10 ways to take meaningful action this National Reconciliation Week

May 20, 2025

It doesn’t matter where you are on your ally journey, all that matters is that you’re on the journey. The 2025 National Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Bridging Now to Next’. It’s an opportunity for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements and take meaningful action towards creating a culturally vibrant and safe society where the rights, stories and values of First Nations’ People are respected, and celebrated.  Here’s some ways you can take action:

1. Grow your cultural literacy

The first step to building safe and respectful relationships with the Taungurung community and all First Nations People, is to understand the history and impacts of colonisation and policies that continue to shape the lives of First Peoples today. The commitment and compassion of all Australians to learn the truth by listening to the perspectives of First Peoples, is a crucial first step towards healing and reconciliation. There are many opportunities to learn, including cultural awareness training and First Peoples led courses; engaging with First Peoples' art and stories and reading First Nations literature. Resources: Listen to accounts from the Yoorrook Justice Commission , enrol in a cultural awareness program with wawa biik, or Koorie Heritage Trust, or enrol in an online course with Centre for Cultural Competence Australia.

2. Engage with First Peoples in a respectful way that enables self-determination

Respectful engagement with the Taungurung Land and Waters Council starts with understanding that we have different ways of working and are driven by our own priorities for Culture and Country. Engage us early, be prepared to pay for Taungurung expertise and cultural knowledge, and build partnerships based on our strengths, leadership and authority on matters concerned with our People, Culture and Country. Take the time to first understand what we value and what we're working towards. Resources: Taungurung Land and Waters Council Strategic Plan 2021-2025 and Passing the Message Stick.

3. Participate in the Yoorrook Justice Commission Walk for Truth - public walk sections

The Yoorrook Justice Commission has a Walk for Truth from Portland to Parliament, with public walk sections available. These sections range from 1.5km to 26km, allowing participants to join for as little or as much as they like. The walk aims to bring people together to walk towards truth, celebrate First Peoples' resilience, and be proud of the oldest living culture. Head here for more information and to join.

4. Meet and learn from First Nations leaders on Country

Taungurung Land and Waters Council operates wawa biik cultural experiences in Nagambie and Euroa. There’s no better way to meet, connect and learn from Taungurung People than being on Country together in a positive and inclusive learning space. Taungurung guides share the proud Taungurung story and offer generous opportunities for yarning and learning about cultural perspectives and aspirations of the community. Join a public tour or a private tour with your work colleagues or community group and build your own personal connections with Taungurung People and Country. There are many amazing First Peoples-led experiences in Victoria, check out what's on offer here.

5. Write your own personalised Acknowledgement of Country

An Acknowledge of Country can be shared at meetings, on your LinkedIn profile and organisation website. An Acknowledgement of Country is a statement that can be a powerful message of solidarity and respect. It does more than just state the name of the Traditional Owners of the land that you are meeting on. An Acknowledgement of Country is acknowledging the deep continuous connection between First Nations People, their Culture and their Country across thousands of years. For it to be meaningful, try personalising it. Tailor it to your own context and make it specific to you /your organisation. What message do you want to convey? You can’t go wrong if it is from the heart. Give it a try! Resources: Here is a TLaWC Acknowledgement of Country that you can try as a starting point. If you don’t know if you’re on Taungurung Country or not, check this out: Welcome map.

6. Book a Welcome to Country and/or Welcome Smoking Ceremony for your next event:

A Welcome to Country is a significant way to show your respect for the Taungurung Nation. It is a personalised Welcome from a Taungurung community member. You can book a Smoking Ceremony also – which is performed by a Taungurung Elder. A 3 month lead time is recommended for bookings, so reach out to Taungurung Land and Waters Council early to get your booking confirmed in time for your big event on Taungurung Country. To book, click Taungurung Welcome Ceremony bookings.

7. Celebrate and learn Taungurung language

The Taungurung Land and Waters Council encourages more use of Taungurung language in the wider community. Our hope is for more language to be reinstated on Country and for everyone to gain confidence in speaking a few words. If you work on Taungurung Country, consider using Taungurung words in your email signature, or everyday meetings. Reach out to us for any translation services. Resources: Taungurung Language requests, purchase a Taungurung Language poster

8. Buy from Taungurung and First Nations businesses

We have many Taungurung artists, entrepreneurs, and business owners providing deadly products and services including graphic design, wellness products, clothing and more. Check out the Taungurung business directory to find out more. Taungurung merchandise including clothing, flag, language books and more can be purchased here:Taungurung merch.

9. Keep an eye out for Country

Country is important to all of us. Tread lightly when you’re out on Country. Take nothing. Leave nothing. Help us look after our cultural heritage which is protected under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006.

10. Stay in touch with us

We do so much as a community and there are plenty of amazing stories that we want to share. Follow and engage with our content on our Taungurung Land and Waters Council facebook and Linkedin pages and our wawa biik Instagram page. Connect with our People and our projects by signing up for our newsletters: TLaWC newsletter sign up and wawa biik newsletter sign up

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Ngun Godjin to Melbourne Water staff, who joined us on the wawa Nagambie tour today. As part of the tour we joined in the Aussie Bird Count — Australia’s biggest citizen-science event! We took a moment to slow down, listen, and notice the incredible birdlife that thrives around Tahbilk’s billabongs — a haven for native species.
Each sighting reminds us how caring for Country begins with paying attention.

#AussieBirdCount #WawaBiik #Nagambie #TaungurungCountry #CaringForCountry #BirdlifeAustralia #Tahbilk

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Open post by wawabiik with ID 17875305141431270
Ngun Godjin to Melbourne Water staff, who joined us on the wawa Nagambie tour today. As part of the tour we joined in the Aussie Bird Count — Australia’s biggest citizen-science event! We took a moment to slow down, listen, and notice the incredible birdlife that thrives around Tahbilk’s billabongs — a haven for native species. Each sighting reminds us how caring for Country begins with paying attention. #AussieBirdCount #WawaBiik #Nagambie #TaungurungCountry #CaringForCountry #BirdlifeAustralia #Tahbilk

Birdlife Australia runs an annual Aussie Bird Count to inspire everyone to take notice of our little feathered friends and get familiar with bird movements. As they say, noticing birds is the first step towards caring about them – and where conservation begins.

Today on our wetlands cruise at Tahbilk we took the opportunity to participate in the bird count – Australia’s biggest citizen-science event.

Over 100 species of native birds have been recorded at Tahbilk and during our cruise we spotted:

Australian Pelicans x 6
Black swans x 5
Azure Kingfisher x 2
Cormorants x 8
Dusky Moorhens x 4
Australian Magpies x 4
Scarlet robin x 2
Australian Ravens x 2

Tahbilk are committed to nurturing this remarkable environment. Together with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, they’ve invested in long-term habitat restoration—from planting native vegetation to fencing out livestock and controlling invasive weeds.

They’ve also installed nesting boxes for wildlife and are managing pest species like foxes and rabbits to give native fauna the best chance to flourish.

Observing life around these billabongs always presents something new and exciting.

#taungurungcountry #visit_tahbilk #goulburnregiontourism #birdlifeoz #billabongs #culturaltours #birdsofaustralia

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Open post by wawabiik with ID 17943687036077710
Birdlife Australia runs an annual Aussie Bird Count to inspire everyone to take notice of our little feathered friends and get familiar with bird movements. As they say, noticing birds is the first step towards caring about them – and where conservation begins. Today on our wetlands cruise at Tahbilk we took the opportunity to participate in the bird count – Australia’s biggest citizen-science event. Over 100 species of native birds have been recorded at Tahbilk and during our cruise we spotted: Australian Pelicans x 6 Black swans x 5 Azure Kingfisher x 2 Cormorants x 8 Dusky Moorhens x 4 Australian Magpies x 4 Scarlet robin x 2 Australian Ravens x 2 Tahbilk are committed to nurturing this remarkable environment. Together with the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority, they’ve invested in long-term habitat restoration—from planting native vegetation to fencing out livestock and controlling invasive weeds. They’ve also installed nesting boxes for wildlife and are managing pest species like foxes and rabbits to give native fauna the best chance to flourish. Observing life around these billabongs always presents something new and exciting. #taungurungcountry #visit_tahbilk #goulburnregiontourism #birdlifeoz #billabongs #culturaltours #birdsofaustralia
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