NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK
27 May – 3 June

National Reconciliation Week 2024

Through our annual National Reconciliation Week (NRW) Breakfast, we aim to bring diverse and passionate voices to Tasmanian audiences, to broaden the reach of reconciliation and inform more people about Aboriginal history, culture, and contemporary issues.

2024’s NRW theme of Now More Than Ever speaks to the work that is needed. Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.

Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.

Our speakers in 2024, Shane Howard and Ged Watts were key to this. Shane with his decades of experience as a reconciliation activist and legendary Australian musician, and Ged as a young palawa man speaking his truth from the heart.

SHANE HOWARD – former Goanna band frontman, award-winning musician, and long-time reconciliation activist and;

GED WATTS – a young palawa man who grew up immersed in cultural activities on-country, and whose powerful speech on reconciliation in the lead up to the Voice referendum drew a standing ovation. This year was no exception.

Shane has been a vocal ally of First Nations people’s right to justice and self-determination for more than 40 years. As a member of Goanna, he penned the anthemic song ‘Solid Rock’ which became a foundation song for the path toward truth telling.

This was the first year that a Reconciliation Tasmania NRW breakfast featured a non-Aboriginal keynote speaker, who spoke to the importance of walking together for reconciliation and standing up as a strong ally. Shane embodies what it means to be a committed ally, recently handing back his Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) due to the failure of the Voice referendum.

Thanks to our sponsors:

Hydro Tasmania, Forico, University of Tasmania, Key Assets, Snap Hobart, TasWater, Wellways and Libraries Tasmania. Special thanks to MyState Bank Arena for working closely with us to pull off a sold-out event with numbers higher than ever before, nearly 900 tickets.

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 to do is disengage or disconnect.

Now more than ever, we need to tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation. We know that the 6.2 million Australians voted YES and are committed to better outcomes for First Nations people.

Reconciliation supporters must stand up to defend and uphold the rights of First Nations peoples, call out racism wherever we encounter it, and actively reinforce the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across this continent.

Now more than ever, the work continues. In treaty making, in truth-telling, in understanding our history, in education, and in tackling racism. We need connection. We need respect. We need action. And we need change.  

Now more than ever, we need reconciliation.