Honouring Country and Healing Together: Standing with First Nations People in Truth, Strength and Legacy

For those working in the sector and for all Australians, our national days of significance offer a chance to pause and consider: What role can I play in reconciliation? What actions can I take that contribute to healing and justice?

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme, “Next Generation: Strength, Vision, Legacy,” invites us to think not just about the past, but about the legacy we are shaping now for the generations to come. It’s a powerful reminder that reconciliation is not a single event, but a continual process, a shared journey that requires listening, learning, and action.

As we acknowledged National Sorry Day (May 26), Reconciliation Week (May 28th to June 3rd), Mabo Day (June 3rd), and prepare for NAIDOC Week (July 6th to July 13th), we are once again called to reflect on our shared history. We are called to focus on the work still needed to create a future grounded in truth, justice, and genuine reconciliation.

Now is the time to engage. Whether it’s learning more about cultural frameworks, participating in NAIDOC Week events, or embedding culturally safe practices in your work, your contribution matters. Let’s continue walking this path together, with respect, with purpose, and with a vision for a stronger future led by First Nations’ voices.

At WorkUP Queensland, our commitment to walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities goes beyond acknowledgment. Through initiatives such as our Walking Together Learning Together mentoring program and Beyond Awareness: Culturally Safe Practice in our sector, we are working to embed cultural safety and respect throughout the domestic and family violence, sexual violence, and women’s health and wellbeing sectors. These programs support sector professionals to move beyond awareness and toward meaningful, culturally informed practice that centres First Nations voices.