National Reconciliation Week is on from 27 May to 3 June.
This year's theme is 'Be a Voice for Generations' and, with organisers calling on all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, here are five local ways to join in.
1. Learn about Dharawal Country at the Southern Gateway Visitor Information Centre at Bulli Tops
Initiated by Destination Wollongong and the Illawarra Aboriginal Corporation, the Dharawal Country Experience includes a panoramic photo showcasing Aboriginal places and names; fun facts for children; and films of Dharawal Elders telling stories of Dharawal Country.
Julie-Anne Francis, visitor services manager at Destination Wollongong, said: "Reconciliation is about strengthening connections between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples through stories and language. The stories in our video presentations are about cultural significance, importance of the fauna and flora, and our connection to this land.
"We hope visitors learn the spiritual connection Aboriginal people have to this land, our belonging, obligation and responsibility to care for this land, so that we can all move forward with acceptance and equality."
Read more here.
2. Take a stroll to see public art
Local waterways and an Indigenous pathway from the Southern Highlands to the sea have inspired a metal archway installation at Calderwood District Park. Interconnection is a collaborative project by South Coast contemporary sculptor Jen Mallinson and First Nations artist Richard Campbell. Read more here.
Find more examples of public art here
4. Visit Coomaditchie: The Art of Place at WAG
Guest curated by Tess Allas with assistance from Alinta Maguire, Coomaditchie showcases newly commissioned works led by senior artists Aunty Lorraine Brown and Aunty Narelle Thomas. Artworks include the gallery’s outdoor panels, which tell the environmental stories of Coomaditchie Lagoon; ceramic plates and platters; and three large canvas works that speak to the history of three decades of community engagement. More than 700 people attended the opening at Wollongong Art Gallery in March and it's on until June 18. Read more here.
Public art created by the Coomaditchie artists can be seen here and you can read more (and watch a video) about the two dedicated artists who've led the organisation for decades in our July 2022 cover feature.
4. Check out Crown Street Mall's Nandhi Ngara (Look Listen) exhibition
A new reconciliation art project has landed in the Crown Street Mall and features 10 banners showcasing artworks from children from Warrawong and Corrimal East Public Schools, Para Meadows School, Keiraview Childcare Centre, and young people of Five Islands Secondary College. The new exhibition is called Nandhi Ngara (Look Listen) and was supported by Aboriginal artist Daren Dunn and Adam Towney from AT_Culture. Read more here
5. Support the Dreaming Inside project
Aunty Barbara Nicholson has been publishing the voices of First Nations inmates from Junee Gaol for over a decade. This year sees the launch of Volume 11 in a series known as Dreaming Inside. And this year she’s supported by one of Australia’s strongest advocates for an Indigenous Voice to Parliament: Professor Tom Calma, AO. The book launch took place on May 25 at WAG. Read more in A local voice is heard, by Simon Luckhurst.
The Dreaming Inside series showcases poetry, songs and other writing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander inmates – past editions are available via the South Coast Writers Centre shop