We had the honour of hearing Bundjalung Elder, Associate Professor Uncle Boe Rambaldini reflect on this year’s theme National Reconciliation theme – Bridging Now to Next  -  at the recent AEDRTC Think Tank in Sydney.

During his speech, Uncle Boe explained how the stolen generations came about and why knowledge of the past is central to achieving his vision for an Australia that can come together to achieve the best outcomes for all.

“They came about because every state and territory government in this land passed laws where they had complete control over our lives, Aboriginal lives, Torres Strait Islander lives, and not only did they have complete control over our lives, but they also had full custody of our children, and that's where they had the power to go in there and take the child, or the children out of the arms of the Parents,” he said.

“It's where the truth lies, and the truth is something that's going to heal this country, and it'll heal Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people alike.”

“We will be able to make a difference when we come together and start understanding and have a good understanding of each other's heritage and culture.”

Uncle Boe believes that acknowledging the past openly and honestly is the only way all Australians can break down barriers and move toward understanding and healing.

“We have so much to offer and so much to learn from each other, and we can't do that unless we come together and break down those barriers,” he said.

Reflecting on his work advising researchers and practitioners in the health sector, he recognised the need for truth-telling and acknowledgement of the past as central to efforts to close the gap in Indigenous health.

“You need to know what happened back then so you can develop a plan right here, right now to make people well in the future, you can't do it without knowing what happened back then,” he said.

“I want to build bridges so we can come together and live together in harmony, and we can do that by having a good understanding of each other. That's the only way we're going to go about changing our health.”

“It's time for truth, telling, remembrance and reflection and let’s leave pride, blame and guilt outside it has no place when we come together!"

Find out how the AEDTRC are working to ensure co production with our Indigenous advisors forms part of everything we do.

Read our Aboriginal and Torrest Strait Islander Research Consideration Guidelines

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