Reconciliation

Council is proud to acknowledge the people of the Bunurong as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of this land and waters. We recognise the unique diversity of the First Peoples here in Bass Coast. We are committed to an ongoing process of reconciliation and Community strengthening through building strong organisational and community relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities.

The Bass Coast Reconciliation Network (BCRN) is proud to have supported the development of Bass Coast's first Welcome to Country video.

• National Sorry Day – 26 May 2023
  
  Bass Coast Reconciliation Network is proud to be hosting a National Sorry Day event on 26 May 2023 to commemorate the Stolen Generations and encourage truth-telling to promote healing and reconciliation.
  Everyone is invited to be part of the event at Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club from 10 am to 1 pm to acknowledge the strength of Stolen Generation survivors and reflect on how we can play our part in the healing process. More Information on the event can be found here.
• National Reconciliation Week – 27 May to 3 June 2023
• National Reconciliation Week – Community Forum – 2 June 2023
  
  Bass Coast will be celebrating National Reconciliation Week by hosting a Community Forum with two special interactive discussion panels to raise awareness on how to become a champion for reconciliation.
  This year’s event, themed “Be A Voice for Generations,” encourages everyone to act today for a reconciled tomorrow. The event is being hosted by the Bass Coast Reconciliation Network with the support of Reconciliation Victoria, at the Inverloch Community Hub on Friday 2 June. Book your free spot today
• Mabo Day – 3 June 2023
• Official Opening Art Exhibition – Sunday 2 July, 1-3.30pm (Gallery hours 11am-3pm)
• NAIDOC Week (For Our Elders) – 2 July to 9 July 2023
• National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander’s Children’s Day – 4 August 2023
• NAIDOC Week Art Show – 27 June to 6 August 2023
• International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples – 9 August 2023
• Indigenous Literacy Day – 1 September 2023

We are committed to our journey towards reconciliation and to building strong and meaningful relationships with the Traditional Owners of the land upon which we live and work. In recognition of this, we are working towards the development of our first Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), in collaboration with our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and Reconciliation Australia.

In early 2020, Council in partnership with Bass Coast Health engaged Aunty Dr Doseena Fergie to the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Strategic Advisor working across BCSC and BCH.

Aunty Doseena will provide strategic advice to develop and support a vision and actions for reconciliation.

The vision will incorporate the principles of healing, education, empowerment and collaboration so as to provide a culturally appropriate and safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples living in the Bass Coast Shire.

We're proud to be one of four leading Bass Coast organisations, who make upthe Bass Coast Reconciliation Network (BCRN), along with Bass Coast Health, Westernport Water and Phillip Island Nature Parks. Working together with the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation, Traditional Owner Organisations, local members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community, and the Bass Coast South Gippsland Reconciliation Group.

The BCRN was established in 2019 and seeks to create a shared future of recognition, opportunity and true partnerships with Traditional Owners and our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community. We are an action based group committed to:

• sharing time, resources and knowledge
• being a conduit for organisational and community networking
• building organisational and community knowledge and understanding of reconciliation
• driving positive social change
• presenting a united 'organisational' approach to reconciliation

The BCRN commissioned indigenous artworks from four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island artists - Patrice Mahoney, Adam Magennis, Safina Stewart and her daughter Arieta Fergie. The artworks were launched in 2019 as part of National Reconciliation Week 2019 and has been used to further promote recognition and reconciliation across Bass Coast.