This week from 27 May to 3 June is National Reconciliation Week. This year’s theme – All In – is a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day. It makes clear that reconciliation is not a spectator sport and that all of us must step away from the sidelines and take action to make change.

National Sorry Day  

National Sorry Day on 26 May is a day to acknowledge the grief, trauma and loss suffered by the Stolen Generations. It is also a moment to recognise their strength and resilience, and to consider the role each of us can play in supporting healing and reconciliation.  

RANZCP actions

The RANZCP is committed to strengthening and sustaining the Indigenous psychiatric workforce, embedding cultural safety across training and professional practice, and ensuring our policy, advocacy and leadership are grounded in culturally responsive and accountable approaches. This commitment is demonstrated by our actions including:  

• A majority of the actions identified in the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2024–2026 have been completed with several more currently in progress. As this plan approaches its conclusion, the College's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee has begun brainstorming the development of our next Reconciliation Action Plan.
• We have consistently called on the Australian Government to expand rural psychiatrist training with priority for First Nations applicants, and to include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as a priority group in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Review.
• We joined the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association and other organisations to call on the Australian Government to adopt and implement the Australian Human Rights Commission’s National Anti-Racism Framework in full across all areas of government.
• The Back to Country Grants provide grants up to A$5,000 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees to return to Country for cultural responsibilities, family obligations, and to reconnect with culture and community.
• We continue to contribute to A Better Culture initiative, including supporting the development of a national roadmap for embedding cultural safety in healthcare systems, not as an optional training exercise, but as a structural, ethical, and relational responsibility.
• Throughout the week, College staff are participating in various events to learn, connect and reflect on our shared journey toward reconciliation. This includes a session on Connecting Through Auslan with Cody Skinner, member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee, lessons learnt from the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2024–2026, and a hybrid morning tea for bi-national staff members.

Get involved 

There are many National Reconciliation Week events being run across the country, and we encourage everyone to get involved. To find local activities and learn more, visit the Reconciliation Australia website.