National Reconciliation Week (NRW) 2025 brought powerful storytelling, reflection, and celebration to life across The University of Queensland (UQ).
Recognised annually from 27 May to 3 June, NRW is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared histories and explore ways we can contribute to a more inclusive future. This year’s theme, Bridging Now to Next, called on communities across the country to draw on the lessons of the past to move forward together with purpose and strength.
At UQ, this spirit was reflected in a diverse and dynamic program of events that engaged staff, students and community members through music, art, research and truth-telling.
Celebrating Country and Culture
The week kicked off with the return of the Blak Markets at St Lucia, where First Nations artists, stallholders and businesses showcased their creations. From cultural weaving with Aunty Jeannine to the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s Great Book Swap, the markets offered opportunities to connect with culture and support Indigenous-led initiatives.
Across all book stalls and swaps held throughout the week at St Lucia, Herston, Gatton and Dutton Park campuses, the UQ community raised a total of $2526 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation—supporting their mission to provide books and literacy programs to children in remote communities.
Midweek, the launch of Professor Anita Heiss’s latest novel, Red Dust Running, brought colour, energy and creativity to the lakeside amphitheatre. The event featured a performance by the Voices for Reconciliation Choir, line dancing, and a community celebration of storytelling that highlighted the joy and strength of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander literature.
Music, Museums and Shared Learning
The arts continued to take centre stage with a soulful lunchtime concert by Toni Janke, an acclaimed Wuthathi, Meriam and Yadighana singer-songwriter. Held in the School of Music, her performance invited reflection through song and story.
Throughout the week, staff and students were also invited to engage with exhibitions across UQ’s Art and Anthropology Museums.
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These Entanglements: Ecology After Nature explored the resilience of culture and Country through Indigenous art and ecological reflection.
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Stories Through Time: Living Cultures, Enduring Connections offered guided tours that illuminated ancestral knowledge, ongoing connections to Country, and the richness of living cultures.
The Interconnected Ecologies: Native Bee Futures program, hosted by Dr Coen Hird and the UQ Anthropology Museum, invited participants to engage directly with Country and science, exploring the relationship between native bees, ecological knowledge, and future sustainability.
Research, Reflection and Reconciliation in Action
To cap off the week, UQ hosted the Indigenous 3MT – Smart. Fast. Deadly., where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander HDR students presented their research in just three minutes. The event was a celebration of Indigenous excellence in academia, showcasing deadly research in action and affirming the role of Indigenous voices in shaping Australia's future.
The always-popular Murri Trivia night brought students and staff together for an evening of learning and laughs, as teams tested their knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories and achievements.
Looking Ahead: Bridging Now to Next
Throughout the week, students and staff engaged in moments of truth-telling, reflection and shared learning—demonstrating a collective commitment to reconciliation at UQ.
From markets and exhibitions to music, discussion and research, the NRW 2025 program honoured the strength and diversity of First Nations voices and invited all Australians to walk together toward a more just and united future.
“Bridging Now to Next” means listening, learning, and taking action – now more than ever.
Learn more about reconciliation at UQ and how you can get involved.
