This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme – Bridging Now to Next – reflects the ongoing connection between past, present and future. It calls on all Australians to step forward together, to look ahead and continue the push forward as past lessons guide us.
National Reconciliation Week runs each year from May 27 to June 3. The dates commemorate two significant milestones in the reconciliation journey – the successful 1967 referendum and the High Court Mabo decision respectively.
A series of events are being held across the state to celebrate the week, including:
South Australian Museum – several events (external site)
Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery
From Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 May, join a free tour of the Australian Aboriginal Cultures Gallery – the largest collection of Aboriginal material culture in the world, representing Aboriginal communities from across Australia. Bookings are essential. Book a tour (external site).
The Mam-Burrumurl wasp
This pop-up display features the mam-burrumurl wasp or ghost wasp, which was discovered at Leliyn (Edith Falls) in Nitmiluk National Park, Northern Territory. In the Jawoyn language, ‘mam’ means ‘ghost’ and ‘burrumurl’ means ‘wasp’. This will be the first time this new species will be on display. Sight the species in the Biodiversity Gallery on Level 2.
Lakun (weaving)
Lakun means ‘to weave something’ in Tanganekald, a language of the Ngarrindjeri Nation, from the Lakes and Coorong region of South Australia. The pop-up display will be accompanied by a video featuring Robert Wuldi and Ngarrindjeri artist Betty Sumner talking about their weaving practice. View the display on Level 1 outside the Discovery Centre. (external site)
TAFE SA Adelaide Campus Community Event (external site)
Tuesday 27 May, 11am-1pm | Adelaide
This event, at TAFE SA's Adelaide campus on Kaurna Land, will feature performances, cultural learning, activities and connection. It will bring the community together to learn understand and build relationships of respect and trust. Similar events will also be held at TAFE SA's Ceduna and Port Pirie campuses.
Rotary Adelaide A Reflection on Reconciliation (external site)
Wednesday 28 May, 12.30pm-2pm | North Adelaide
Mary-Anne Lovegrove, the current CEO of Kura Yerlo Inc. – an Aboriginal community-controlled organisation dedicated to supporting and empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People – will be the guest speaker at Rotary Adelaide's National Reconciliation Week luncheon. A range of topics will be covered, including reconciliation as a spiritual journey, the path well-travelled: healing through story and walking the talk: what reconciliation requires from us all.
2025 Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration with Romlie Mokak (external site)
Wednesday 28 May, 6.30pm-8.30pm | Adelaide
The Don Dunstan Foundation is honoured to present this significant Reconciliation Week event dedicated to the legacy of the late Dr. Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG. This oration serves as a platform to highlight critical issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, continuing Dr O’Donoghue’s lifetime of work pursuing social justice and equality. Romlie Mokak, a Djugun man and a member of the Yawuru people, will deliver the address, reflecting on pressing challenges and inspiring action for positive change.
Weaving workshop with Nikki Carabetta (external site)
Thursday 29 May, 6pm-8pm | Prospect
Aboriginal cultural consultant and artist Nikki Carabetta will hold a unique weaving workshop. Nikki is an artist with Yamaji and Brinkin/Ngangikurrunggurr heritage, who predominantly works with acrylic paint on canvas and wood and regards art as a means to maintain and share her culture. Nikki has been weaving for more than 20 years using the coil method. In this workshop participants will be using raffia and wool to make a bracelet using traditional techniques.
Reconciliation Panel (external site)
Friday 30 May, 4pm-6pm | North Adelaide
Head along to Carclew/Tutu Karralikanungku for a unique Reconciliation Week panel discussion, featuring First Nations cultural experts and artists, the Surveyor General, and voices of today’s young people. This event offers a chance to learn about South Australia’s shared history, cultures and achievements.
Kaurna Reconciliation Walk: Bridging Now to Next (external site)
Saturday 31 May, 11am-4.30pm | Adelaide
The Graham F Smith Peace Foundation is presenting this two-hour guided walk, which invites participants to reflect on shared histories, learn about Kaurna culture, and explore the impacts of colonisation. Led by a Kaurna guide, the walk begins at the Kaurna Reconciliation Sculptures at the Adelaide Festival Centre's King William St entrance and winds around Karrawirra Parri (River Torrens). Along the way, gain insights into Kaurna history, culture, and the significance of these sites.
To learn more about National Reconciliation Week and other events happening across SA, visit Reconciliation Australia (external site).
