Somerset College Marks National Reconciliation Week 2025

At Somerset College, National Reconciliation Week is a time of deep reflection, meaningful learning, and powerful connection. In 2025, guided by the national theme "Bridging Now to Next", our community came together to acknowledge the past, learn from one another, and take steps toward a more just and united future.

Throughout the week, students across the Junior School participated in activities designed to foster empathy, cultural awareness, and a personal sense of responsibility in shaping Australia’s reconciliation journey.

In Year 6, students began by exploring their own cultural identities, guided by the understanding that true reconciliation begins with self-awareness. Through a structured activity, students reflected on five core elements of culture: Language, Customs, Place, People, and Values. The emotional impact of “losing” parts of these elements helped deepen their understanding of the pain experienced by First Nations peoples. From this place of empathy, students turned their focus outward, contributing to a symbolic art installation of reconciliation leaves. Each leaf completed the sentence, “In Australia’s reconciliation, now I…” and “Next I…”, capturing the spirit of individual commitment and hope. Together, these leaves formed a tree canopy, representing the bridge to reconciliation and the growth needed to sustain it.

Our Year 4 and 5 students unpacked the Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation. Each class was assigned a statement from the Declaration and explored what it means in today’s Australia. Through vibrant mosaics of student-created art, their collective response gave visual life to themes of cultural respect, unity, and shared responsibility. Words like understanding, inclusion, togetherness, and hope emerged across the artworks, showcasing a generation of young people with vision and heart.

Our Year 3 students have been exploring the book “Finding our Heart” by Thomas Mayo, which is a story for children about the Uluru Statement. Understandings were developed about the steps that have been made toward Reconciliation in the past, and students discussed how our Reconciliation journey can continue together. Beautiful rocks were painted to recognise the steps we have taken and the ones we still need to take, and how reconciliation should come from the heart.

Prep, Year 1, and Year 2 friends have been using their senses to connect with nature and explore what it means to reconcile with one another. The artwork for National Reconciliation Week by Kalkadoon woman Bree Buttenshaw features native plants known for regenerating after fire. This symbolises overcoming adversity as a part of the reconciliation journey. Students are exploring these plants and creating a collaborative art piece that uses these plants as a symbol for reconciliation.

Meanwhile, our youngest learners embraced creativity and connection to Country this week by contributing to Roxie, the Community Rock Snake. As part of their Unit of Inquiry, each child painted a rock to reflect their interaction with nature. Inspired by Indigenous art, this collaborative project nurtured empathy, respect, and teamwork, honouring the values of Reconciliation Week through creativity and curiosity.

As part of our commemoration of National Reconciliation Week, we held a moving Welcome to Country by Uncle Lann and a special performance by the Somerset Show Choir, honouring the connection between culture, music, and healing.

These activities, reflections, and performances demonstrate that reconciliation is not a single act, but a collective journey. It is lived and learned each day, in classrooms, in conversation, and in action.

As an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Somerset is committed to nurturing global citizens who value empathy, respect, and intercultural understanding. National Reconciliation Week serves as a powerful reminder that these values are not abstract ideals; they are the foundation of real change.