Yesterday, our College community came together to mark National Reconciliation Week 2026, embracing this year’s theme, “All In”, a call for all to commit to reconciliation every day and take active steps towards meaningful change.
We began with a special Acknowledgement of Country shared by Bilyana and her grandmother, Marjorie. We thank Marjorie for joining us and sharing Language with our community.
Our student voices led the assembly, with our Dhurring students and FIRE Carriers sharing their reflections on what reconciliation means to them and what it means to be “All In”. Together, they shared what reconciliation can look like in a school, learning together, asking questions, and challenging preconceived ideas and assumptions.
Our Dhurrung students shared the traditional Indigenous practice of rope making with our community. Symbolising that when we work together, our Loreto community embraces the shared responsibility of being “All In.” By weaving together, we demonstrate strength in numbers and how our collective commitment to reconciliation can make us stronger and united.
To further symbolise the importance of reconciliation within our school and its connection to our Loreto values, the assembly concluded with the commissioning of our Principal, Christine Shaw, as a FIRE Carrier, recognising her commitment as an active ally within both our Loreto and wider community.
For those new to our community, the Dhurrung program, meaning Wadawurrung for heart, provides a safe and supportive space for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at Loreto. With courage, our Dhurrung students shared their experiences and spoke about the importance of connection to culture and identity.
Meanwhile, our FIRE Carriers are a group of staff and students dedicated to reconciliation and raising awareness of First Nations cultures and Australia’s full history while working to build respect, understanding, and inclusion.
We thank our students for sharing their voices and leading such an important assembly.