Each year Reconciliation Week is celebrated from 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey:
27 May - marks the anniversary of the 1967 referendum when Australians voted to remove clauses in the Australian Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3 June - marks the historic 1992 Mabo decision in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title - that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people held rights over their lands and survived British colonisation.
There have been many moments in Australia’s reconciliation journey that make us want to turn away. But when things are divisive, the worst thing we can do is disengage or disconnect.
National Reconciliation Week’s theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.
Now more than ever, we need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation. We know that the 6.2 million Australians who voted YES are committed to better outcomes for First Nations people, and are with us.
It is imperative that supporters of reconciliation stand up to defend and uphold the rights of First Nations peoples.
To call out racism wherever we encounter it, and to actively reinforce the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across this continent.
Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty-making, truth-telling, understanding our history, education, and tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.
Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.
Reconciliation Week Events
About the design and artwork
The National Reconciliation Week 2024 artwork and design represent the momentum of the theme Now More Than Ever. The chevron, a universal symbol for pointing the way, signifies advancing as one as we look towards a reconciled future; and the vibrant artwork of Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie Douglas encourages connecting with one another, understanding and continuing to move forward.