Diocesan News
Caritas Australia is proud to partner with six First Australian led organisations, all of which contribute to the spiritual and cultural healing and safety of their communities.
We do so as part of our commitment to Reconciliation, and in alignment with our belief in subsidiarity. This belief, grounded in Catholic Social Teachings, tells us that the people best placed to make decisions are those who will be most affected by them.
Reconciliation Week 2025 has the theme of “Bridging Now to Next”, which encourages our nation to look ahead while drawing lessons from the past to continue building a more united and respectful nation.
Australia has a history of making decisions for First Australian communities, rather than upholding their rights to decide for themselves. This history has deep and long-lasting effects on First Australians, as well as Australia as a whole. There are stark inequalities between the general population and those identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
When we look ahead, what we know from our partners is that support for First Australian-led approaches grounded in cultural and spiritual safety must be the priority.
This Reconciliation Week, we want to thank our First Australian Partners for allowing us to walk humbly beside them, for sharing their lived experiences with us, and for their continued dedication to building a more united Australia.
Hope, forgiveness and love:
On Monday, May 26, St Alipius Parish School Ballarat East paused to remember the Stolen Generations and acknowledge the deep sorrow and ongoing impact of past injustices on First Nations peoples. It’s a time for reflection, truth-telling, and commitment to healing.
The community were honoured to welcome Brenda Matthews, author of “The Last Daughter”, to the school on Tuesday for a special keynote address. Brenda’s powerful story of identity, family and reconciliation is one that will stay with us all.
We felt incredibly blessed to have Aunty Brenda Matthews join us at St Alipius for the beginning of Reconciliation Week. Brenda told her incredible story to our students and students from St Michael’s Primary School Daylesford and we participated in a Q&A session following the keynote address.
Brenda’s story is one of hope, forgiveness and love. We thank Brenda and Mark for being with us.
Emily Clarke -Principal
 |
 |
 |
 |
How to support our partners this Reconciliation Week
Aboriginal Carbon Foundation
The Aboriginal Carbon Foundation (AbCF) supports carbon farming projects to practice traditional knowledge and land management that also helps Indigenous communities to generate an income. It aims to build holistic wealth for Traditional Owners and non-Aboriginal carbon farmers, through the ethical trade of carbon credits, by connecting communities which supply carbon credits with organisations seeking to offset their carbon pollution.
You can follow AbCF on Facebook or Instagram to keep up to date with their events and activities.
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation
Baabayn Aboriginal Corporation was founded by five Elders from Western Sydney – home to one of the largest urban First Australian populations in Australia. Baabayn (which means ‘Ancestral Woman’ in Gumbaynggirr language) provides a welcoming environment for First Australian families and individuals to help them heal from the past and nurture their sense of confidence and pride in the future.
The work of Baabayn involves initiatives such as a Homework Club, a Young Mums and Bubs program and a youth group. They also provide advocacy, counselling services and links to government departments.
They have two upcoming books to stay tuned for, ‘Why our Children are Proud to be Aboriginal’ (written by the Baabayan Mums and Bubs Group), and ‘Fences and Walls’.
You can subscribe to the Baabayn newsletter by visiting the website, or follow them on Facebook or Instagram.
Djilpin Arts
Djilpin Arts is an art centre and social enterprise, designed and led by First Australians in a remote community in the Northern Territory. Established in 2002 by the celebrated actor, musician and beloved community member, the late Balang T. E. Lewis, the Centre provides employment, training, income, cultural healing, and intergenerational connection for First Australians.
You can keep up to date with events and resources from Djilpin Arts by signing up to their newsletter via their website, or by following them on Facebook or Instagram.
Grassroots Action Palmerston
Grassroots Action Palmerston (GAP), through its Grassroots Youth Engagement project (GYE), offers new opportunities to disengaged young Aboriginal people – aged from roughly 12 to 25 – by working collaboratively with local community members, businesses, and government to create positive outcomes in key areas that young people have identified as important to them. The program also delivers justice by empowering young people to reclaim the dignity the legal system has often taken from them.
This year a youth group from Grassroots Action Palmerston is working with a Stolen Generation Elders group, as well as Mulligas and Cudjeries Social Club, on a very special launch, that we we are hoping to share information with soon.
Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation
Kinchela Boys Home Aboriginal Corporation (KBHAC) supports Aboriginal men who were survivors of the Kinchela Boys Home. They help survivors locate descendants and family, connect them with government services, offer counselling services and support with those seeking to utilise the National Redress Scheme, as well as providing education programs on the Stolen Generations for schools and organisations.
Last year the organisation launched a new Walking Together Program at the Sydney Opera House. This year KBHAC’s Reconciliation Week activities are impacted by the flooding in NSW, with a planned Sorry Day event in Kempsey now being rescheduled.
You can keep up to date with events and resources from KBHAC by signing up to their newsletter via their website, or by following them on Facebook or Instagram.
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council
National Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council (NATSICC) is the peak advisory body to the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference on issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics.
With over 130,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholics in Australia, this community represents the youngest and fastest growing Catholic demographic. Caritas Australia partners with NATSICC on the ongoing ‘One Journey, Together’ initiative.
NATSICC has a wealth of liturgy resources available to support Catholic schools, parishes and communities through the year.
The City of Ballarat events are listed below:
As the City Bridges Now to Next we invite you to a Wadawurrung ceremony and lunchtime tours to learn about Wadawurrung Country and some of the designs, plants and Wadawurrung language used through Bridge Mall.
When: Tuesday 27 May at 12.30pm
Where: Bridge Mall Yarramlok / Yarrowee River portal.
*Native tea and free Wadawurrung plant seedlings provided.*
The Taken Exhibition
The City of Ballarat and BADAC invite Community one and all to a powerful photographic exhibition of The Taken images as requested by Ballarat Elder and Stolen Generation survivor Uncle Murray Harrison. Select photos will be on show at BADAC Tree Room.
When: Monday 26 May – Tuesday 3 June
Where: Ballarat & District Aboriginal Co-operative, Tree Room
National Reconciliation Week native plant walks at Bridge Mall
The City of Ballarat will collaborate with Wadawurrung nursery and Leigh Catchment Group and invites one and all to join us for National Reconciliation Week native plant walks at Bridge Mall.
When: Tuesday 27 May – Tuesday 3 June, starting each day 12.30pm
Where: Coliseum Lane, Bridge Mall
Ballarat Libraries National Reconciliation Week Storytimes
Across the Week – See the Ballarat Library, Sebastopol Library. Wendouree Library WHATS ON BROCHURE, from page 22
Caring for Country Wadawurrung Session
This session will be presented by Wadawurrung Traditional Owners Aboriginal Corporation.
When: Thursday 5 June at 6.30 – 7.30pm
Where: Sebastopol Library Bookings required.
Bookings: via humanitix
To share your event and see what else is happening around Ballarat visit Ballarat First Nations Events
More about National Reconciliation Week
Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May to 3 June each year.
These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey:
As National Reconciliation Week 2025 approaches, with the theme “Bridging Now to Next” it’s crucial for us to both celebrate progress and confront the persistent challenges that threaten our journey towards true reconciliation and mutual respect.
Reconciliation Week is more than a reflection; it’s a call to action to address continued issues like racism, which unfortunately, remains a significant problem in Australia.
Understanding the importance
In the lead up to and post 2023 National Referendum and January 26th events, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Ballarat noted a rise in racism both online and in personal interactions. In December 2023 a white supremacist group of around 30 men marched through the town at various public locations, a flagpole was vandalised in an act which saw the Aboriginal flag stolen just ahead of the City of Ballarat’s annual Survival Day Dawn Ceremony and Koorie Engagement Action Group Advisory Committee members reported an increase in online and face to face abuse following the media launch of the Survival Day Dawn Ceremony and inaugural Reflection and Healing events.
This surge in racist activity is a stark reminder of the broader societal issues we face.
In 2022, Reconciliation Australia found that 60 per cent per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had experienced at least one form of racial prejudice in the 6 months prior to the release of their Australian Reconciliation Barometer report — this is up from 52 per cent in 2020 and 43 per cent in 2018. These figures underscore the pressing need for continuing our efforts in combating racism.
Let’s remember that reconciliation requires active participation from all of us. Last year’s theme “Now More Than Ever” is still relevant and reflects our collective need to push back against divisiveness and foster a culture of respect and unity.
Together, let’s strengthen our commitment to building an inclusive Australia where every voice is valued and heard.
Taken from https://www.ballarat.vic.gov.au/reconciliationweek
Photos:
A carbon farmer in action – photo credit Richard Wainright for Caritas Australia
Communtity members attend a Baabayn Elders lunch – photo credit Richard Wainwright for Caritas Australia
Spear throwing as part of a GYE program – photo credit Caritas Australia
Students tour the Djilpin Arts centre – photo credit Richard Wainwright for Caritas Australia
Christine Rhazi with KBHAC chairperson Uncle Michael – photo credit Caritas Australia
NATSICC creating an illustrated cross – photo credit Tony Robertson