Truth-telling

Truth-telling enables a fuller and more accurate account of Australia’s history to recognise the strength and contribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It acknowledges the historical silencing of injustices and ongoing impacts of colonisation on First Nations people. Truth-telling is fundamental to advancing reconciliation.

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How Reconciliation Australia is supporting new and continuing truth-telling journeys.

Truth-telling is at the heart of creating a just and reconciled Australia.

Two men stand in front of a large silver sculpture

Case studies on local truth-telling initiatives in Australia.

About truth-telling

Truth-telling covers a range of activities that engage with a fuller account of Australia’s history and its ongoing impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To be meaningful, truth-telling must aim to achieve change at a personal, local, institutional or national level. It can cover processes involving official apologies, truth and reconciliation or other inquiries and commissions, memorials, ceremonies and public art.

While truth-telling will deal with colonial conflict, massacres and dispossession, it also promotes the strength, contributions and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures.

State and territory truth-telling

Victoria

  • The Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria is the most comprehensive example of current state-level truth-telling.
  • Since 2020, Yoorrook has held several hearings to gather evidence on injustices faced by First Peoples.
  • This history-making commission will conclude its inquiry in June 2025 and release a final reform report at this time.

Queensland

  • The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry in Queensland began in July 2024 and will run for 3 years.
  • Testimonies are currently being gathered from Elders and community members across the state.

Northern Territory

Tasmania

Community led truth-telling

More local communities are working together to mark previously untold and unrecognised parts of their histories. This has resulted not only in an increase in researching and documenting of wars and massacres, but also in recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sovereignty, contributions and resilience, and actively taking steps toward redress and healing. 

Read more about place based truth telling in this collaborative study between Reconciliation Australia and Deakin University.

National truth-telling

Reports from the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and the Bringing Them Home report, are landmark examples of national truth-telling.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart with its call for Voice, Treaty and Truth captures Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aspirations for ‘a fair and truthful relationship with the people of Australia based on justice and self-determination.’

Truth-telling and reconciliation

Reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of us all. Truth-telling has always been at the heart of reconciliation and will continue to be a keystone of our work to create a more just and equitable Australia.

As the Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation released in 2000 made clear: 
Our nation must have the courage to own the truth, to heal the wounds of its past so that we can move on together at peace with ourselves.

In 2018, Reconciliation Australia and The Healing Foundation collaborated on a Truth-telling Symposium. The symposium explored the importance of truth-telling, the truths that need to be told, different truth-telling practices that might be applicable to Australia, and guiding principles for future truth-telling processes. Read more in the Symposium’s final report.

Our work of reconciliation is based on and measured by the five dimensions of reconciliation: Race Relations, Equality and Equity, Institutional Integrity, Unity and Historical Acceptance.

While truth-telling is essential to each of the five dimensions, it is expressly called for in the dimension of Historical Acceptance. Achieving Historical Acceptance requires that all Australians understand and accept the wrongs of the past and their impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Its goal is widespread acceptance of our nation’s history through truth, justice and healing.

Our relationship cannot function without a shared and honest understanding of where we have come from together.

Community Truth-telling Pathways

Reconciliation Australia’s new Community Truth-telling Pathways program aims to support communities to begin or continue their truth-telling journey. The program’s work is community-led, place-based, strengths focused and action oriented.

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Truth-telling news

Truth-telling resources

Reconciliation Australia and The Healing Foundation brought together experts from around the country for a Truth Telling Symposium in October 2018 to discuss the ways that truth telling could support healing and reconciliation in Australia.
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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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