National Reconciliation Week - Now More Than Ever 

National Reconciliation Week is here!  

Each year, from 27 May - 3 June Australians come together to collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.  

The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey — the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.  

Reconciliation Week features community events all around the country that promote greater awareness and respect for First Nations culture and history and aims to strengthen the relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians. 

This year, the theme is Now More Than Ever.  

As a caregiver you might find yourself wondering how to talk to little ones about reconciliation. Maybe your child is asking you questions you are not sure how to answer, or with how much detail. Maybe you want to introduce them to Australia’s complex past in a way that encourages a positive future.  

It is important, now more than ever, to talk with children about history and reconciliation but finding the best way to introduce these topics and answer questions can be difficult, so why not try talking it through with a book?  

Reading an age-appropriate book with your little ones can be a great time to share and talk about difficult things while being close and building a strong relationship. 

Listen by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin, illustrated by Jandamarra Cadd and published by Wild Dog (2023) is a great book to share with little ones. The simple but poetic writing style creates a rich and respectful text, while the bright colours inject a sense of joy while exploring a painful history. The story encourages little readers to think about the importance of listening and truth-telling in response to Australia's complex history and the use of traditional First Nations techniques reinforce the longevity and importance of a culture that has lived on Australian land for over 65,000 years.  

National Reconciliation Week is celebrated in workplaces, schools and early learning services, community organisations and groups, and by public libraries and Indigenous Knowledge Centres. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation. 

For more information about how you can support your child’s health and wellbeing, and to keep up with all the exciting news about First 5 Forever, subscribe to our free monthly tips or visit a First 5 Forever session at your local library. And remember, you’re never too young to be a member of the library – you can join your little one up from birth and borrow Listen by Duncan Smith and Nicole Godwin, illustrated by Jandamarra Cadd to read and enjoy at home.