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National Reconciliation in Education Forum 2025 Summary Report

In November 2025, 200 educators, leaders and sector representatives gathered on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra for the National Reconciliation in Education Forum, hosted by Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program.

This summary report captures the key insights, priorities and recommendations identified by participants to help advance reconciliation across education systems.

Focused on truth-telling, cultural responsiveness and shared responsibility, the report highlights three key recommendations that must be acted on at all levels to support genuine Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander self-determination in education.

These recommendations are:

  1. Reckoning with the Truths of our Education System: Support place based, First Nations community led truth-telling to deepen understanding of Australia’s education system and its impacts.
  2. Building a Culturally Responsive Education Sector: Embed cultural responsiveness through systems-wide expectations, time allocation and resourcing.
  3. Guiding and Driving Reconciliation Practice: Clarify, resource and administer shared responsibility for reconciliation.
Cover of the National Reconciliation in Education Forum: Bridging Now to Next summary report - just the text and Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Education program blue and purple splashes

National Reconciliation in Education Forum: Bridging Now to Next Summary Report

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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