Reconciliation Action and Resources 2021

The Victorian Branch extends it's respect and acknowledgement of the past and present Traditional Owners and ongoing Custodians of the unceded lands on which we work and live.

In the spirit of reconciliation, we would also like to acknowledge their connection to land, sea and community.

National Sorry Day - 26 May 2021

On National Sorry Day 2021, the Victorian Branch Management Committee of the Australian Association of Social Workers would like to share the following statement with members and the broader social work community.

We acknowledge the significant and enduring impacts of the forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

We acknowledge that the consequences of the removal of children from their families are profound, traumatic, lifelong, and intergenerational.

We acknowledge that the social work profession previously played a role in the assimilation policies as agents and instruments of the government and other organisations.

We acknowledge and continue to reflect on the role that social work has played in the creation of the Stolen Generations.

We acknowledge and express deep concern that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are 16.1 times more likely to be removed from their families by child protection services than non-Indigenous children, a rate that is the second highest in Australia and significantly higher than the national average of 9.7 times[i].

We commit to ongoing reflection, learning, and ethical practice that seeks to address the impacts of past wrongs and commits to prioritising self-determination for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.

We commit wholeheartedly to actively engaging in the journey towards reconciliation. We will listen and we will hear, and we will be guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members and community in Victoria.

[i] The Family Matters Report 2020 via https://www.familymatters.org.au/the-family-matters-report-2020/

National Reconciliation Week - 27 May to 3 June 2021

Reconciliation Australia’s theme for 2021, More than a word. Reconciliation takes action, urges the reconciliation movement towards braver and more impactful action.

We recognise that we all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

2021 marks twenty years of Reconciliation Australia and almost three decades of Australia’s formal reconciliation process.

Find out more about National Reconciliation Week #MoreThanAWord #NRW2021

NAIDOC Week - 4-11 July 2021

This year's theme is Heal Country, heal our nation.

We look forward to joining the annual Victorian NAIDOC March in Melbourne.

We'll post the details here and on our Victorian Branch Event Calendar as soon as they are confirmed. We would love members to join us once again!

Recent Events

Family Matters Campaign - National Week of Action - 9-15 May

The Victorian Branch is a proud supporter of the Family Matters Campaign and their annual National Week of Action was 9-15 May 2021.

This year's theme was Our Mobs Matter and the campaign hosted an incredible array of online events and actions of interest and value to Victorian social workers. #OurMobsMatter