National Sorry Day is held on the 26th of May each year. The day is held to acknowledge the devastation caused to our families and Communities due the forced removal of our children from their families resulting in the Stolen Generations.
Sorry Day is an opportunity to pay tribute to Stolen Generations members and to remember those who have passed into the Dreaming. Having a national Sorry Day was a recommendation of the 1997 ‘Bringing Them Home’ report. This report examined the large scale removal of Aboriginal children as a result of government policies and the significant negative impacts.
Following National Sorry Day is Reconciliation Week, which runs from 27 May to 3 June. Reconciliation Week invites all Australians to grow respectful relationships and partnerships.
Reconciliation Australia invites all Australians to learn more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories, to share that knowledge and help us grow as a nation.
Sources & Further Reading
- National Sorry Day Committee School Resource (see pdf below)
- Reconciliation Australia
- Reconciliation Australia YouTube Channel
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Bringing Them Home
Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.Download
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National Sorry Day Committee School Resource
This significant educational resource developed by the National Sorry Day Committee supports our teachers and encourages our children to undertake activities that respect and celebrate National Sorry Day and the Anniversary of the Apology.Download