National Sorry Day will take place on Thursday 26 May 2022, with National Reconciliation Week following from 27 May to 3 June.
The 2022 Reconciliation Week theme is ‘Be Brave. Make Change.’ Reconciliation Australia is challenging individuals, families, communities, organisations, and governments to address ongoing reconciliation and make change for the benefit of all Australians.
National Sorry Day acknowledges the intergenerational trauma caused by the Australian Government’s policy of removing First Nations children from their families; these children became known as the ‘Stolen Generation’.
PACFA’s College of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Practices (CATSIHP) was formed in 2019 to address intergenerational trauma by supporting, developing and accrediting Indigenous Healing Practices.
Having released the Indigenous Healing Practices Training Standards in late 2021, PACFA is working towards opening applications for Indigenous Healing Practitioner accreditation.
CATSIHP is an Indigenous-led college within PACFA, formed in response to a call to action from Bundjalung and Jiman woman Emeritus Professor Judy Atkinson to address the trauma of generations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and walk together towards healing.
CATSIHP Convenor Dr Carlie Atkinson, quoted in an article on Indigenous mental health, said ‘the mental health benefits of Indigenous healing practices, which involve movement, art and music, can be wide-reaching... When people are hurting, what they want is a sense of connection and belonging.’
We encourage PACFA members to read our Q&A with Dr Carlie Atkinson to learn more about CATSIHP’s important work.
For 24/7 crisis support run by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people contact 13YARN (13 92 76).