National Reconciliation Week 2023

The theme for National Reconciliation Week 2023 was Be a Voice for Generations. This theme encourages all Australians to be a voice for reconciliation in tangible ways in our everyday lives - where we live, work and socialise.

At DMAW Lawyers, we are proud to support greater justice and equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, through participating in activities that allow us to deepen our respect and understanding of their shared histories, cultures and achievements.

In September 2020, we launched our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan, marking the beginning of a long-term commitment to engaging in and promoting reconciliation. In delivering on our plan, we continue to seek opportunities to educate ourselves and consider how we can contribute to reconciliation, including implementing cultural awareness sessions with Uncle Rod O'Brien from Wirltu Yarlu Aboriginal Education at the University of Adelaide and most recently with Aunty Michelle Jacquelin-Furr from the Boandik Mob in the South East.

This year, for National Reconciliation Week, we joined in two events - a member of our Reconciliation Working Group joined the Evolve NRW Webinar "Be A Voice for Generations" and a group attended the exhibition "A Little Bit of Justice -The Drawings of Charlie Flannigan" at the South Australian Museum.

In the interactive, yarning webinar led by Aboriginal Elder, Aunty Munya Andrews and Ally, Carla Rodgers, National Reconciliation Week was acknowledged by learning the difference between a Welcome to Country and an Acknowledgement of Country, understanding more about The Voice to Parliament and discovering how we can show up as allies to create a kinder, more inclusive Australia.

To round out the week, a group of us attended "A Little Bit of Justice - The Drawings of Charlie Flannigan" at the South Australian Museum. A Little Bit of Justice tells the story of Charlie Flannigan, a prisoner at Fannie Bay Gaol between 1892 and 1893 awaiting execution for the murder of Sam Croker. The exhibit featured drawings Flannigan completed during his final days in prison.