Today marks National Sorry Day — a day of remembrance and respect for the Stolen Generations. Tomorrow, National Reconciliation Week begins. At RLB, we approach both with genuine reflection and a commitment to meaningful action.
National Reconciliation Week is held every year from 27 May to 3 June. The dates are deliberate — each anchors the week to a defining moment in Australia’s journey toward justice and equality.
27 May 1967 — The anniversary of the referendum in which Australians voted to remove clauses from the Constitution that discriminated against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
3 June 1992 — The Mabo decision, in which the High Court of Australia recognised native title — affirming that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights over their lands survived British colonisation.
These are not simply legal milestones. They represent generations of Australians who fought, and continue to fight, for recognition, equality and justice.
This year’s theme is a direct challenge. Reconciliation is not a spectator sport. The All In campaign calls on every Australian — not just during this week, but every day — to commit to reconciliation as a shared responsibility.
That responsibility is one RLB has chosen to formalise.
RLB’s Reconciliation Action Plan
This year, RLB reached an important milestone: the formal endorsement of our inaugural Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan by Reconciliation Australia. We join more than 3,000 organisations across Australia that have made a structured, formal commitment to reconciliation through the RAP program.
Guided by our values of Truth, Trust, Together and Tomorrow, our Reflect RAP sets out how we will strengthen cultural awareness, build meaningful relationships with First Nations communities and businesses, and create pathways for First Nations peoples within the property and construction industry.
As a firm whose work stands on land cared for by First Nations peoples for more than 65,000 years, we recognise this not as an aspiration but as a responsibility.
Art in our spaces: A story of Country
At RLB, the reconciliation journey is also expressed through the spaces we inhabit. Significant artworks by Aboriginal artist Presten Warren are displayed in RLB’s Melbourne office, carrying a story of connection, heritage and shared purpose.
One of the largest custom pieces Presten has worked on, at 3 and a half metres, this piece had to be stretched and framed on-site. Seeds tells a story of collaboration and people coming together — reflecting the shared values at the heart of RLB’s culture. Circular dot work represents meeting places or campfires where ideas are exchanged, surrounded by “U” shapes representing people seated together. A continuous journey line links each gathering place, tracing the flow of knowledge between communities and the strength of relationships built over time.
The gatherings span edge to edge, holding the past, present and future of RLB’s two centuries of heritage, with a central gathering place representing the people of RLB today. Symbols of seeds, fruits and medicine leaves speak to healing and ongoing growth, while rivers, waterholes and rock pools connect the work to Country — evoking the flow of knowledge to future generations and the importance of caring for culture, people and place.
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