This week, we celebrate National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week.
This day, held on 26 May, is a time to acknowledge the profound grief and loss experienced by the Stolen Generations – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families and communities under government policies between the 1800s and the 1970s. The day also marks the anniversary of the Bring Them Home Report, tabled in Parliament in 1997, which documented the policies and practices and their devastating impacts.
This week, invites all Australians to reflect on our shared histories, and to deepen our understanding and respect for the cultures, contributions and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, invites reflection on the past, connection with the present, and the building of meaningful steps towards reconciliation.
Victoria’s Yoorrook Justice Commission is leading the Walk for Truth, a journey that will see Commissioner, Travis Lovett, walk 370 kilometres from Portland to the Victorian Parliament in Melbourne. Beginning on Sunday, 25 May, the route will pass through key regional centres including Warrnambool, Colac, Geelong and Footscray, before concluding at Parliament House on Wednesday, 18 June.
All Victorians are invited to take part in the Walk for Truth. You can join for sections of the walk or attend community events held along the way. The walk offers a meaningful opportunity to build a shared understanding of our history, and foster healing and reconciliation, all while walking and talking together. This initiative is organised by the Yoorrook Justice Commission – Australia’s first formal truth-telling process. The process seeks to highlight the historical and continuing injustices experienced by First Peoples in Victoria due to colonisation, and help bring about reconciliation and healing.
The walk is not just a physical journey – it carries deep cultural and spiritual meaning. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, walking on Country is a sacred act that reflects a profound connection to land, culture and ancestors.
If you’re unable to join the official Walk for Truth, you are invited to walk in your local area – on the land that holds ancestral stories and spiritual significance for the First Peoples who have lived here for generations. As you walk, reflect on the shared Spirit of love, peace and justice that calls us to walk in solidarity with First Nations communities, recognising their dignity, wisdom and enduring presence. Together, we can take steps towards healing, truth and reconciliation.
For information about The Yoorrook Justice Commission and the Walk for Truth visit their website.
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