The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2021 is ’More than a word, Reconciliation takes action’.  It recognises that many of us are aware of the issues, but that is not enough.  For Reconciliation, we need to take brave and impactful action.

To help us understand what that action might be, today we bring you a conversation with Ms Pat Turner AM.  Her long and distinguished career  in public and community service includes the renegotiation of the Closing the Gap initiative which resulted in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. For Pat, understanding the difference between the two is the key to understanding the brave and impactful action that Reconciliation requires.  Pat is currently the CEO of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, and the Lead Convenor of the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Peak Organisations.

SHOWNOTES

Biography of Pat Turner AM (from The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth Century Australia).

https://www.womenaustralia.info/leaders/biogs/WLE0239b.htm

Reconciliation Australia website

https://www.reconciliation.org.au/

AASW reconciliation page

https://www.aasw.asn.au/social-policy-advocacy/reconciliation

AASW’s 2004 Statement Of Apology

https://www.aasw.asn.au/document/item/618

AASW Media Release “Reconciliation: A time to move forward together.

https://www.aasw.asn.au/news-media/2021

2020 “Australia and the World Annual Lecture: The Long Cry of Indigenous Peoples to be heard – a defining moment in Australia”. Ms Pat Turner’s address to the National Press Club, 30 September, 2020.

https://www.npc.org.au/speaker/2020/722-pat-turner-am

Learn more about the Coalition of Peaks and the new National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

https://coalitionofpeaks.org.au/our-story/

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The AASW respectfully acknowledges the past and present traditional owners and on-going custodians of the lands on which this podcast was recorded.  We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, their ancestors and families, and to the Elders of other communities who may be listening.