18/06/2026
This year for Reconciliation week, I was asked by the CEO of Reconciliation Tasmania to do a Welcome to kick off the Launceston breakfast, which is a big deal for me.
Historically, Reconciliation has come across more like a pat on the back without meaningful change, it comes with an assumption that colonisation has finished and weve entered a new stage being Reconciliation, when this isnt the case at all.
Colonisation is still happening its just became modernised with fear mongering Welcome to Countries, racism around skin colour or lack thereof, back cladding, etc.
Furthermore, Reconciliation Tas have faced alot of criticism in the past due to previous employees that have a mindset that we need saving and we need to follow what they say, for example I was approached many years ago to be a Gum nuts to Buttons facilitator, I was told that I was expected to volunteer my time for a month and be a back up facilitator for non aboriginal people and if I did as I was told id get casual employment, that didnt sit well with me and im sure its pretty obvious why. When I declined I was then borderline harrassed by board members, messaging me or calling me at all hours of the day in hopes id change my mind, I didnt. Then Pauline came along, her willingness to right the wrongs, she sat in the uncomfortability in order to ensure the community felt seen, heard and respected.
So, I decided to say yes, to take it on and show Pauline that her hard work and dedication is paying off.
You might be wondering why I've decided to make this post now, its because I want to remind people that Reconciliation isnt a week of the year, its not a document you pick up and put down, its not a fancy word used in funding agreements, its not a small sentence at the bottom of an email, its about showing respect to community, righting the wrongs of the past, its something you commit to everyday. It doesnt nessecarily mean big gestures, it could be as simple as picking up rubbish off the ground to respect country. I often say that I feel forgotten about once Reconciliation and NAIDOC are over with and it shouldn't be that way.
Dont get me wrong, I work with some amazing childcares and schools that have me come in throughout the year which is amazing, but its disheartening when I get up to 30 emails with workshop requests and when I say I dont have time during that week and offer a different day I never get a response back, so please remember that if your committing to Reconciliation that is an active process that occurs every day of the year, not just a week.
