NAIDOC Week 2026 marks a significant milestone – 50 years of celebrating the strength, resilience, and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
It is a time to honour Elders past and present, recognise generations of leadership, and reflect on the importance of connection to culture, community, and Country. It also creates an opportunity for all Australians to deepen their understanding and continue building respectful relationships.
At Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland, we see every day that healing extends far beyond medical care. True wellbeing is grounded in family, culture, and connection.
Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) marks an important foundation in that journey. It provides a clear framework to deepen relationships, acknowledge our shared history, and embed reconciliation into our everyday work.
Our Reflect RAP focuses on building awareness, strengthening partnerships, and creating achievable actions that reflect our values of commitment, respect, integrity, and compassion.
We are proud to have completed 39 of 42 actions, reflecting strong momentum across our organisation. At the same time, we recognise that reconciliation is not a checklist, but a long-term commitment to listening, learning, and evolving.
NAIDOC Week reflects many of the same values that underpin our work:
As part of our RAP journey, members of our RAP Committee recently travelled to the Cherbourg Historical and Cultural Community Precinct, where they had the opportunity to experience both the history and present-day strength of one of South East Queensland’s largest Aboriginal communities.
During the visit, the team spent time at the Ration Shed Museum with Uncle Eric, who generously shared stories of Elders and community. The team explored historical and contemporary exhibitions, viewed beautiful artwork, and spent time in the surrounding landscaped gardens.
Experiences like this deepen our understanding and help ensure our actions are informed, respectful, and grounded in genuine connection. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn, reflect, and continue strengthening relationships through our reconciliation journey.
We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which our Houses operate. In Brisbane, we recognise the Turrbal and Yuggera peoples. On the Gold Coast, we acknowledge the Kombumerri people of the Yugambeh language region. We pay our respects to Elders past and present and recognise their continuing connection to Country, culture, family and community for over 65,000 years.
As we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2026, we reaffirm our ongoing commitment to reconciliation. We will continue to listen, learn, and take meaningful action to ensure every family feels safe, respected, and supported when they walk through our doors.
Because when care is grounded in respect, connection, and understanding, we create stronger outcomes for families and communities alike.
To learn more about our RAP, click here.
Reconciliation is not just a statement, but a lived experience across everything we do.
