Julia Gillard Instagram – Today is a day that will give rise to complex and conflicting emotions. For many, it will be a time of deep pain and sorrow. I want to acknowledge that 26 January is scorched into the consciousness of many First Nations people as a day of profound mourning.
As the Chair of Beyond Blue – an organisation with a mission to support everyone in Australia to achieve their best mental health – I believe it’s vital we recognise the grief that this day can evoke. It’s a date connected to the ongoing impacts of colonisation. Dispossession, violence, disempowerment and the fracturing of ancestral and cultural knowledge are a source of historical and ongoing trauma that continues to impact on the social and emotional wellbeing of First Nations people.
As we understand more about our history, more Australians are reflecting on how to engage with 26 January. These conversations may be challenging but they are necessary for us to mature and heal as a nation.
Beyond Blue continues to advocate for action to Close the Gap, to improve social and emotional wellbeing, and to prevent suicide. We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart and a First Nations Voice to Parliament.
While we cannot change our past, we can learn from it. If we accept the truth of our shared history, we can walk together in a spirit of healing and reconciliation towards a brighter future.
If you find this day difficult, support is available. Contact 13YARN or the Beyond Blue Support Service on 1300 22 46 36 | Posted on 26/Jan/2023 01:56:05
