Reconciliation

Symbolic Reconcilation- Kevin Rudd 2008

“We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians

“We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

Positives and importance of Symbolic Reconciliation

“The apology was undoubtedly a watershed moment. It had been preceded by years (Indeed generations) of denial, accompanied by a refusal to offer any sort of acknowledgment, let alone an apology.” -Monash.Edu/Arts

“healing will never happen on a mainstream level unless everyone knows the story, knows the history… You can’t heal someone if you don’t know their story”-MS Peeters; survivor of stolen generations and starter of healing initive Marumali Program

Negatives of symbolic reconciliation

“Despite the well meaning intentions, Indigenous people continue to be over represented in the criminal justice system and underrepresented in academia, government, health and medicine, media and more.” -Monash edu/arts

Practical Reconciliation positives- goal success closing the gap

Goal number 3 “Children are engaged in high quality, culturally appropriate early childhood education in their early years”

"Nationally in 2024, 94.2% of [First] [Nations] [Children's]….were enrolled in a preschool program.. an increase from 61.3% in 2016 the baseline year.”- closingthegap.gov.au/national agreement/targets

Practical Reconciliation negatives, goal failure

Goal number 10

“Adults are not overrepresented in the criminal justice system”

“Nationally at 30 June 2024 the age standardised rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander was 2,304.4 per 100,000 adult population…'“Nationally, based on progress from the baseline [2019], the target is worsening.” closing the gap.org.gov.au/national-agreements-targets