FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Schools Reconciliation Challenge 2010

1. What is Reconciliation?
In its broadest sense ‘reconciliation’ means coming together. In Australia it is the term used to refer to the bringing together of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal sections of the Australian community. Supporting reconciliation means working to overcome the reasons there is division and inequality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
This information is from our partner organisation: ReconciliACTION at http://reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/education-kit/what-is-reconciliation/ this site includes further information targeted at young people on Reconciliation.

2. What is the theme for the Schools Reconciliation Challenge? And what is it about?

The theme is - Reconciliation: The Road Ahead.

What is the theme about?
The theme, Reconciliation: The Road Ahead is about looking forward to the Australia that you would like to see.

It’s about thinking about the journey that we are still taking to achieve Reconciliation. We are by no means there yet, however we can look at what we have achieved so far and think about what we need to do to get to a truly united and reconciled nation.

It is about mapping out your hopes and your vision for Reconciliation.

It will take time to achieve Reconciliation in Australia.

Things that need to be improved for a reconciled nation include:
• A better relationships and understanding between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians
• Understanding and recognition of Australia’s history that includes Aboriginal people’s point of view or perspectives.
• Equal rights and respect for Indigenous Australians
• Closing the Gap between the level of disadvantage experienced by Aboriginal people in life expectancy, education and employment. For example did you know the average life expectancy for an Aboriginal person is 17 years less than the national Australian average?

Some important steps have been made on the road to Reconciliation.

Some of these important steps include:
• The endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2009
• The National Apology given by the Prime Minister in 2008
• Recognition of cultural protocols including Welcome to Country ceremonies and flying the Aboriginal Flag.
• Improvements in the level of achievement and participation across the education and employment sectors

3. How do I enter?

Enter by completing an entry form available here.

4. What are the prizes?

For Visual Art entrants (Grades 3-4, 5-6), the winners of each category will receiver a trip to Sydney and their work will showcased as part of the events during Reconciliation Week. In addition to this the winners plus a total of four runners up (two in each category) will receive their artwork framed and mounted.

The Lyric and Poetry competition will also be broken up into categories, namely Grades 7-8, Grades 9-10, and Grades 11-12. The major winner from each of these categories will receive a workshop/recording session with DJ’s/Producer’s at Heaps Decent. There are also Music Prize Packs and Reconciliation Prize Packs for each of the winners as well as two runners up in each category.

7. Who is the NSWRC?

The New South Wales Reconciliation Council (NSWRC) is the peak representative body for reconciliation in NSW. The Council is made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians working through a range of groups and organisations to promote united communities and to address the ‘unfinished business’ of reconciliation – recognition of rights, promotion of economic independence and social justice for Indigenous people.

8. When is Reconciliation Week?

Reconciliation Week runs from 27 May – 3 June, 2010

9. How do I go about writing a song?

Similar to writing poetry, write about your ideas and think about the structure of your verses and the repetition of the chorus. Think about the story you would like to tell and the mood you would like to set. What message do you want people to hear?

You do not need to write the music or even have thought about the music. We are looking for the words of a song. The winner of the competition will have the chance to have their song recorded and produced.

You can also visit websites that may help you develop your ideas such as:
http://www.wikihow.com/Write-a-Song

To consider the differences between a song and a poem you may like to visit this website: http://www.songlyricist.com/lyricorpoem.htm

11. When does the competition close?

The Schools Reconciliation Challenge closes 30 April, 2010

12. How do I contact you?

NSW Reconciliation Council Inc.
Address: 11-13 Mansfield Street, Glebe, Sydney, NSW 2037 (Co-located with Tranby Aboriginal Co-Operative College).
Telephone: (02) 9562 6355
Fax: (02) 8456 5906
Email: info@nswreconciliation.org.au

We'll get back to you as soon as we can!

13. How do I find out more about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and Reconciliation?

Useful links and resources

For teachers: Lesson plans and Class Room Activities based on Reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs.

ReconciliACTION
http://reconciliaction.org.au/nsw/education-kit/ ReconcilACTION is a network of young people engaged in progressing Reconciliation. This link will take you directly through to an education resource kit on Aboriginal Affairs on Reconciliation.

The Human Rights Commission
http://www.humanrights.gov.au/education/face_facts/index.html#4 The Human Rights Commission has a vast collection of resources. This link will take you directly to lesson plans and class room activities focused on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues.

Racism No Way Initiative
http://www.racismnoway.com.au/ This site supported by the Department of Education provides class room activities on anti-discrimination including specialised lessons plans on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues such as The Apology.

Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation (archived website)
Roadmap for Reconciliation by Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/car/

Reconciliation Australia
http://www.reconciliation.org.au/home/latest/aboriginal-perspectives-in-schools-qa This section of the Reconciliation Australia website is a Question and Answer style fact sheet that explores that assists to progress Reconciliation in schools.
http://www.reconciliation.org.au
Reconciliation Australia’s website includes a Resources section, which includes a page on ‘What is reconciliation.’

Queensland Government Reconciliation Resources
http://www.reconciliation.qld.gov.au/information/schools.html This site has a fact sheet and action list for teachers and students to participate directly in the Reconciliation process.

General links on Reconciliation and Aboriginal Affairs

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Website

http://www.natsiew.edu.au/site/resources/education/reconciliation.aspx This site has class room activities and lesson plans developed by the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education website.

The People’s Movement Website

http://www.reconciliationmovement.com/
This website was first launched in 2007. It has been written by volunteers working to support reconciliation in NSW.