Australia’s journey towards truth and reconciliation is complex, painful, and ongoing. One of the most significant markers in that journey is National Sorry Day — a day that asks every Australian to listen, acknowledge, and commit to healing.
What is National Sorry Day?
Observed every year on 26 May, National Sorry Day is a day of remembrance and recognition. It honours the Stolen Generations — Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families by government and church authorities between the late 19th century and the 1970s.
The first National Sorry Day was held on 26 May 1998, exactly one year after the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in Parliament. That landmark inquiry unveiled the deep trauma, suffering and dislocation caused by child removal policies, and offered recommendations to promote healing and justice.
Over time, the day has also been referred to as the National Day of Healing — reflecting that its purpose is not just about looking back, but about fostering reconciliation, repair and collective responsibility.
Though it is not a public holiday, National Sorry Day is widely marked through ceremonies, marches, storytelling, flag raisings, music, and educational programs across Australia.
Importantly, National Sorry Day is also a launching point for National Reconciliation Week, which begins on 27 May and runs through 3 June.
Why is National Sorry Day Important?
Acknowledgement of Past Wrongs
For many years, the forced removal of Indigenous children was denied, downplayed or ignored in public discourse. National Sorry Day demands that Australians recognise this painful history—and the ongoing impacts it has on individuals, families and communities. By acknowledging the truth, the national psyche begins to confront collective responsibility rather than suppress it.
Giving Voice to Survivors and Descendants
National Sorry Day centres the stories, experiences and perspectives of those who suffered. It allows survivors to be heard, honoured and respected. Their voices challenge us to understand trauma, loss, identity, and resilience. It also gives descendants a public space to reckon with the intergenerational consequences of forced removals—loss of language, disconnection from land and culture, disrupted kin networks.
Healing and Reconciliation
Saying “sorry” is a beginning—an act that signals humility, remorse, and the willingness to engage in change. But healing requires action: support for survivors, truth‑telling, reparations, structural reform, and sustained commitment from all levels of society. The day nudges us from symbolic apology toward practical justice. It is also a reminder that reconciliation is not a destination but an ongoing process of listening, accountability and partnership.
Educating the Broader Community
Many Australians are unaware of the full scale and impact of the Stolen Generations. Commemorations on National Sorry Day spur public conversations, school programs, exhibitions, performances, media coverage—and help ensure this history is not forgotten or repeated. When non‑Indigenous Australians engage respectfully, they can become allies and advocates rather than bystanders.
Highlighting Unfinished Business
One sobering fact is that many of the Bringing Them Home report’s recommendations remain unfulfilled. Survivors are aging; some have passed without seeing redress or full support. State and territory governments vary in their reparations schemes; access to records, counselling, financial compensation and institutional reform is uneven.
National Sorry Day is a reminder that reconciliation isn’t a past event—but a present duty.
How Australians Can Participate
– Attend local Sorry Day ceremonies — often featuring Welcome to Country, smoking ceremonies, storytelling, music and reflection
– Invite or support Stolen Generations survivors to share their stories
– Use educational resources in schools, workplaces or community groups
– Promote acts of reconciliation: planting indigenous flora, putting up banners, holding conversations
– Advocate for government accountability — support policies that deliver justice, healing and reparations
– Listen deeply and with humility: personal growth starts when we continually challenge our own assumptions and biases
National Sorry Day is more than a date on the calendar
It is an invitation to confront painful truths, to make space for voices often silenced, and to commit to a better future. It reminds us that reconciliation is not just about apology—but about justice, dignity, respect, and ongoing action.
If we accept that this nation’s past is entwined with deep trauma, National Sorry Day encourages us to move forward together—not erasing history, but learning from it, healing through it, and honouring it.
