National Reconciliation Week is a time for all Australians to reflect on our shared history, strengthen relationships, and take action toward a more just and equitable future for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This year’s theme, All In, is a call for everyone to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation. It reminds us that reconciliation is not a passive process and that real progress requires collective effort from individuals, organisations, and communities across the country.

For many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, however, the journey toward reconciliation continues to be shaped by the ongoing reality of racism and discrimination.

Insights from the Australian Reconciliation Barometer, the only national survey that tracks progress toward reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, highlight the challenges that remain. More than half of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents believe Australia is a racist country, and experiences of racism have increased significantly over the past decade.

Younger First Nations people are particularly affected, with many reporting experiences of racial prejudice in recent months. These experiences remind us that reconciliation is not only about acknowledgement — it is about action.

Addressing racism in Australia requires more than individual goodwill. It calls for collective commitment to confronting systemic, structural and institutional barriers that impact the everyday lives and outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This morning tea is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and consider how we can each be “All In” for reconciliation — not just during National Reconciliation Week, but every day.