National Reconciliation Week (NRW) started as the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation in 1993 (the International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples) and was supported by Australia's major faith communities.  In 1996, the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation launched Australia's first NRW.  In 2000, Reconciliation Australia was established to continue to provide national leadership of reconciliation.  In the same year, approximately 300,000 people walked across Sydney Harbour Bridge as part of NRW to show their support for reconciliation.

National Reconciliation Week is celebrated each year throughout Australia between 27 May and 3 June and is celebrated by businesses, schools, early learning services, organisations and individuals Australia-wide.  Hundreds of NRW events are held each year.  At its heart, reconciliation is about strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples, for the benefit of of Australians.

Reconciliation Prayer

Lord God, bring us together as one,

reconciled with you and reconciled with each other.

You made us in your likeness,

you gave us your Son, Jesus Christ.

He has given us forgiveness from sin.

Lord God, bring us together as one,

different in culture, but given new life in Jesus Christ,

together as your body, your Church, your people.

Lord God, bring us together as one,

reconciled, healed, forgiven,

sharing you with others as you have called us to do.

In Jesus Christ, let us be together as one.

Amen.