National Sorry Day 2026
Honouring truth, acknowledging history, and committing to meaningful reconciliation.
4 May 2026
On National Sorry Day, 26 May, we pause to acknowledge and honour the Stolen Generation - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families, cultures and Country. We honour the strength, resilience and dignity of survivors, their families and communities, and recognise that this history continues to shape the lived experiences of many today.
Sorry Day calls on all of us to reflect, listen deeply and take responsibility for our part in shared truth-telling and the healing process. It reminds us that acknowledging harm is only the beginning and that meaningful reconciliation requires ongoing action, responsibility and respect.
We also acknowledge that 26 May marks the anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, a generous and powerful invitation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for a better future built on voice, Treaty, and truth, and grounded in justice and self-determination.
At St John of God Health Care (SJGHC), we reaffirm our commitment to this invitation. We recognise that reconciliation requires more than reflection; it requires action, accountability and courage. As part of our ongoing journey, we have expanded our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart to explicitly include the principles of Treaty, acknowledging the importance of agreement-making, truth-telling and genuine partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
SJGHC Support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Guided by our Mission and Values, we are committed to embedding reconciliation into our systems, our culture and our everyday practice. We understand that meaningful change comes through both “systems and soul”, strengthening structures while deepening relationships built on respect, reciprocity and trust.
Our call to action
We invite our caregivers, stakeholders and community to take time today to learn, reflect and listen; to hear the voices and truths of the Stolen Generations, to engage with the Uluru Statement from the Heart and principles of Treaty, and to consider how each of us can contribute to reconciliation through our everyday actions. Reconciliation lives not only in words, but in what we choose to do next.
Today, we stand in remembrance and truth of the past, and with hope and faith for a brighter future we commit to walking forward together with humility, purpose and unwavering respect.