reconciliation week

An independent institute will be set up to oversee treaty negotiations and truth-telling in Queensland. But what will it achieve? Is it merely a symbolic gesture?

The experiences of Stan Grant these past few weeks have shown there remains division in this country over our shared past. So how do we move forward as nation?

Archie Roach is one of the country’s most loved and essential voices.

Reconciliation Week is a time for Australians to reflect on their shared history, cultures and achievements. It’s also the time to discuss how all Australians can contribute to reconciliation – and make commitments towards achieving it.

In this bonus podcast episode, Commissioner Andrea Mason OAM yarns with Ashurst’s First Nations Adviser, Trent Wallace. With Reconciliation Week underway in Australia, Commissioner Mason reflects on what “reconciliation” really means for Australians – be they Indigenous or otherwise. Commissioner Mason discusses what businesses, law firms, grassroots organisations and non-First Nations people can do to support reconciliation.

The conversation also covers the high prevalence of disability among First Nations people in Australia (48% of those aged 18-65 have a disability, as do 23% of children aged 0-18) and the abuse, marginalisation and exclusion highlighted by the recent disability Royal Commission.

Find out more about our podcast channels on Ashurst.com/podcasts

The information provided is not intended to be a comprehensive review of all developments in the law and practice, or to cover all aspects of those referred to. Listeners should take legal advice before applying it to specific issues or transactions.

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It's Reconciliation Week and this year's theme is More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urging the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

Bianca chats to proud Yugambeh man and community consultant Mark Watego, about how small non-profits can work towards reconciliation.

Mark explains why Reconciliation is an ongoing process or empathy and recognition, and shares some of the common misconceptions.

Episode highlights

8.15 mins - How non-profits can play an active role in the reconciliation process 

19.40 min - Why working on rapport is so important to building relationships with indigenous communities

21.30 mins  - The many facets of relationship building 

The AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia referred in this episode at the 12 minute mark can be found here: https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia 

Find out more about Reconciliation Week at Reconciliation Australia's website here https://nrw.reconciliation.org.au/ 

For Reconciliation Week 2021, we explore some of the most powerful and enduring protest songs written by First Nations artists across the past 90 years.

Well what a week it’s been. An all night party at Taika Waititi’s Sydney pad has tongues wagging, meanwhile the Bachelorette is Bi, and men and women will battle it out for her affections.

Reconciliation Week has kicked off, and we reflect on the fight for Indigenous recognition and non-Indigenous Australia’s responsibilities in moving forward.

Sinéad O’Connor has penned a memoir, and spoken with the New York Times about how she saw everything unfold in the early part of her career.

And some short reads on revenge bedtime procrastination and adult apartments have us screaming in agreeance and shame all at once.

Meanwhile Myf is banging on about the Tina Turner doco, and Zan is bathing in public art.

Show notes:

Taika’s Thruple: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/entertainment/taika-waititi-spotted-kissing-both-rita-ora-and-tessa-thompson-at-the-same-time/news-story/8d5b2196e6f80575e8b77350366443fcTessa Thompson: https://www.eonline.com/au/news/1273470/tessa-thompson-spotted-kissing-model-zac-stenmark-after-rita-ora-and-taiki-waititi-outingThe Linda Linda’s: https://www.npr.org/2021/05/24/999757630/fresh-off-a-viral-library-gig-the-linda-lindas-get-a-record-dealAuthor Eric Carle dies: https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/may/27/eric-carle-author-and-illustrator-of-the-very-hungry-caterpillar-dies-at-91The Uluru Statement from the Heart: https://ulurustatement.org/the-statementNational Reconciliation Week: https://www.reconciliation.org.au/national-reconciliation-week/Sinéad O’Connor: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/18/arts/music/sinead-oconnor-rememberings.htmlRevenge Bedtime Procrastination: https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/health-and-wellness/revenge-bedtime-procrastination-what-it-is-and-why-we-fall-for-it-20210521-p57u20.htmlSinead Stubbins’ on Adult Apartments: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/may/25/a-handheld-grater-will-make-guests-want-to-have-sex-with-you-the-anatomy-of-a-grown-up-apartmentTina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9IkVtLvflU&ab_channel=HBO

RISING: Melbourne: https://rising.melbourne/Vivid Sydney: https://www.vividsydney.com/Illuminate Adelaide: https://www.illuminateadelaide.com/eventsDarwin Festival: https://www.darwinfestival.org.au/

Email us: bangon.podcast@abc.net.au

Bang On is produced by Double J and recorded on the lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation. We pay our respects to elders past, present, and emerging. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land where we live, work, and learn.

We speak to the Chair and one of other the four commissioners who will preside over Victoria's ground breaking Yoo-rrook or Justice Commission. And new research has found that local court magistrates are the state-based judicial officers who suffer most from work-related stress.

Mitch Albom on writing a serialised novel, Munanjali author Ellen van Neerven has a hotline with Yankunytjatjara poet Ali Cobby Eckermann and Canadian author Zalika Reid-Benta's debut novel.

In Australia there are an estimated 17,000 Stolen Generations survivors, and a lack of culturally relevant mental health services is a major barrier to healing for many of them. Now programs led by Indigenous communities themselves are helping people to confront and move past their trauma. We talk with Stolen Generations survivor Aunty Lorraine Peeters, whose life experience led to a pioneering healing program, and became part of a groundswell of Indigenous-led solutions to address trauma. And Indigenous psychologist Kelleigh Ryan describes the challenges to supporting culturally appropriate healing.

Presented as part of Reconciliation Week 2020, and the ABC's Walking Together initiative.

For Reconciliation Week, a reflective discussion on two significant recent coronial inquests where the families of the deceased asked the coroner to make finding about unconscious bias or racism. Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day died after sustaining serious head injuries in a Victorian police cell in 2017, and Naomi Williams, a pregnant 27-year-old Wiradjuri woman, died of sepsis in hospital in regional NSW in 2016.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples should be aware that this program and website contains images and names of people who have passed away and that traumatic events will be described.

For Reconciliation Week, a reflective discussion on two significant recent coronial inquests where the families of the deceased asked the coroner to make finding about unconscious bias or racism. Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day died after sustaining serious head injuries in a Victorian police cell in 2017, and Naomi Williams, a pregnant 27-year-old Wiradjuri woman, died of sepsis in hospital in regional NSW in 2016.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples should be aware that this program and website contains images and names of people who have passed away and that traumatic events will be described.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experience. Strength. Hope. These words don’t carry much meaning by themselves, but together in the context of Melbourne Playback Theatre Company’s latest performance SticksnStones of the Birrarung Marr - Stories of First Nations Place Making, Culture and Legacy, they provided a pivotal focus for the evening’s event.

SticksnStones was the second public event by Melbourne Playback for the year. The event was split into two parts – a Q&A panel with esteemed First Nation Victorians including Jill Gallagher, Reuben Berg, Monica McDonald, Bruce Pascoe, and Stan Yarramunua, followed by a one-of-a-kind improvised theatre performance by Melbourne Playback. The event took place at Deakin Edge Theatre in Federation square, located on the banks of the Birrarung Marr – the river of mists. The Birrarung Marr is a significant meeting place for First Nation Victorians, and so it seemed particularly appropriate for the event to take place beside the river.

The event also coincided with Reconciliation Week – a week where Australia acknowledges the First Nation people and their history of suffering and atrocities since the White Settlement / Invasion 200 years ago, as well as the ongoing negative impact this hidden history continues to have in the present day. It is also a week where Australia takes the opportunity to celebrate and honour First Nation’s Cultural systems.

Each panelist shared stories and family histories of growing up in Victoria and Australia. Jill Gallagher told of the hardships her mother endured. She was born on country in Victoria’s Western District and lived on a mission. “They were very cruel times” Jill’s mother told her, “I try to forget”. At 13 her mother left school and worked as a seasonal picker. Seasonal work meant Jill attended 19 different schools. However, her mother strongly believed education was a catalyst for change and encouraged Jill to get a good education.

Bruce Pascoe, award-winning author of Dark Emu, Black Seeds, told the audience of the efforts he needed to make to discover the truth about his family history. He discovered that his family was aboriginal and had fled from Tasmania. For many years his family was forced to deny their cultural heritage in order for to be able to stay on the mainland. After years of searching and listening to elders, Bruce began to unravel a complex web of family relations. Bruce realized that ultimately, what connected them all, was their connections to the land.

After interval, the vivacious Ian David from Melbourne Playback Theatre Company welcomed the audience to share words and thoughts that had touched or inspired them from the panel discussion. The improvisation ensemble, or Players as they are called, took these words and created physical images of these ideas through dance, movement and music. Three audience members had the opportunity to tell a personal story that the players transformed from the individual to the universal in ways that resonated with all of us in the room.

These performances were incredibly powerful – the players seemed able to draw out the emotional core of each story. The ensemble worked so well together that it was hard to believe that these were not rehearsed pieces of work. ‘Travelling moments” flowed seamlessly together on stage, everyone playing a part when needed. There were moments when their performances brought me, and many others in the audience, to laughter and tears. I can’t recall the last time a work of performance art had achieved that.

There will be other public events by Melbourne Playback Theatre Company later in the year focusing on: Refugees, Climate Change and Mental Health. Do not miss out!

SticksnStones on the Birrarung Marr took place on Friday 27^th May at Deakin Edge Theatre, Federation Square.

Review written by Lauren Klein

Review read aloud by Michaela Jones & Ben Volchok

Photographer credit: Steven Rhall

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Hosts Lauren and Andrew were joined in the studio with LENKA VANDERBOOM - Melbourne Playback Theatre Company ensemble member and Creative Director of SticksnStones on the Birrarung Marr. 

The event includes a panel event with esteemed First Nations’ Victorians followed by a professional playback theatre performance.

 SticksnStones is on Friday 27^th May, 6pm at Deakin Edge Theatre, Federation Square, Melbourne.

Photographer credit: Steven Rhall (image: Diana Nguyen, Sermsah Bin Saad)

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.