National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. The dates for NRW remain the same each year; 27 May to 3 June. These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey: 

• 27 May 1967 – On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census. 

• 3 June 1992 – On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title. 

The National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, “Be Brave. Make Change.” is a challenge to all Australians— individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. 

Last year Reconciliation Australia encouraged all Australians to take action; not just in National Reconciliation Week but every week of the year. 

We saw unprecedented response to our suggested actions for everyday and for braver action. 

This year we are asking everyone to make change beginning with brave actions in their daily lives – where they live, work, play and socialise. 

2022 Narragunnawali NRW Resources 

Use this Narragunnawali professional learning activity to engage your RAP Working Group or wider staff in a conversation around NRW.  

Use these Narragunnawali curriculum resources to engage children and students in conversations and activities about people who have taken brave action to make change in the reconciliation movement in the past and present, and how their own brave actions can lead to change for the future.  

• Early Learning 

• Primary 

• Secondary 

About the NRW 2022 Artwork and Poster 

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Our collection of bold, brave characters brought to life by contemporary Torres Strait Islander illustrator, Tori-Jay Mordey shows some of the different faces of Australians working for a just and equal society. 

They are a visual reminder that reconciliation is everybody’s business. 

“I sought inspiration of what that kind of brave change might look like from many different people; people I know that are around me, people I see every day. And people I see living bravely every day in their own lives – from fierce little kids to older people working with more established mindsets and environments.”  

“We can make a change. But we can’t do it alone. Be brave and start the conversation today” Tori-Jay said.  

ACTIONS 

• Download the 2022 poster or digital resources (including desktop and Zoom background, social media tiles, email signature banners and colouring in activity) 

• Register your NRW event on our website, no matter how big or small! 

• Watch the on-demand Narragunnawali webinar “NRW 2022: Be Brave. Make Change.” 

• Check out the Celebrate National Reconciliation Week RAP Action for more ideas for action, and aligned Professional Learning and Curriculum resources.  

• Compare the 2022 NRW poster to previous NRW posters – how do these posters, and their respective written language and imagery, connect with and build on each other from year to year? How do they help to capture key messages and milestones at different points in Australia’s reconciliation journey, and help to inspire our nation’s next most meaningful steps towards reconciliation? 

• Reflect on how the 2022 NRW theme and poster connects with the themes and posters of other days and weeks of national significance—such as the 2022 NAIDOC Week theme, Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up!, and National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day.  

• Individually or collectively as staff, working group or wider community, reflect on and celebrate your RAP progress and reconciliation journey so far. If it is time to refresh your RAP, incorporate the 2022 theme of being brave and making change into the planning of your next RAP commitments and reconciliation initiatives.  

• Look at the 20 Actions for Reconciliation for more ideas about being brave and making change towards reconciliation in your everyday professional and personal life.