National Sorry Day is this Thursday, 26 May.
Sorry Day acknowledges the Aboriginal children removed from their families, who we now know as the Stolen Generations. It’s an opportunity to acknowledge the strength and resilience of survivors of the Stolen Generations, and to remember those who did not survive.
To this day, Aboriginal kids are 10 times more likely to be in out-of-home care than non-Aboriginal kids.
It’s important to acknowledge the hurt caused to so many who were taken away, and to those who live with the intergenerational effects of family removals.
At Monash Health, we acknowledge that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are our nation’s First Peoples, and we recognise our shared history continues to have an impact on current health outcomes.
National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week can be an especially difficult time for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander colleagues and patients. It’s important to be mindful and respectful of the emotional significance of National Sorry Day. Remember to contact the Aboriginal Health team if your Aboriginal colleagues and patients need support.
On National Sorry Day, you may want to play this recording for your team, to promote awareness of the significance of the day. You can also use these words to inform a message of your own to your team.