National Reconciliation Week

Reconciliation Week commemorates the important steps that have been taken to achieve reconciliation in Australia and raises awareness of the work that still needs to be done.

The annual event, which is held from Friday 27 May to Friday 3 June, celebrates the coming together of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

The theme for 2011 is Let's talk recognition.

The week marks two important dates, the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and the anniversary of the Mabo land rights decision.

The 1967 referendum resulted in more than 90 per cent of Australians voting to remove clauses from the Australian Constitution which discriminated against Indigenous Australians. It also gave the Commonwealth Government the power to make laws on behalf of Aboriginal people.

Community groups, schools, and other organisations across the country are organising events such as Indigenous cultural festivals, flag raising ceremonies and walks.

Events are also held for Sorry Day, which precedes Reconciliation Week on 26 May, to commemorate the day the Bringing them Home Report on the Stolen Generation was presented to the Federal Parliament in Canberra.

Find out more information on the Reconciliation Australia website.

The NSW Department of Education and Training is committed to recognising the contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women in the Australian Defence Force.

The annual Indigenous Veterans Ceremony, to be held on 27 May 2011, commencing at 11am around the Pool of Reflection at the ANZAC Memorial in Sydney's Hyde Park, honours and acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women who have served and those who continue to serve our country in the Australian Defence Force.

Students from NSW public schools have been participating in the ceremony since 2008.