Bridging Now to Next this National Reconciliation Week

From our Spirit of Reconciliation Working Group

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) began in 1993 as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, during the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. It was supported by Australia’s major faith communities.

In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched the first official NRW. Five years later, Reconciliation Australia was established to lead and promote national efforts toward reconciliation.

That same year, in a powerful show of public support, around 300,000 people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge – and later, bridges around the country – during NRW events.

Today, NRW is embraced across Australia, as a time to reflect, learn, and take meaningful action toward reconciliation.

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2025, Bridging Now to Next, highlights the continuous connection between where we have been and where we are going in this country.

It is a call to all Australians to move forward together – using what we have learned from the past, to shape a united future.

The theme artwork, created by Kalkadoon artist Bree Buttenshaw, features native plants that thrive after fire – symbols of strength, regeneration and resilience. This imagery represents the ongoing journey of reconciliation and the collective potential for renewal. NRW is a time for reflection, growth, and a shared commitment to walking the path of reconciliation together.

Australia’s reconciliation journey has not been straightforward. There have been major milestones, such as Corroboree 2000, which brought Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and non-Indigenous leaders together in a historic show of unity. There have also been setbacks, like the vote against a Voice to Parliament. This year, Reconciliation Australia is inviting all Australians to help bridge the gap from now to what’s next.

Key dates:

• 27 May – marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum, when Australians voted to amend the Constitution to remove discriminatory clauses against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

• 3 June – commemorates the 1992 Mabo decision, in which the High Court recognised native title and acknowledged that Indigenous land rights survived colonisation.

• 26 May – National Sorry Day, observed since 1998, honours the Stolen Generations and acknowledges the harm caused by past government policies.

Reconciliation this week and beyond

To mark National Reconciliation Week 2025, Brisbane North PHN’s Spirit of Reconciliation (SoR) Working Group have launched a new internal publication, Kuluwin RISE – Kuluwin, the Kabi Kabi word for pigeon, and the acronym RISE denoting the four levels of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAP), Reflect, Innovate, Stretch and Elevate.

While NRW offers a moment of national focus, reconciliation is a year-round responsibility. We are grateful to the work of our SoR and for the launch of this publication which are continuing to embed reconciliation into our core work. Their message this NRW is to keep learning, engaging, and acting – because lasting change depends on continued effort from us all.

To mark this year's NRW, Brisbane North PHN staff recorded a video tribute to the lands that they live, work and feel a connection to. Watch now.

Visit Reconciliation Australia to learn more and find local events.