Hubbry Logo
search
logo

Reconciliation Australia

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Reconciliation Australia

Reconciliation Australia is a non-government, not-for-profit foundation established in January 2001 to promote a continuing national focus for reconciliation between Indigenous (i.e. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) and non-Indigenous Australians. It was established by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, which was established to create a framework for furthering a government policy of reconciliation in Australia.

Among other functions, Reconciliation Australia organises National Reconciliation Week each year. The Australian Reconciliation Network comprises reconciliation organisations in the six states of Australia.

The organisation has ceased strategic planning as of September 2017.

The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody, which published its final report in April 1991, had recommended the initiation of a process of reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians. On 2 September 1991, the Australian Parliament voted unanimously to establish the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (CAR) and a formal reconciliation process. Parliament had noted that there had been no formal process of reconciliation and that it was "most desirable that there be such a reconciliation" by the year 2001, marking the centenary of Federation.[citation needed] The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established by Parliament, by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation Act 1991, to be disbanded after 10 years.

The CAR's vision statement aimed for "A united Australia which respects this land of ours; values the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage; and provides justice and equity for all". Patrick Dodson was the first Chair of CAR.

Reconciliation Australia was established by the CAR in January 2001. The Hon Fred Chaney AO was one of the founding co-chairs, and served for nearly 15 years on the Board until his retirement in November 2014. Jackie Huggins was a co-chair for some time.

In 2012, Reconciliation Australia established the "Recognise" campaign, following recommendations of the Expert Panel on Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples in the Constitution, which was presented to the federal government under Julia Gillard in January 2012. The Recognise campaign focused specifically on raising awareness among all Australians of the need to change the Constitution, ahead of a referendum. In this it was successful: awareness of the issue rose from 30% to over 75% of the population.

Tanya Hosch was deputy director and also the public face of the campaign, after addressing the National Press Club in February 2013. In May 2013, her team toured Australia aiming to inform and involve people in the bid to get Indigenous people recognised in the constitution. This included public advocacy, building support and partnerships behind the scenes, and consulting Aboriginal people in remote areas. Beginning in Melbourne and finishing at Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory, the trail was inspired by the "Long Walk" from Melbourne to Canberra undertaken in 2004 by AFL footballer Michael Long.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.