We must continue to strive for national unity through Reconciliation. Bridging Now to Next calls on all Australians to step forward together.
Image: Close-up of an older man wearing a shirt, jacket and a broad-brimmed hat.
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) takes place from May 27th to June 3rd each year and signifies the ongoing journey towards Reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and non-Indigenous Australians. These dates commemorate two significant milestones – the 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision.
Reconciliation is not just about acknowledging the past; it is also about working together to create a better future. This week-long commemoration calls upon individuals, communities, organisations, and the government to foster mutual respect, understanding, and equality and encourages us to unite as we strive towards healing and understanding.
Bridging Now to Next, the work continues
This National Reconciliation Week it is crucial for us all to engage in meaningful conversations, learn from the past, and take proactive steps towards Reconciliation.
According to Reconciliation Australia: Bridging Now to Next, reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. It is a powerful call to action to address the unfinished business of Reconciliation.
We can contribute to Reconciliation by educating ourselves about the history, culture, and by strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Ways you can support National Reconciliation Week:
Attend a National Reconciliation Week event online or in your local community.
Engage with the NRW Educational Resources and share what you learn with your friends and family.
Download and share the 2025 NRW digital resources.
Get a free hardcopy poster from an Officeworks store nationwide.
Learn whose Country you are on at AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia.
Learn how to do an Acknowledgement of Country.
Check you are using inclusive language for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
Engage with campaigns that support Reconciliation.
By amplifying Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community voices and supporting initiatives that promote cultural preservation and empowerment, we can help build a more inclusive and just society.
Keeping up the momentum
The National Reconciliation Week 2025 design and artwork, created by by Kalkadoon woman Bree Buttenshaw, features native plants − plants which are known for regeneration. It symbolises the collective strength and the possibilities of renewal.
"The artwork for the National Reconciliation Week 2025 Bridging Now to Next campaign celebrates the resilience of Australia’s native flora, featuring Lemon Myrtle, Banksia, Gum Leaves, Desert Lime and Kangaroo Paw, renowned for their ability to endure harsh conditions, regenerate after fire, and flourish through adversity," Bree said.
"These plants embody the strength and adaptability of people and communities, emphasising the importance of growth in the present while looking toward the future."
"Vibrant patterns symbolising journeys and tracks reflect resilience, connection, and progress, serving as a reminder of our deep ties to Country and the paths paved by those before us. By interweaving the regenerative stories of native plants with the campaign’s theme, the artwork encapsulates perseverance, unity, and hope."
Image: Text reads: 'National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme 'Bridging Now to Next' 27 May - 3 June #NRW2025 reconciliation.org.au' on a black poster with artwork representing native flora in red, green, orange and yellow.
From its roots in National Sorry Day to the vision outlined in the Uluru Statement, this week serves as a powerful reminder of the ongoing commitment to right past wrongs and forge a future based on respect, equality, and partnership.
Together with millions of Australians, Life Without Barriers reaffirms our dedication to Reconciliation, understanding that unity is fundamental to a brighter future for all.
We encourage you to embrace National Reconciliation Week as an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. By recognising the importance of their cultural heritage and wisdom and acknowledging the injustices of the past, we can build a nation that honours its shared history and embraces a future of Reconciliation.
Use #BridgingNowtoNext and #NRW2025 on social media to share how you will continue the push forward and head over to littlebutten.com to view more of Bree’s work.
