The event will mark the official beginning of the program which supports schools and early learning services to increase respect and strengthen relationships between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Professor Peter Buckskin and Senator Anne Ruston will speak at the event.

The launch of Narragunnawali follows more than two years of extensive collaborative development that sought to learn from the great work that so many organisations, schools, teachers and educators have been actively engaging in for many years.

Narragunnawali aims to continue to build on this work to support a community of schools through curriculum resources, professional learning opportunities for staff and an online Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Developer.

Justin Mohamed, CEO, Reconciliation Australia said the time was right for the new education-focused program.

“National level frameworks like the Australian Curriculum, the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers and the National Quality Framework for early learning are well positioned to progress reconciliation in Australian schools and early learning services.”

“Many schools believe they don’t need to participate because there are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander kids at their school. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Every Australian school and early learning service can join the Narragunnawali community to help all children to understand, respect and have pride in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures,” said Mr Mohamed.

Narragunnawali is wholly funded by BHP Billiton Sustainable Communities and builds on a long partnership between Reconciliation Australia and BHP Billiton.

“BHP Billiton is delighted to partner with Reconciliation Australia on this important program to help schools and early learning services to engage further with reconciliation,” said Ian Wood, BHP Billiton Vice President Community Relations and Sustainability.

“Narragunnawali will provide school and early learning service communities with the tools they need to bring all Australians closer together.”

For more information on Narragunnawali: Reconciliation in Schools and Early Learning, visit www.reconciliation.org.au/narragunnawali/