• The first speaker at an event or function (following a Welcome to Country, if there is one) should give the Acknowledgment of Country. Subsequent speakers may also give an Acknowledgement.
• There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following form:

“I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional lands of the (appropriate group) people, and pay my respect to Elders both past and present.”

Consider this statement as a guide only—you may like to personalise and localise an Acknowledgement to make it as meaningful as possible.

• If you are unsure who the Traditional Owners of your area are, contact your local municipal council or Aboriginal Land Council to confirm, as sometimes there are several groups of Traditional Owners in one region.
• Consult Reconciliation Australia’s fact sheet for further information and guidance.

• It is important that specific protocols are followed when flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to ensure they are displayed in a dignified manner. Consult Reconciliation Australia’s fact sheet for an explanation of these protocols.
• Ensure you fly both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, as they represent two distinct cultures. It’s important to recognise that even within each group, various languages and traditions are practiced across Australia.
• There are several ways you can choose to display flags:
  • Provide smaller desk size flags for display in offices and boardrooms.
  • Display full size flags in your office, community or school hall. You may wish to hold a flag raising ceremony as a more prominent show of support for reconciliation. If holding a ceremony, consider engaging with a local Elder to conduct a Welcome to Country.
• Procure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags of all sizes from Flag World or another reputable manufacturer.

• Use our NRW calendar to see a list of events in your area and how you can get involved. If you’re holding an event, don’t forget to register it so others can join in.
• Be sure to also look beyond our calendar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and reconciliation events that interest you, such as art exhibitions, musical performances and local tours. There are so many mediums through which we can promote reconciliation and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and form new relationships—you might even pick up some ideas for your NRW event next year.

• Read the summary of Reconciliation Australia’s the State of Reconciliation in Australia report and watch the accompanying video Our History, Our Story, Our Future.
• Use the video and the five dimensions of reconciliation outlined in the Report to guide your yarning circle conversation. They are:

1. Race relations
2. Equality and equity
3. Institutional integrity
4. Unity
5. Historical acceptance

• You may discuss why each dimension is crucial for reconciliation and what practical steps we can take in our own lives to progress them.
• Ensure you respect the protocols of the yarning circle process by providing all participants with an opportunity to have their say. Each participant should speak, one at a time, and be heard without interruption. This process develops deep listening skills and the ability to show respect in the face of differing views.

• Enter details of your National Reconciliation Week (NRW) event into our interactive poster and display it around your business or organisation to encourage awareness and attendance.
• Consider including some meaningful insights on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ histories and cultures on the event invitation. Share Our Pride, Reconciliation Australia’s online learning resource, is an easy place to find accurate information.
• Engage with a local Elder to conduct a Welcome to Country.
• Consider screening Who We Are: Brave New Clan films, available here. In these short films, six exceptional young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples share stories about their communities, histories and cultures in contemporary Australia.
• Consider inviting a representative of a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program or organisation to attend your morning tea and share information about the work they do.

• Most TEDx talks are less than 20 minutes in length, so can quite easily be screened via YouTube at a staff meeting or community gathering during National Reconciliation Week (NRW).
• There are many incredible talks, but here are a few that speak strongly to reconciliation:
  •  Science, art, and reconciliation by Steven Tingay at TEDxPerth
  •  ONExSAMENESS by Dr Anita Heiss at TEDxBrisbane
  •  Two worlds by Ingrid Cumming at TEDxPerth
  •  IndigenousX by Luke Pearson at TEDxCanberra
  •   ONExEAR by Michael Williams
  •  All you need is…. TO DREAM by Chris Sarra TEDxBrisbane

• Many National Parks offer cultural walking tours, as do some Land Councils and heritage centres. Visit the websites of these organisations in your area to see what’s on offer.
• You can also search Supply Nation certified businesses that run tours here.
• If established cultural tours are not available in your area, we recommend contacting your local Land Council to find out if any local Elders offer their expertise through talks or cultural walks.
• You may also like to visit your local library to learn about the shared history of your particular region and develop a respectful understanding of the difficulties Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples faced and still face today.
• Even if you don’t participate in a formal culture tour or talk during NRW, there are opportunities to learn about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures of local areas—by taking notice of the names of places, acknowledgements of Traditional Owners, information plaques and the visual arts in your everyday surroundings.

• Like Reconciliation Australia on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.
• Start a conversation about reconciliation. Let everyone know what your plans are by sharing event invitations ahead of NRW and photos capturing your experiences during the week.
• Explore Reconciliation Australia’s NRW events calendar, to see what other people are doing across the nation—you might come up with some great ideas for next year.

• Reconciliation Australia has compiled a list of films, TV shows and docos recommended for various audiences. This resource also gives pointers on how to access these materials.
• Consider scheduling the screening between 12pm to 2pm and providing lunch to encourage attendance.
• Ahead of the screening, you may like to circulate a trailer or synopsis of the film or program and pose some questions to think about during the viewing.
• You may also like to have a group ‘debrief’ after the film to share reflections and learnings.
• Finally, you may like to circulate Reconciliation Australia’s recommended viewing list to guide further staff engagement with films on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

• As always, your local community is the ideal place to start. Consider contacting your local Land Council to be put in touch with artists from your region who may be open to speaking to your staff or colleagues about their art practice, or Traditional Owners who could take your group to a site of significance where paintings and carvings can be viewed. Community and council run galleries may also be able to provide guidance and appropriate contacts.
• Remember that building trusting and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities takes time, so ensure you follow up over time with your enquiries. Also ensure that artist guests are properly remunerated for their time speaking in your business or organisation.
• If time doesn’t allow for community outreach, large state or territory galleries and cultural institutions have impressive collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, both historical and contemporary, and may be able to arrange guided tours for groups. If this is the option that most suits your business or organisation, consult the education or tours section of the gallery website.
• You may like to support a local or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist by purchasing a work for your place of business.

• You can start your cultural awareness journey by visiting Reconciliation Australia’s online resource Share Our Pride to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.
• There are a wide and varied range of cultural awareness training programs available throughout Australia that can be tailored to suit your needs. Visit Supply Nation to search for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned companies that run cultural awareness training in your area.

• When preparing tucker to share, take inspiration from tantalising recipes by Aboriginal chefs like Mark Olive or Clayton Donovan, or add a pinch of a native herb to a tried and tested dish.
• If your organisation or school has a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), a barbeque or picnic could be a great way to involve more people in conversation about the goals, commitments and achievements you’ve made by having a RAP. If you don’t have a RAP but would like to find out more, visit our RAP hub.
• Gathering for a shared meal is also a great opportunity to make a tangible contribution toward supporting reconciliation. Choose a community group, Indigenous business, charity or not-for-profit organisation that supports and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and arrange a group donation.

• The first speaker at an event or function (following a Welcome to Country, if there is one) should give the Acknowledgement of Country. Subsequent speakers may also give an Acknowledgement.
• There are no set protocols or wording for an Acknowledgement of Country, though often a statement may take the following form:

“I would like to acknowledge that this meeting is being held on the traditional lands of the (appropriate group) people, and pay my respect to Elders both past and present.”

Consider this statement as a guide only—you may like to personalise and localise an Acknowledgement to make it as meaningful as possible.

• If you are unsure who the Traditional Owners of your area are, contact your local municipal council or Aboriginal Land Council to confirm, as sometimes there are several groups of Traditional Owners in one region.
• Consult Reconciliation Australia’s fact sheet for further information and guidance.

• It is important that specific protocols are followed when flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags to ensure they are displayed in a dignified manner. Consult Reconciliation Australia’s fact sheet for an explanation of these protocols.
• Ensure you fly both the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags, as they represent two distinct cultures. It’s important to recognise that even within each group, various languages and traditions are practiced across Australia.
• There are several ways you can choose to display flags:

• Procure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags of all sizes from Flag World or another reputable manufacturer.

• Use our NRW calendar to see a list of events in your area and how you can get involved. If you’re holding an event, don’t forget to register it so others can join in.
• Be sure to also look beyond our calendar for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and reconciliation events that interest you, such as art exhibitions, musical performances and local tours. There are so many mediums through which we can promote reconciliation and learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures and form new relationships—you might even pick up some ideas for your NRW event next year.

• Read the summary of Reconciliation Australia’s the State of Reconciliation in Australia report and watch the accompanying video Our History, Our Story, Our Future.
• Use the video and the five dimensions of reconciliation outlined in the Report to guide your yarning circle conversation. They are:

• You may discuss why each dimension is crucial for reconciliation and what practical steps we can take in our own lives to progress them.
• Ensure you respect the protocols of the yarning circle process by providing all participants with an opportunity to have their say. Each participant should speak, one at a time, and be heard without interruption. This process develops deep listening skills and the ability to show respect in the face of differing views.

• Enter details of your National Reconciliation Week (NRW) event into our interactive poster and display it around your school or early learning service to encourage awareness and attendance.
• Consider including some meaningful insights on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ histories and cultures on the event invitation. Share Our Pride, Reconciliation Australia’s online learning resource, is an easy place to find accurate information.
• Engage with a local Elder to conduct a Welcome to Country.
• Consider screening Who We Are: Brave New Clan films, available here. In these short films, six exceptional young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples share stories about their communities, histories and cultures in contemporary Australia.
• Consider inviting a representative of a local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander program or organisation to attend your morning tea and share information about the work they do.

• Most TED talks are less than 20 minutes in length, so can quite easily be screened via YouTube at a staff meeting or community gathering during National Reconciliation Week (NRW).
• There are many incredible talks, but here are a few that speak strongly to reconciliation:

• Many National Parks offer cultural walking tours, as do some Land Councils and heritage centres. Visit the websites of these organisations in your area to see what’s on offer.
• You can also search Supply Nation certified businesses that run tours here.
• If established cultural tours are not available in your area, we recommend contacting your local Land Council to find out if any local Elders offer their expertise through talks or cultural walks.
• You may also like to visit your local library to learn about the shared history of your particular region and develop a respectful understanding of the difficulties Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples faced and still face today.
• Even if you don’t participate in a formal culture tour or talk during NRW, there are opportunities to learn about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures of local areas—by taking notice of the names of places, acknowledgements of Traditional Owners, information plaques and the visual arts in your everyday surroundings.
• Self-guided walking tour Apps, such as City of Sydney Culture Walks, and books including Aboriginal Sydney, Aboriginal Darwin and Aboriginal Melbourne, may also allow you to explore local precincts of significance to Aboriginal peoples.

• Use our book guide to pick one, six or twelve books of interest focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
• You may like to hold a one-off book club during National Reconciliation Week (NRW), or continue reading throughout the year by holding a discussion group monthly or every two months.
• The book club discussion could take place in person, or if pressed for time to gather, through a private online forum.
• Consider posing a few questions to guide your discussion. Try to move beyond likes and dislikes to questions such as:
  • What did you learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories or peoples?
  • How do you think the book could start a dialogue about reconciliation?
    • If your book club successfully runs for a year, you may like to vote on your favourite book and host a reading of select passages during the next NRW.

• Like Reconciliation Australia on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.
• Start a conversation about reconciliation. Let everyone know what your plans are by sharing event invitations ahead of NRW and photos capturing your experiences during the week.
• Explore the Reconciliation Australia’s NRW events calendar, to see what other people are doing—you might come up with some great ideas for next year.

• Reconciliation Australia has compiled a list of films, TV shows and docos recommended for various audiences. This resource also gives pointers on how to access these materials.
• Consider scheduling the screening between 12pm to 2pm and providing lunch to encourage attendance.
• Ahead of the screening, you may like to circulate a trailer or synopsis of the film or program and pose some questions to think about during the viewing.
• You may also like to have a group ‘debrief’ after the film to share reflections and learnings.
• Finally, you may like to circulate Reconciliation Australia’s recommended viewing list to guide further staff engagement with films on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.

• As always, your local community is the ideal place to start. Consider contacting your local Land Council to be put in touch with artists from your region who may be open to speaking to your school or service about their art practice, or Traditional Owners who could take your group to a site of significance where paintings and carvings can be viewed. Community and council run galleries may also be able to provide guidance and appropriate contacts.
• Remember that building trusting and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities takes time, so ensure you follow up over time with your enquiries. Also ensure that artist guests are properly remunerated for their time speaking in your school or service.
• If time doesn’t allow for community outreach, large state or territory galleries and cultural institutions have impressive collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, both historical and contemporary, and may be able to arrange guided tours for school or service groups. If this is the option that most suits your school or service, consult the education or tours section of the gallery website.
• You may like to support a local or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist by purchasing a work for your school or service.

• When preparing food to share, take inspiration from tantalising recipes by Aboriginal chefs like Mark Olive or Clayton Donovan, or add a pinch of a native herb to a tried and tested dish.
• If your school or service has a Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), a barbeque or picnic could be a great way to involve more people in conversation about the goals, commitments and achievements you’ve made by having a RAP. If you don’t have a RAP but would like to find out more, visit our Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning Services website.

• Read the summary of Reconciliation Australia’s the State of Reconciliation in Australia report and watch the accompanying video Our History, Our Story, Our Future.
• Use the video and the five dimensions of reconciliation outlined in the Report to guide your yarning circle conversation. They are:

1. Race relations
2. Equality and equity
3. Institutional integrity
4. Unity
5. Historical acceptance

• You may discuss why each dimension is crucial for reconciliation and what practical steps we can take in our own lives to progress them.
• Ensure you respect the protocols of the yarning circle process by providing all participants with an opportunity to have their say. Each participant should speak, one at a time, and be heard without interruption. This process develops deep listening skills and the ability to show respect in the face of differing views.

• Why not watch and share a few of the following incredible talks, which speak strongly to reconciliation, via your social channels during National Reconciliation Week (NRW) using the hashtag #NRW2016?
  •  Science, art, and reconciliation by Steven Tingay at TEDxPerth
  •  ONExSAMENESS by Dr Anita Heiss at TEDxBrisbane
  •  Two worlds by Ingrid Cumming at TEDxPerth
  •  IndigenousX by Luke Pearson at TEDxCanberra

• Many National Parks offer cultural walking tours, as do some Land Councils and heritage centres. Visit the websites of these organisations in your area to see what’s on offer.
• You can also search Supply Nation certified businesses that run tours here.
• If established cultural tours are not available in your area, we recommend contacting your local Land Council to find out if any local Elders offer their expertise through talks or cultural walks.
• You may also like to visit your local library to learn about the shared history of your particular region and develop a respectful understanding of the difficulties Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples faced and still face today.
• Even if you don’t participate in a formal culture tour or talk during NRW, there are opportunities to learn about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures of local areas—by taking notice of the names of places, acknowledgements of Traditional Owners, information plaques and the visual arts in your everyday surroundings.
• Self-guided walking tour Apps, such as City of Sydney Culture Walks, and books including Aboriginal Sydney, Aboriginal Darwin and Aboriginal Melbourne, may also allow you to explore local precincts of significance to Aboriginal peoples.

• Use our book guide to pick one, six or twelve books of interest focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
• You may like to hold a one-off book club during National Reconciliation Week (NRW), or continue reading throughout the year by holding a discussion group monthly or every two months.
• The book club discussion could take place in person, or if pressed for time to gather, through a private online forum.
• Consider posing a few questions to guide your discussion. Try to move beyond likes and dislikes to questions such as:
  • What did you learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories or peoples?
  • How do you think the book could start a dialogue about reconciliation?
• If your book club successfully runs for a year, you may like to vote on your favourite book and host a reading of select passages during the next NRW.

• Like Reconciliation Australia on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all the latest updates.
• Start a conversation about reconciliation. Let everyone know what your plans are by sharing event invitations ahead of NRW and photos capturing your experiences during the week.
• Explore Reconciliation Australia’s NRW events calendar, to see what other people are doing—you might come up with some great ideas for next year.

• Reconciliation Australia has compiled a list of films, TV shows and docos recommended for various audiences. This resource also gives pointers on how to access these materials.
• Why not start a monthly film club rather than making the screening a one-off event? Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander films have so much to teach us about our shared history and distinct cultures, and regular viewings and open discussions with friends only enrich the learning experience.

• As always, your local community is the ideal place to start. Consider contacting your local Land Council to be put in touch with artists from your region who may be open to speaking to your friendship group about their art practice, or Traditional Owners who could take your group to a site of significance where paintings and carvings can be viewed. Community and council run galleries may also be able to provide guidance and appropriate contacts.
• Remember that building trusting and collaborative relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities takes time, so ensure you follow up over time with your enquiries. Also ensure that artist guests are properly remunerated for their time speaking to your group.
• If time doesn’t allow for community outreach, large state or territory galleries and cultural institutions have impressive collections of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art, both historical and contemporary, and may be able to arrange guided tours for groups. If this is the option that most suits your group, consult the education or tours section of the gallery website.
• You may like to support a local or other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist by purchasing a work.

• You can start your cultural awareness journey by visiting Reconciliation Australia’s online resource Share Our Pride to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories and cultures.
• There are a wide and varied range of cultural awareness training programs available throughout Australia that can be tailored to suit your needs. Visit Supply Nation to search for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander owned companies that run cultural awareness training in your area.

• When preparing food to share, take inspiration from tantalising recipes by Aboriginal chefs like Mark Olive or Clayton Donovan.
• Using native Australian ingredients could add another dimension of learning and new taste sensations to your barbeque, picnic or dinner party.