Reconciliation Commitment

EREA Reconciliation Commitment 

Since 2009, the EREA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy has guided and informed EREA in the development of initiatives, programs and goals for promoting Catholic schools in the Edmund Rice tradition as a genuine option for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. In 2014, EREA released its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Response following a full review of the previous policy. In 2019, EREA launched its Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) to support and guide our reconciliation journey. 

Education Australia (EREA) reaffirms its commitment to Reconciliation, truth telling, healing and building and maintaining authentic relationships that value and honour First Nations People, Cultures and histories. EREA acknowledges that schools, including EREA schools have been tools of marginalisation and discrimination for Indigenous people. With this acknowledgment, EREA understands the significance and responsibility of being a national education provider, and as such, recognise that we are uniquely placed to lead change, foster understanding and shape future generations through social justice orientated teaching.

EREA acknowledges Indigenous people have and will continue to act in the pursuit of justice, recognition and reconciliation in a way that acknowledges the ongoing impact of colonisation, but honours the intergenerational resistance, strength and resilience of Indigenous people.

The EREA Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan concluded in 2025. EREA is currently in the process of co-authoring an Innovate RAP. It is planned that the Innovate RAP will be launched during National Reconciliation Week in 2026.

EREA Reconciliation Action Plan

EREA is currently in the process of co-authoring an Innovate RAP. It is planned that the Innovate RAP will be launched during National Reconciliation Week in 2026.

We acknowledge Aboriginal people as traditional owners of Mainland Australia, Tasmania and surrounding inner islands and honor their millennia old custodianship. We recognise their Culture, ancestors, elders and emerging leaders, and respect that sovereignty was never ceded. We honour Aboriginal people as the first teachers of the countries of which our schools are built upon today.

EREA Acknowledgment of Country/s

We acknowledge the Torres Strait Islander Peoples as the Traditional Owners of their respective sea countries within the Torres Strait. We pay respects to their Ancestors and Elders and emerging elders and leaders. We recognise their Cultural knowledge of their sea country, and in the face of climate change, respect the need for their contribution towards climate change responses in the Torres Straits.

EREA Acknowledgment of Country/s

We respect First Nations people’s acts of resistance and resilience in Australia and worldwide to maintain connection to Culture and Country, language, dance and song and the resistance teachings taught through Elders and ancestors, despite the impact of colonization.

EREA Acknowledgment of Country/s

We recognize this in the spirit of reconciliation, mutual liberation and truth-telling. In this spirit, we are accepting the invitation contained in the Uluru Statement From The Heart to listen to the First Peoples of Australia and work together for reconciliation, justice, equity, and healing.

EREA Acknowledgment of Country/s

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