It's easy to say 'Sorry', what next?

By Adam Valvasori - Values Manager

It's over a year since our Government said it was 'sorry' for human rights abuses committed on the stolen generation of first Australians.

It was more than a word. For me it was an enabler. A symbol that we are ready to start healing a massive gulf between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd put a call for action out to all Australians in his Parliamentary Apology speech to the Stolen Generations in February 2008:

...Today’s apology, however inadequate, is aimed at righting past wrongs. It is also aimed at building a bridge between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians—a bridge based on a real respect rather than a thinly veiled contempt. Our challenge for the future is now to cross that bridge and, in so doing, embrace a new partnership between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians...

It’s up to us now, as individuals, to bridge the gap. A gap represented by inequality in health, a 17 year difference in life expectancy, poor education, housing, standard of living and lack of career opportunities.

So that's why together with ANTaR we're proud to be launching the Respect campaign today in The Body Shop stores and online at the ANTaR website.

What we are trying to achieve?

Achieving equality and addressing the disadvantage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is the single most important social challenge in Australia today. This is recognised both nationally and internationally at the United Nations level. Many people perceive the current condition of Indigenous people in Australia as a stain on our country’s reputation internationally.

Although to be addressed these issues require additional funding and policy change, the underlying problem that can be and must be addressed by us as individuals is the lack of understanding and mutual respect between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Better engagement, understanding and mutual respect is what we are trying to achieve through this campaign.

We are also thrilled to be able to promote positive images of Aboriginal people.

Campaign Target:

We aim to get more than 20,000 Non-Indigenous Australians signed up in-store to receive emails on how to show respect to Indigenous Australians. The four steps are:

* Understand
* Acknowledge
* Be supportive
* Speak up

If you are an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, read about how you can support non-Indigenous Australians show respect to Indigenous Australians: click here.

If you're simply curious about this campaign, read the finer details, including information about the launch.

So if someone asks you: "What's the next step after 'Sorry'"? Tell them: "Respect!"

If you're on Facebook become a fan of the Respect campaign!

Barometer Image Via: www.reconciliation.org.au