Reconciliation Week, held from 27 May to 3 June each year, is a time to acknowledge how each of us contributes to achieving reconciliation in Australia.
Fundamental to Wildlife Health Australia’s purpose to advance wildlife health is One Health – the idea that the health of humans, animals, ecosystems and the environment are vitally linked.
Unifying diverse knowledge sources and elevating Indigenous voices is essential to WHA in advancing wildlife health and a healthier future for all – and reconciliation action forms the foundations.
Jo Walker, Capacity Building Program Manager and Chair of WHA’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Committee, says this year’s Reconciliation Week theme Bridging Now to Next resonates with the organisation on its own reconciliation journey.
“We’ve just completed our ‘Reflect’ Reconciliation Action Plan, and now we’re bridging from the ‘Reflect’ to ‘Innovate’ plan — building momentum and getting into gear to bring the first RAP’s building blocks to life,” she said.
Driving this is the RAP Committee, with members from across the organisation as well as external stakeholders and the Board. The wider wildlife health network is encouraged to be involved – regular knowledge-sharing builds a baseline of respect and two-way learning benefiting both wildlife and Indigenous communities.
Board Chair Richard Russell emphasises that WHA is committed to learning from indigenous wisdom especially in relation to One Health, an essential feature of WHA’s strategy for improving wildlife health in Australia.
“As a Board, we are committed to ensuring that we fulfil our purpose. This necessarily requires us to be a forward-looking, inclusive and visionary organisation that leads nationally in wildlife health. We will succeed, through genuine partnerships and by drawing on diverse knowledge systems.”
Jo adds this is all built on developing trusted, two-way partnerships.
“If we want to build meaningful relationships with holders of Indigenous wisdom, we need to create culturally safe spaces and listen deeply. Reconciliation isn’t a moment — it’s a collective, ongoing effort.”
WHA will mark this year’s Reconciliation Week with a lunchtime yarn with Marietta Matasia, Indigenous Ranger from Far North Queensland, combined with a ‘Wear it Yellow’ event to fundraise for Children’s Ground - a not-for-profit that takes a First Nations approach to education and health.