National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day is an Australia-wide observance held on May 26 each year. This day gives people the chance to come together and share the steps towards healing for the Stolen Generations, their families and communities. Stolen generations refer to Indigenous Australians who were forcibly removed from their families and communities.

What Do People Do?

Various National Sorry Day activities and events take place throughout Australia on National Sorry Day. They include:

• Concerts and barbecues.
• Reconciliation walks or street marches.
• Sorry Day flag raising events.
• Morning teas or lunches.
• Speeches from community leaders, including Indigenous Australian elders, as well as educators.
• Media statements from politicians within federal, state and local governments.

National Sorry Day also gives people the chance to write messages and sign “sorry books” as a way of showing their commitment towards reconciliation. They pledge their support towards fulfilling the recommendations from the Bringing Them Home report. Thousands of Australians have already shown their support by writing messages and signing “sorry books” since 1998.

Many school children take part in National Sorry Day activities, which include essay competitions, lighting candles for Indigenous Australians who were taken away from their families and communities, and inviting local Indigenous Australian elders to speak with students. Films that focus on the Stolen Generations may also be shown to students for discussion.