Today, 27 May, is the beginning of National Reconciliation Week, which runs each year from 27 May to 3 June. It comes after National Sorry Day on 26 May, which marks the anniversary of the Bringing Them Home report being tabled in Parliament.

Yesterday, Kellie Stockton, STARS Allied Health Director, and Allira Schafer and Lillian Emery from our Indigenous Health Liaison team represented STARS at the Queensland 2022 National Reconciliation Week Launch and Breakfast at Queensland Parliament.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week 2022 theme, Be Brave. Make Change is a challenge to all Australians—individuals, families, communities, organisations and government—to Be Brave and tackle the unfinished business of reconciliation so we can Make Change for the benefit of all Australians.

The goal of the reconciliation movement is for a just, equitable and reconciled country. At STARS, we are actively working to deliver culturally safe and responsive care and to be a culturally safe and inclusive place to work. We are actively engaging all staff on our reconciliation journey by increasing understanding, recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and knowledge, and embedding cultural respect into everything we do.  

I’d like to acknowledge and pay respect to the work and care of all our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff (and trainees) within STARS and the work of the STARS Cultural Capability team and our Indigenous Health Liaison team. You provide such valuable care and service to STARS and our community; a heartfelt thank you to all of you.

We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, histories, cultures, and futures.

Best wishes,

Helen Boocock
A/Executive Director
STARS