Wednesday, 31 May 2023

National Reconciliation Week

Sarah MANSFIELD (Western Victoria) (09:48): On Sunday I attended Geelong’s Reconciliation in the Park. Held every year since 2010, it is hosted by local First Nations community members with the support of Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group. It is a day for connection and truth-telling, and Geelong deeply cares about it. It is also a chance to celebrate the many First Nations businesses and service providers thriving in our region. It is an event I feel privileged to be part of, and it joins together the many experiences which have helped to guide my personal journey of reconciliation, one which continues today.

These events are also a time to reflect on the continued impacts of colonisation and systemic racism on First Nations people. This is a legacy First Nations people in Geelong know all too well, with many bearing the deep grief and trauma of the stolen generation, who were forcibly brought to orphanages across our region. This is a history we must never forget. It is also a stark reminder that conversations about reconciliation and the importance of treaty cannot be limited to just one day, one week or a year. For all of us in this house, reconciliation must be embedded in our decision-making as we actively seek to remove systemic barriers to self-determination and restoration for all First Nations people in Victoria.