National Reconciliation Week: Bridging Now to Next
National Reconciliation Week (NRW), held annually from 27 May to 3 June, is a significant time for all Australians to reflect, learn, and engage in the journey toward reconciliation. It provides an opportunity to honour our shared history, acknowledge past injustices, and work together to build respectful relationships and a more just, equitable future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The dates of National Reconciliation Week mark two critical events in Australia's reconciliation journey:
27 May – The anniversary of the 1967 Referendum, when over 90% of Australians voted to amend the Constitution to count Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and allow federal laws to be made for them.
3 June – The anniversary of the 1992 Mabo Decision, the High Court ruling that recognised Native Title and officially rejected the policy of terra nullius, the idea that Australia was empty land belonging to no one before British colonisation.
Each year, Reconciliation Australia sets a theme to guide reflection and action. The 2025 theme, Bridging Now to Next, urges all Australians to connect past lessons with a shared vision for a more inclusive future, through truth-telling, allyship, and meaningful change.
Reconciliation is more than a symbolic gesture; it requires real action. It’s about:
Confronting the truth of Australia’s history
Addressing inequality across health, education, and economic opportunity.
Protecting land rights and cultural heritage.
Valuing Indigenous voices in decision-making.
Indigenous initiatives
Through our relationship with the Australian Mutuals Foundation, we’re proud to support Barnardos Australia’s Yurungai Learning Centre, an after-school program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary school children that offers homework support, cultural enrichment activities, and nutritious afternoon meals.
Through this partnership, we are helping build pathways for strong, resilient Indigenous communities and contributing to a more inclusive and compassionate Australia.
As a member owned bank, we are committed to making banking easy, inclusive and accessible for all of our members. We are a participating lender under the Victorian Homebuyer Fund, with the Victorian Government helping eligible Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants’ path to home ownership, requiring only a 3.5% deposit and eligible for up to a 35% shared equity contribution.
We have also recently commenced work on developing our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to sustainably and strategically take meaningful action to advance reconciliation.
Based around the core pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, RAPs provide tangible and essential benefits for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, increasing economic equity and supporting First Nations self-determination.
We look forward to sharing more as we progress our RAP and supporting initiatives.
Getting involved
During National Reconciliation Week, we encourage everyone to:
Attend local events such as art exhibitions, cultural ceremonies, and community walks.
Educate themselves and others about Indigenous history and perspectives.
Support Indigenous-owned businesses and organisations.
Reflect on their role in advancing reconciliation in their everyday lives.
Looking forward together
Reconciliation is not just a national goal; it’s a personal journey for all of us. By acknowledging the past and committing to real change, we can work together toward a future built on trust, respect, and shared understanding.
