National Reconciliation Week – “Be Brave. Make Change.”

National Reconciliation Week – “Be Brave. Make Change.”

3 June 2022

This year’s theme is a challenge to all Australians – individuals, families, communities, organisations and government to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians. We want to empower our students to be a part of the change.

We asked four of our Northern Star – MADALAH tertiary scholars what reconciliation means to them, as we want to empower our students to be a part of the change.

Brianna Ozies is completing a Doctor of Medicine and Isaiah McKenna is completing her Bachelor of Laws. Both scholars are studying in Perth away from their home in the Kimberley. Simon Hayward is completing his Bachelor of Science, majoring in Exercise and Health and, Amos Smith is completing a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Conversation Biology.

Brianna’s message: “The theme ‘Be Brave. Make Change’ resonates in both of us as we relocated away from home and family to further our education so we can make a change for our mob through health and justice. We are the up and coming generation that will continue the work of those who came before us, following their bravery and aspirations for change, so our people can have a better, brighter future”.

Isaiah’s message: “Reconciliation to me, means delving into our nation’s past, recognising wrongdoings, hurt and harsh truths and learning and growing from those examples. Though the idea of reconciliation seems broad and as if such a feat would be impossible in Australia, it is evident that times and people are evolving. In reconciling Australia, and most importantly in reconciling mob, it is of principal concern that we help heal our old people, educate our young and that more and more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices are amplified and provided with the opportunities to work in spaces where they are uplifted and can address and remedy the issues facing them, rather than outsiders. Reconciliation means greater sovereignty for the mob, togetherness, wisdom seeking and a greater sense of peace and understanding”.

Simon and Amos came together to share their message: “What reconciliation week means is us as a nation recognising the genocidal policies that were inflicted on our people by the government which caused so much suffering, loss and trauma, and going through that healing process to bring both cultures together so we can all walk the same path together.”

Our tertiary scholars are role models to all of our secondary scholars and we are so proud of them for sharing such powerful messages.

Acknowledgement of Country

MADALAH acknowledges and pays tribute to the Whadjuk Noongar, the Traditional Custodians of the Lands on which we work, and we pay our respects to their Elders – past, present and emerging. This acknowledgement extends to the First Peoples’ land across the state of Western Australia which is home to the many students that we support.

MADALAH recognises and values the continuity of cultural, educational and spiritual practices of First Peoples.

We wish to advise our First Peoples that this site may contain the names, images or audio-visual recordings of people who have passed.