experience could potentially make them suitable partners in working towards this ongoing journey of reconciliation. Perhaps as ‘New Australians’ become citizens, they could be invited to join this cause. Dialogue between people from a migrant or refugee background and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander advocates may help build momentum towards this goal, and bring unity within Australia.

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