Community at the heart of reconciliation and belonging
- deansimpson7
- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Updated: Jul 10
Forming strong communities is at the heart of reconciliation, which is backed by this year’s NAIDOC Week theme: ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy’. In this Q&A interview, Caitlin O’Connor*, who works for The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus in Canberra, focuses on the power of community in her life.
How would you define community?
Community to me is a sense of belonging to my Country, my family ties and extended kinship. Community is a strong part of my identity and how I make my decisions. With the support of my community, I feel a sense of empowerment and feel strong connections within my spiritual, emotional, cultural and physical wellbeing.
What are some of the traditions around community that mean the most to you and your culture?
I am a proud Dunghutti woman on my mother’s side and grew up away from Country. I still live away from Country as an adult. My mob has always shared stories, culture, and lore for me to humbly learn from. NAIDOC Week and Reconciliation Day are some of the most important celebrations for me and my family. We take pride in sharing our culture, language and stories. An important tradition in my culture is sharing stories and language with the next generation. I grew up learning language and now it has become my time to assist in teaching others [including the younger members of my family].
What impact does community have on those who belong to it?
Community has such a large impact on all people who belong as it forms the basis of connectedness and cultural identity. Community is the extension of family that holds the knowledge and traditions that keep our culture alive and vibrant. Community is how we connect to our kinship and live holistically, maintaining our relationships to the land and each other.
What can we do to make community more cohesive and stronger?
Listening to the stories of our Elders and understanding cultural-based practices such as our traditions, languages and songs. I believe that engaging in research and listening to our stories will create a cohesive and stronger community. Research your local area and understand what Country you live and work on. Reach out to your local Elders to learn the stories and how they lived on Country. These small steps can form the basis for a stronger and more inclusive understanding of how our communities can become stronger and more inclusive.
*Caitlin is a site manager for The Salvation Army’s Employment Plus in Canberra
To view the NAIDOC Week toolkit on MySalvos, click here
