A powerful wave of activity has recently broken to affirm and support this country’s complex and beautiful tapestry of stories and conversations. This new home represents an effort to lay the groundwork for stories that better reflect the mosaic nature of the experiences our country has to offer. It is dedicated to fostering conversations that shape Australia’s cultural landscape while acknowledging the foundational role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
This project is a small but positive contribution towards the goal of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples acknowledged as the First Australians. They have been the Traditional Custodians of the lands for thousands of years, which serve as places of living, learning, and working for all Australians. This recognition highlights the sensitivity to the culture and legacy that these Indigenous communities maintain with their ancestral territories.
Celebrating Australian Narratives
This sure fire project will give that new, permanent home the power to share, celebrate and preserve Australian stories. Most importantly, it seeks to elevate stories from all communities—both urban and rural—making sure that each and every story is given the opportunity to be told. By focusing on local stories, this initiative seeks to engage citizens in meaningful conversations about their heritage and shared future.
The new platform will not only stimulate powerful storytelling, but deeper conversations around issues that are shaping the lives of everyday Australians right now. This training weaves together themes of identity, community, and environmental stewardship. It promotes a culture of inclusivity and understanding among our increasingly diverse populations.
Acknowledging Traditional Custodians
This ambition acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Nations people and Traditional Custodians of the land. Their recognition is at the core of what we do. By recognizing their deep-rooted connection to the lands, the project aims to educate all Australians about the significance of these connections. This recognition is an important step in building mutual respect and understanding for the ancient histories and rich cultures that have shaped Australia into what we know today.
Interpretive educational programming will be created in collaboration with Indigenous communities, focused on the histories, cultures, and contemporary challenges that Indigenous communities experience today. These initiatives all seek to fill gaps in knowledge and understanding, advancing a more equitable, inclusive, national narrative.
Shaping Conversations for the Future
The house is imagined as a space in which all can come together for discussions that will help to define the future of Australia’s social fabric. The project will include workshops, exhibitions and community forums. Together we will begin to create important dialogue on these critical issues that we all face, Indigenous and non-Indigenous.
This program provides an amazing opportunity to have those conversations. It inspires and equips people to lead conversations that bridge divides, foster connection and empathy, and produce restorative outcomes. Through these shared narratives and conversations, we hope Australians will come to a more profound understanding of each other’s experiences and hopes for the future engagement might be.
