Latest news with #NationalReconciliationWeek
The Age
a day ago
- Politics
- The Age
Detention centre grounds transformed into spiritual space for National Reconciliation Week
For the first time in WA history, young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre have invited people from the outside in for National Reconciliation Week.
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Detention centre grounds transformed into spiritual space for National Reconciliation Week
For the first time in WA history, young people at Banksia Hill Detention Centre have invited people from the outside in for National Reconciliation Week.
West Australian
2 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Young people at Banksia Hill invite ‘outside-in' for first-of-its kind Reconciliation Week event
Young people in youth detention at Banksia Hill Detention Centre invited the 'outside-in' for a first-of-its-kind National Reconciliation Week event. The Department of Justice's event, Benang Moorditjabiny — Becoming Stronger for Tomorrow — featured reconciliation messages from Government and non-government representatives, cultural dance performances and a group yarning session. Ninety guests attended, including former Senator Patrick Dodson, Attorney General Tony Buti, Minister for Corrective Services Paul Papalia, Elders and community leaders from across the State. Mr Dodson — the father of reconciliation — said it was 'a great initiative'. 'The fact that the people in here, the young fellas and the young people inside, wanted to see and invited people from outside to come in, that to me is a great initiative and a great compliment to them, but also a compliment to the authorities for enabling that to happen,' he said. Banksia Hill's 'outside in' event showed what can be done when people are serious about reconciliation, and what can happened when people come together for a common purpose. 'This helps both parties, the young kids, the people that work with them and gives everyone a sense that we are able to not only help people when they're here, but to hopefully put the onus back on the communities to make sure that they don't come back here,' Mr Dodson said. 'There's a lot of hope that, working together, we can make life better, not only for the young people, but for the people that work in these places. We sometimes don't see, but there are real possibilities, and real values in doing some of the things they might have to do.' Department of Justice Director General Kylie Maj said it was a 'first of its kind' event. 'We listened when young people told us they would like 'to bring the outside world in' to celebrate National Reconciliation Week,' Ms Maj said. 'Here at Banksia Hill, it's evident we are taking significant steps to improve outcomes for young people, alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, including the introduction of important programs and supports.' Reconciliation WA's engagement with students at Banksia Hill focused on ways to encourage young people to find and use their voices and take part in ongoing conversations about reconciliation and their futures. Young people at Banksia Hill were involved in event planning and delivery and were supported by the Corrective Services' Aboriginal Services team and the Aboriginal Justice Transformation unit. Despite the 'marvellous achievements' of the Banksia Hill event, Mr Dodson believes a lot of work still needs to be done nationally. 'There's a bit more enlightenment in some of our jurisdictions that need to take place, and they better get on with it and make the changes to make things improve for the young people,' he said. 'For our communities, we've got to keep their young people out of harm and out of the attention of the police, which bring them into these places through the courts.' The event was hosted in partnership with Reconciliation WA.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Politics
- West Australian
Geraldton walk calls for unity during Reconciliation Week after WA's Stolen Generations redress announcement
Local school students and community groups stepped up to take a stand for reconciliation on Wednesday, the day after the WA Government unveiled a redress scheme for survivors of the Stolen Generation. About 200 people gathered in Geraldton's CBD to take part in the annual Wanarayimanha walk, part of National Reconciliation Week, which included a walk along the foreshore and a welcome to country by Kathleen Councillor. The event was hosted by Desert Blue Connect, Radio MAMA and Legal Aid WA and organised by the Department of Justice, and Justice and Community Network Committee. Leader of the march, previous Mid West Gascoyne police youth crime intervention officer and Aboriginal regional co-ordinator at Department of Communities, Rob Gibson said events like the walk were 'massive' for the entire community. 'If you're thinking about bridging a gap between non-Indigenous Australians and Aboriginal people, especially Yamatji peoples, it's really important to come together at many little events like this, they grow and they grow, and that's what we want,' he said. 'We want that involvement. We want that connection between them both. Because both of us have great histories. We need to combine that. 'So I always like to think that if you combine 250 years of history with 60,000 years of history, imagine the strength.' On Tuesday morning after National Sorry Day, WA Premier Roger Cook announced that $85,000 would be available per person for Stolen Generation survivors removed from their families before July 1, 1972, as a one-off payment as part of the redress scheme. Applications will open in the second half of the year and only surviving members of the Stolen Generation will be eligible. 'These payments acknowledge an injustice. It does not correct what has happened, but it does offer a path forward,' the Premier said. Mr Gibson, whose father is a survivor of the Stolen Generation, said the announcement was welcomed — not for the money, but the acknowledgement. 'I can certainly say, from a personal point of view, that my father was taken away when he was just a little boy. He didn't see his parents again for a number of years. And that's, you know, that's massive,' he said. 'It's not even about the funds. It's actually about the recognition of his worth and what he's been through, because it's not those missing years, it's the 89 years that he's been around. So it's really important to get that recognition.' Yamatji Southern Regional Corporation CEO Luka Gray said the redress scheme was a 'long-overdue' step toward 'truth, healing and justice for Aboriginal people who were forcibly removed from their families, culture and country.' 'We recognise the deep and ongoing intergenerational trauma caused by these removals and the resilience of our Stolen Generations survivors, many of whom remain active knowledge-holders and leaders in our community,' she said. 'While no financial payment can ever fully address the harm suffered, we hope this scheme provides a meaningful recognition of that pain and supports a path forward through healing and truth-telling initiatives. 'YSRC looks forward to engaging with government and community stakeholders to ensure that the delivery of the scheme is respectful, accessible and culturally safe for all Yamatji Nation members.' The reconciliation walk, which focused on the theme Bridging Now to Next, started at Rocks Laneway, made its way along the foreshore, and returned to the laneway for a morning tea, giving the community a chance to connect, share stories and work together for a better future. Mr Gibson said Australia still has far to go when it comes to bridging the gap. 'It's baby steps generally,' he said. 'I think we have never been in a time where people have more knowledge about our people. 'But unfortunately, we're only this far on the distance of that, so we've got a long way to go.'
West Australian
3 days ago
- Climate
- West Australian
Reconciliation walk replaced with ceremony after unfavourable weather conditions
The City of Busselton's Reconciliation Walk will be replaced with a ceremony to commemorate National Reconciliation Week, due to wild weather conditions forecast for Friday. The Busselton Reconciliation Walk was expected to start at the Merenj Boodja Bush Garden at 10am on Friday, but will now consist of a ceremony for National Reconciliation Week, to be held at the Youth and Community Activities Building on Foreshore Parade. A light lunch will be provided by Pindari and Woolworths, with guests also being invited to participate in a Reconciliation Week activity, which recognises and supports the importance of reconciliation.
