January 26 is a day that has different meanings for different people. Girl Guides Victoria recognises that this day evokes mixed feelings across our diverse community. We acknowledge that this is a challenging and painful day for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, who have called this place home for more than 65,000 years and for whom this date is a day of mourning.
As a girl-led organisation, we seek to empower our Guides to explore and be curious about their world, to make their own decisions, and to identify their values, speak out and act. We are a diverse community, and we support each member of our community to acknowledge this day in a way that is personal and meaningful to them.
We encourage our community to deepen their learning and understanding about this date, including its history and what it represents for Australia’s First Nations people. By reading, listening and engaging with lived experiences and different voices and stories, we can gain a deeper understanding of the perspectives and challenges faced by First Nations communities.
As an organisation, Girl Guides Victoria is on an ongoing journey of reconciliation. We are committed to listening and learning and growing. On this day, we pause for reflection, we pause for respect and we pause for reconciliation.
January 2024
