In summary

  • Swinburne marked National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week 2026 with events across all three Melbourne campuses

  • Staff, students and community members came together to reflect on truth-telling, healing and the shared responsibility of reconciliation

  • Activities included a National Sorry Day Service, Smoking Ceremonies, Indigenous art workshops and an enrichment planting at the Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands

Swinburne embraced the 2026 National Reconciliation Week theme, All in, a call for all Australians to wholeheartedly commit to reconciliation every day, hosting events across all three Melbourne campuses.

National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures and achievements, and to reflect and explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. 

The theme reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people. Reconciliation will not happen by itself, and it will not happen without all of us. 

National Sorry Day

The Moondani Toombadool Centre hosted a National Sorry Day Service on Tuesday 26 May at the Indigenous Learning Circles at Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus. National Sorry Day is a day to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generations survivors and reflect on how we can all play a part in the healing process for our people and nation. 

The Swinburne community came together to mark the day by participating in a Welcome to Country and Smoking ceremony delivered by Wurundjeri Elder, Uncle Colin Hunter Jr.  This was followed by a powerful address by VET Indigenous Project Officer at the Moondani Vocational Centre for Excellence, Nikki Madgwick.

Following the ceremony, attendees were invited to participate in an Indigenous art workshop by Merindah-Gunya Art. 

  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre

National Reconciliation Week at Swinburne

Over the course of National Reconciliation Week, staff, students and community members came together at all three Melbourne campuses to reflect on truth-telling, healing and the shared responsibility of reconciliation.

Dean Stewart, a Wemba Wemba – Wergaia man, led an enrichment planting at the Aunty Dot Peters AM Flowering Grasslands at Hawthorn. Dean, who designed the eco-space, shared stories and insights about the grasslands and the regeneration of the area. 

The space recreates a true eco-space of Indigenous flowering grasslands, reclaiming a piece of the local ecosystem on the site where they once thrived. Dean led a walkthrough of the grasslands, explaining the cultural and ecological importance of the area, highlighting the diverse vegetation and sharing how First Nations people traditionally used these plants. 

Reclaiming local ecosystems with Dean Stewart

Our Croydon and Wantirna communities also marked National Reconciliation Week with reflections from speakers, and Indigenous art workshops, giving staff and students the opportunity to engage with First Nations cultural practices and creative expression.

  • Our Croydon and Wantirna communities came together to mark National Reconciliation Week
  • Our Croydon and Wantirna communities came together to mark National Reconciliation Week
  • Our Croydon and Wantirna communities came together to mark National Reconciliation Week
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre
  • The Swinburne community came together to reflect and heal at a National Sorry Day Service hosted by the Moondani Toombadool Centre

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