RECONCILIATION

The People's Movement In NSW

National Initiatives

After the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation(CAR) was established in 1991, it initiated a round of consultations with Indigenous communities, and then took steps to involve the wider community in the process.

As people became aware of the opportunities to become involved, more and more people and groups organised events or activities to engage the community in the process.

In time, this network of people and the activities they organised became known as the People's Movement for Reconciliation.

The vision articulated by the Council provided the inspiration, and some of the Council initiatives provided the framework within which these activities took place. (see below)

Australians for Reconciliation (AFR) Project

The AFR program was launched in December 1993 as a means of broadening consultation to the wider community and to encourage positive local involvement in reconciliation. The project also aimed to encourage joint projects between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and organisations and Australians from the wider community.

The aims of the AFR project were:

• to improve knowledge, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage;
• to sow the seeds for growing awareness and lasting and positive change to attitudes, for improved status and well-being of Australia's Indigenous peoples as well as for better relations between Indigenous Australians and the wider community;
• to bring key representatives of the wider Australian community into the reconciliation process;
• to promote and respond to community discussion and to inform Council of that discussion;
• to provide the opportunity for all Australians to work with other individuals and organisations to advance the vision of the Council;
• to capture and respond to interest shown in reconciliation and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and issues;
• to seek, monitor and document community views on reconciliation and related matters;
• to assist the Council in determining the best approaches for facilitating change in the community.

In 1992 CAR had appointed Indigenous Community Consultation Agents(CCAs) in each State and Territory to consult with Indigenous people about the key issues which needed to be addressed through the reconciliation process. Then in January 1994 CAR appointed AFR Co-ordinators in each State and Territory. For 18 months, till May 1995, the CCAs and the AFR co-ordinators worked closely together, then the two programs were merged under the banner of the Australians for Reconciliation project.

The AFR Project Co-ordination team in NSW comprised:

Shelley Reys - initially a CCA, then continuing as an AFR Co-ordinator - based in Sydney

John and Elaine Telford - based in Sydney

Ray Kelly - initially a CCA, then continuing as an AFR Co-ordinator - based in Newcastle Mick Brown and Graham Hynch - initially CCAs, then continuing as AFR Co-ordinators - based in Dubbo Gillian Little - based in Wagga Wagga.

As the Co-ordinators worked with people and organisations in communities across the State, they encouraged people to sign up as Australians for Reconciliation