Bridging now to next – CatholicCare’s commitment to reconciliation

May 23, 2025

Each year, National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June) invites all Australians to reflect on the journey of reconciliation – what it means, why it matters, and how we can take meaningful steps forward. The theme for 2025, Bridging Now to Next, calls on us to connect our shared histories with our shared futures, creating a stronger, more inclusive path forward. 

At CatholicCare, we stand committed to this journey, walking alongside our Aboriginal &Torres Strait Islander clients, colleagues, and communities with deep respect and purpose. 

Judith Murray, CatholicCare’s Aboriginal Community Engagement Manager reflects on this year’s theme: “Corroboree 2000, the beginning of Australia’s Reconciliation journey was a public expression of support for meaningful reconciliation between Australia’s Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This year’s Reconciliation Week theme is Bridging Now to Next, reflecting the ongoing connection between past, present, and future. Now is the time to reflect on past actions, build on our achievements and strengthen our approaches for the future.” 

Growing awareness through education 

As part of its commitment to reconciliation, CatholicCare recently launched a cultural awareness training video, now mandatory for all new staff. This video provides foundational learning about the history, experiences, and cultural richness of Aboriginal &Torres Strait Islander peoples, with a focus on fostering understanding in service delivery. 

When the video was launched, Executive Director Tim Curran stated: “As a social services agency, it is important that we are informed about our history and how it impacts the way we work alongside our Aboriginal &Torres Strait Islander colleagues, and how to best support our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients.” 

This training builds on broader efforts across CatholicCare to embed cultural respect into our everyday practices. 

Listening, learning and connecting 

In November 2024, CatholicCare hosted a ‘Listen & Learn Yarn’ workshop at our Central Coast Family Centre in Tuggerah, as part of our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. We were honoured to welcome a panel of Aboriginal leaders and Elders, who shared their stories, insights, and challenges with our staff. 

This session served as a powerful reminder of the importance of creating safe spaces for truth-telling, deep listening, and relationship building in our reconciliation journey. It reinforced the reality that racism continues to manifest in various forms, including in healthcare settings where individuals may be questioned about their Aboriginal identity based on appearance. The workshop emphasised that genuine connection is at the heart of reconciliation, encouraged reflection on unconscious bias, and called for a deeper awareness of the complex barriers Aboriginal clients often face when seeking services such as rehabilitation. 

Reconciliation through creativity across our Children’s Services  

CatholicCare’s Children’s Services teams are deeply committed to reconciliation and cultural learning, using creativity and storytelling to connect with culture. Recently, children from CatholicCare’s OSHC program at St Kieran’s in Manly Vale took part in a collaborative art project inspired by the sounds and spirit of the didgeridoo. They transformed a large cone into a vibrant, colourful artwork, using red, yellow, blue, and green to express their emotions and interpretations of rhythm and storytelling. This hands-on activity was a meaningful way to explore Aboriginal culture, promoting teamwork, self-expression, and a deeper appreciation for cultural traditions through art and shared experiences. 

A shared journey forward 

At CatholicCare, we are committed to walking the path of reconciliation with integrity, guided by the spirit of Dadirri – a practice of deep, inner listening and quiet, mindful awareness. Dadirri, a word from the language of the Daly River region, invites us to pause, reflect, and truly hear one another. 

This National Reconciliation Week, CatholicCare reaffirms its dedication to truth, justice, and healing. We honour the voices of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples and proudly continue our journey of Bridging Now to Next.