National Reconciliation Week was a virtual celebration across Australia this year in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Like many organisations, the Department’s events were held online to ensure staff working remotely and in the office had equal opportunity to participate in the week’s events as well as reflect together on the importance of reconciliation in our personal and professional lives.

This year’s theme, In This Together, was especially poignant given the need for all Australians to be “in this together” as we deal with current crises as well as work towards achieving reconciliation.

Many of the Department’sevents were held online including the RAP book club and online cultural awareness and Ngunnawal language training. However, at the heart of this year’s celebrations was a video series led by PM&C Reconciliation Champion Paul Wood.

This series of videos explored the opportunities and challenges for reconciliation and empowered staff to ensure reconciliation is at the centre of their work especially in times of uncertainty.

The week started with a Welcome to Country from Ngunnawal elder Aunty Jude Barlow as well as an Acknowledgement of Country from Paul Wood in Ngunnawal language.

Video transcript 1 [DOCX 27 KB]

These videos reflected on this year’s theme and invited staff from across the Department, as well as representatives from across the APS and external to the public service to talk on the importance of partnership and working together to achieve reconciliation.

Video transcript 2 [DOCX 27 KB]

As PM&C continues to deliver policy and programs for all Australians, we are reminded that reconciliation is not something to be celebrated for one week every year. Rather, it is an ongoing process where we must be in this together.