Shelley Reys AO is a Djiribul woman from Far North Queensland and a leading voice across First Nations and corporate Australia.
As an inaugural Co-Chair and long-serving Board member of Reconciliation Australia, she has helped shape the reconciliation movement from its earliest days.
You were there at the beginning. How did you first become involved in reconciliation?
I was engaged by the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation in 1991 to help build what they called a ‘people’s movement’ across NSW and parts of the ACT alongside non-Indigenous colleagues, John and Elaine Telford.
At that time, formal reconciliation was new and not widely understood. Among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it was often seen as aspirational rather than achievable. Adding to this, there was a deep sense of grief and anger, forged by their removal from land and family, and so the proposition of a reconciliation process was not simply personal but incredulous. Despite this challenging environment, our role was to begin building public support.
As the Council approached the end of its 10-year mandate, Reconciliation Australia was established to carry that work forward. I was invited onto the Board to bring the people’s movement perspective into the room. From the outset, success depended on whether the public stayed engaged and willing to carry the movement forward.
What did that early period feel like on the ground, particularly in the early 2000s?
There was a mix of uncertainty, scepticism and hope. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were questioning whether the previous decade of work had led to real change in their lives. Awareness had grown, but outcomes had not kept pace.
At the same time, there was a strong sense of public goodwill. The People’s Walk for Reconciliation across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in May 2000 showed that Australians were willing to engage and to stand together, despite the work to be done.
When Reconciliation Australia was established in 2001, it stepped into that moment of both momentum and fragility.
In those early days, Reconciliation Australia’s resources were limited, there was little government support, and we felt heavy with the expectation that the movement would continue to grow. My fellow Board members had different views but I felt strongly that a people’s movement would be key to giving reconciliation ‘life’. In other words, if it was going to happen, it would be up to us.
How has reconciliation changed over the past 25 years?
One of the most significant changes has been the evolution of the people’s movement itself with the introduction of Reconciliation Action Plans. Organisations and their leaders became a central part of the movement. Today, with more than 3,300 RAPs in place, the movement has a very different face and voice.
That shift reinforced that reconciliation is not just the responsibility of governments. It is something to which all sectors must contribute.
We have seen tangible outcomes, including increased employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and more structured commitments to change. At the same time, the strong grassroots presence that existed in the early years is less visible now.
What do we need now to strengthen the movement?
We need to deepen the commitments within those RAPs. Commitments are not always embedded into the ways in which an organisation functions and I rarely see individual accountability where delivering on actions is included in performance reviews. This would create real traction where good intent is matched with tangible outcomes.
Truth-telling also remains essential. There is still a need for broader understanding of our shared history and its ongoing impacts. Alongside that, we must confront racism, which continues to shape the experiences of many people in this country.
Adding to this, generally speaking, I’m seeing a steady decline in kindness. Reconciliation cannot be sustained nor grow in that environment. We need to lean into what we believe to be intrinsically Australian – being kind and generous.
What role should governments play now?
While reconciliation must be driven by people, governments still have a critical role.
In the absence of a constitutionally enshrined Voice, there is an opportunity to introduce legislative mechanisms that ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can influence the decisions that affect them.
This could take different forms across jurisdictions, whether through a statutory Voice or Treaty. The key is that there are structures in place that enable genuine participation and influence.
How do we get everyone ‘All In’ for reconciliation again?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Reconciliation means different things to different people, and that is appropriate.
Leadership is critical. Leaders need to continue the conversation, bring people with them, and model both courage and commitment.
For the broader community, I’d like to see that spirit of kindness and generosity influence the manner in which they engage with First Nations topics. Reconciliation cannot be achieved by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people alone. It requires collective effort.
Looking back, is there a moment that captures what reconciliation means to you?
The National Apology to the Stolen Generations stands out.
When it was delivered, you could hear a pin drop in the House of Representatives. For years, in waiting for an apology, First Nations peoples had been holding their breath and now, there was a collective, audible sigh.
But we knew it wasn’t important for First Nations peoples, alone. It was important for us all; a single moment of pride in being Australian. With sustained effort, stronger commitments, and a willingness to lean in, there will be more opportunities to come together and to be filled with that same sense of pride.
A people’s movement – or allyship, as it’s more commonly known today – remains key to giving reconciliation ‘life’. It always was, and always will be, up to us.
This article is from the 55th edition of Reconciliation News. Read the rest of the issue.
