Community Truth-telling Pathways

Reconciliation Australia’s Community Truth-telling Pathways program supports action and change toward a more just and reconciled Australia through truth-telling activities.

Our approach to truth-telling

The program is framed by four core principles:

  • Community led truth-telling is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander centred and is responsive to the needs and aspirations of the First Nations people of that place. The motivations particular to each community inform the design, delivery and resource needs of truth-telling in that place. Community led truth-telling also implies a collective and inclusive process in which the emotional and logistical labour of it is shared.
  • Place based truth-telling speaks to the centrality of Country in the process. Place-based truth-telling can significantly advance grassroots reconciliation by improving local relationships and by triggering local action for change.
  • Strengths focused truth-telling looks to generate respect and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and knowledge. It is about recognising and prioritising Indigenous strength, wisdom and skill in the truth-telling process.
  • Action oriented truth-telling inspires participants to act to ensure injustices cannot continue or be repeated. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have repeatedly expressed that reliving their trauma through public truth-telling needs to deliver real change. Truth-telling is not to stir sympathy or provide entertainment but to spark understanding, action and change.

Place based truth-telling

This collection of case studies shows the many ways local community truth-telling initiatives in Australia are being realised and how these efforts contribute to reconciliation.

Truth-telling organisations

Pathways Logo

A red brush stroke above text saying Community Truth-telling Pathways

The Pathways logo, created by Gumbaynggirr woman, Sancia Janggalay, signifies the journey of truth-telling.

This pathway can accommodate and guide all of us, even though we may be at different stages of the journey and travelling it at different paces.

The concept of a pathway also speaks to the way in which new horizons appear as we journey further along the pathway of truth-telling together.

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.

Truth-telling news

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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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