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National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) is an opportunity for all Australians to deepen their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and achievements, while reflecting on how we can all contribute to reconciliation.
This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, “All In”, reminds us that reconciliation is everyone’s responsibility. It’s a call for all Australians to listen, learn and engage with First Nations perspectives in meaningful and ongoing ways.
Across Australia, National Reconciliation Week can be a meaningful time to engage with the cultures, stories, languages and lived experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Whether you have five minutes between classes or want to explore more deeply, there are many accessible ways to get started.
Learn Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages
Language is a powerful way to connect with culture, Country and community.
One accessible way to begin is through the Kalyakoorl Waangkaniny podcast from RTRFM, which introduces Noongar language through short, engaging lessons and stories connected to Country. While based in Western Australia, it reflects the broader importance of language revitalisation across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities nationwide.
You can also explore a free online Aboriginal language and culture course through edX, developed in partnership with Curtin experts and Aboriginal educators. The course introduces conversational language learning alongside cultural protocols, history, storytelling, art, dance and connections to Country.
Explore:
- Kalyakoorl podcast: Kalyakoorl Waangkaniny podcast
- edX course: Aboriginal Language and Culture course
Experience Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts and culture
Immersing yourself in art and cultural experiences is another way to learn and engage.
In Western Australia, you can attend a weekly smoking ceremony and dance experience at WA Museum Boola Bardip, where cultural practices and storytelling are shared through performance and ceremony.
You can also explore the Carrolup Collection at the John Curtin Gallery, which preserves and shares significant artworks connected to Aboriginal children of the Carrolup Native Settlement, or discover emerging Aboriginal artists through Revealed at PICA.
Across Australia, galleries, museums and cultural centres regularly showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, providing opportunities to engage with both contemporary and historical works.
Explore:
- Smoking Ceremony and Dance at WA Museum Boola Bardip
- Carrolup Collection at John Curtin Gallery
- Revealed at PICA
Watch and learn
Film and television can offer powerful insight into Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stories, lived experiences and histories.
Add these to your watchlist:
- Mystery Road – stories grounded in Country, community and truth-telling.
- Genocide in the Wildflower State – a documentary exploring the history and impacts of frontier violence in Western Australia.
- Ablaze – uncovering the story of Aboriginal actor and activist Bill Onus.
Watch here:
Attend a reconciliation event
Looking to get involved this National Reconciliation Week? Explore local and national events happening across Australia through the official calendar from Reconciliation Australia.
National Reconciliation Week events calendar
Learning more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures is not something reserved for one week of the year, but National Reconciliation Week can be a meaningful place to begin. This year’s “All In” theme is a reminder that reconciliation is shaped through everyday actions, ongoing learning and collective commitment from all of us.
