A new school program will encourage children to consider how to best achieve reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous communities.
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The Youth Speakout project will have students between the age of 12 and 18 create a speech, poem, song or short video on the topic: “How can we achieve better reconciliation outcomes for Tasmania?”
Nine students will be chosen from across the state to present their ideas at Parliament House on October 17 and attend a reception with Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner.
Launceston schools such as Queechy High School, Kings Meadows High School, and Brooks High school will get involved in the Reconciliation Tasmania initiative.
I wish I’d done programs on reconciliation when I was at school, because it would have made life a little bit easier.
- Reconciliation Tasmania co-chair Fiona Hughes
“It’s about knowing the importance of [reconciliation] and how we can all work together as a community, instead of being so divided on issues,” Reconciliation Tasmania co-chair Fiona Hughes said.
“I wish I’d done programs on reconciliation when I was at school, because it would have made life a little bit easier.
“Then they can take it home to their parents and maybe they’ll become members [of Reconciliation Tasmania] in the future.”
The program is being launched to coincide with National Reconciliation Week starting on Monday, May 27.
It will be the first time Reconciliation Tasmania is involved with the national event, after the council was formed in August 2017.
Ms Hughes believes children are better equipped to deal with issues around reconciliation in 2018 than previously.
“It’s become a lot easier, because we’re so multicultural these days,” she said.
“There’s still a lot of work to do, though.”
A Reconciliation Tasmania breakfast will be held on May 29 at Chalmers Hall, featuring the Australian Human Rights Commission's former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner Mick Gooda.
It will also hold an On Country field day at Narawntapu on June 3.