Reflecting on Australia Day is important to the Staff and the Board of the Ethnic Council of Shepparton and District, as we advocate for greater intercultural understanding on this day and every other day. We believe First Nations perspectives need to be heard.
26 January Australia Day
Australia Day, also known as Invasion Day, is a day that marks a substantial amount of history within this nation. It represents the beginning of colonisation under British rule within this country. However, it also emancipates the voices of Indigenous Australians – a day of protest, an opportunity to reaffirm their survival and raise awareness to the injustices that First Peoples are confronted with. Undoubtedly the consequences of colonisation still exist which is why it is important to be sensitive to the different meanings and interpretations of this day across Australia.
While it’s important to acknowledge Australia’s national achievements and celebrate national pride, it is equally important to empathise and understand the post-colonial trauma that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders continue to experience and the negative connotations associated with this day. It is our duty to build greater harmony and as a nation we must reflect and let the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders be heard.
