2016 State of Reconciliation in Australia

Summary

The 2016 State of Reconciliation in Australia report celebrates a quarter of a century of formal reconciliation and the work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and makes an important contribution to the national conversation about modern Australia’s potential to reconcile fundamental and unresolved wounds that diminish Australia’s collective sense of nationhood.

The report weaves 25 years of modern Australian history into a compelling narrative and injects sharp and insightful commentary and analysis about how far we have come as a nation, and the continued challenges that we face on the reconciliation journey.

 

2016 State of Reconciliation cover.

The State of Reconciliation in Australia full-report File Size: 2 MB

2016 State of Reconciliation Summary report cover.

The State of Reconciliation in Australia summary report File Size: 493 KB

State of Reconciliation 2016 discussion guide cover.

The State of Reconciliation in Australia Discussion Guide File Size: 3 MB

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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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