What is Reconciliation Week?
National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
The National Reconciliation Week 2025 theme, “Bridging Now to Next", which reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. "Bridging Now to Next" calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
Why these dates?
The dates for NRW are the same each year; 27 May to 3 June.
These dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey— the successful 1967 referendum, and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
27 May 1967
On this day, Australia’s most successful referendum saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and recognise them in the Census.
3 June 1992
On this day, the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, the culmination of Eddie Koiki Mabo’s challenge to the legal fiction of ‘terra nullius’ (land belonging to no one) and leading to the legal recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of lands. This decision paved the way for Native Title.
What is reconciliation?
Reconciliation means different things to different people.
Head (think): What do you already know about reconciliation? Why is history an important part of reconciliation?
Heart (feel): What do/could we feel about reconciliation? How is reconciliation part of our own story?
Hand (act): What are some things that you/we/people could do to help to make reconciliation better? How can we make sure that, in the future, reconciliation will live in our hearts, minds and actions?
2025 Artwork
The artwork for the National Reconciliation Week 2025 Bridging Now to Next campaign celebrates the resilience of Australia’s native flora, featuring Lemon Myrtle, Banksia, Gum Leaves, Desert Lime and Kangaroo Paw, renowned for their ability to endure harsh conditions, regenerate after fire, and flourish through adversity. These plants embody the strength and adaptability of people and communities, emphasising the importance of growth in the present while looking toward the future.
Vibrant patterns symbolising journeys and tracks reflect resilience, connection, and progress, serving as a reminder of our deep ties to Country and the paths paved by those before us. By interweaving the regenerative stories of native plants with the campaign’s theme, the artwork encapsulates perseverance, unity, and hope.
Bree Buttenshaw
Proud Kalkadoon Woman
About the Artist
Bree Buttenshaw is a proud Kalkadoon woman and talented digital artist based on Quandamooka Country.
Bree’s artwork is a vibrant fusion between her Aboriginal roots and a contemporary digital approach. Her funky aesthetics, rich colour palettes and intricate patterns tell the story of cultural resilience and represent her deep cultural pride.
Central to Bree’s artistry is her unwavering commitment to community, culture, and Country. Every creative endeavor she undertakes is guided by the principles of Aboriginal culture—taking only what is necessary, leaving an abundance for others, and giving back whenever possible. Through her art, she amplifies the voices of her community, celebrates culture, and pays homage to the enduring connection with Country.
Head over to littlebutten.com to view more of Bree’s work.
