Show your support for First Nations
We now have two polo designs and two t-shirt designs to show your support for First Peoples. There are no set up costs with our supplier, but minimum orders of 20 or 50 are required.
For full order details, download the order PDF which outlines who to contact and sizes etc.
Download order details here.
Uluru Statement from the Heart
The Uluru Dialogue represents the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and leads community education on the Uluru Statement’s reforms of Voice, Treaty and Truth. The Uluru Dialogue is based at the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Sydney.
Find out about the Uluru Statement from the Heart here.
First Nations' Resources
A guide for Aboriginal Community Engagement and Building Trust Relationships
Find a First Nations supplier of goods and services
UCA’s WALKING TOGETHER: Exploring the Covenant between First and Second Peoples - Study Guide
Information about UAICC Covenant Posters Banners
UCA information about Acknowledgement of Country
Synod of Victoria and Tasmania's Statement from the Heart learning resources
Anglican Board of Mission's Statement from the Heart learning resources
Aboriginal Cultural Capability Modules (for Synod employees)
- Statement from the Heart Study Guide
- UCA statements in relation to First Peoples
- UCA Covenant Statement 1994 (full text)
- Covenant Poster
- Walking Together – Exploring the covenant between First and Second Peoples
- UCA, Assembly: Information about Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country
- Rev Dr Chris Budden speaking about the Uniting Church’s Covenant relationship with the UAICC, 2017
- Prayers: Collection of prayers for reconciliation written over the years by Jon Humphries, Ravenswood Chaplain and Religious Education Teacher.
- AHRC Bringing them Home video (30min)
- Please note: the content of this video is at times very emotional and may be difficult to watch at times… I’d recommend a packet of tissues handy as most people can’t help but shed a few tears. Perhaps even watch it with a friend, so you can have a bit of a chat and debrief afterwards. Even though it can be an emotional journey, it is essential viewing for anyone who genuinely wishes to understand what the “Stolen Generations” refers to, and how deeply Aboriginal people and their families were impacted.
- National Apology 2008 video (30min) Then Prime Minister, The Hon. Kevin Rudd’s, apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008.
- The Bringing them Home Report For those who would like to read the full report, and gain deeper insight about the Stolen Generations.
- Bringing them Home website/resources
- In his 2008 Apology speech the former Prime Minister, the Hon. Kevin Rudd MP, mentions the need to “Close the Gap”. The Australian Government reports annually on efforts to “close the gap”.
- National Reconciliation Week – Reconciliation Australia website/resources
- Intergenerational Trauma This link provides a good explanation of what intergenerational trauma is, how it can impact Aboriginal people and communities, and how it can be acknowledged in developing appropriate programs and responses to community needs
Engaging with Aboriginal People and Communities
- The White Australia Policy – eurocentrism, assumptions of superiority, cultural bias, etc.
- Diversity of Aboriginal Peoples (similar to Nations in Europe… many nations, many languages, many cultures, not homogenous). See language map.
- Aboriginal identity is not about skin colour
- Working With Aboriginal People
- Engaging with Aboriginal Communities
- Working with Indigenous Children, Families and Communities
- Respectful Relationships
- Engaging with Aboriginal Children and Young People Toolkit
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Engagement Toolkit
- Protocols for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- Acknowledgement of Country - Chinese simplified
Aboriginal culture and the workplace – how different cultural values can influence perspectives and approaches to work. Aboriginal family and community responsibilities versus work commitments and expectations – finding reasonable and respectful solutions.
Differences between Indigenous cultural values and Western cultural values
Family and kinship connections
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Supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- Working with Indigenous, First Nations People - Family and Kinship
Communication: use of language, body language, self-confidence, eye contact, etc.
- Topic: Aboriginal oppression and trauma, recovery take time 11minutes- informative video on Aboriginal health, Released on 26th May 2020 (WA Health).
- Video about Intergenerational Trauma - Healing Foundation
- Video about Aboriginal connection to Country - Shoalhaven Council and local Aboriginal community members
- What is a Culturally Safe workplace?
- Cultural Safety when enabling our mob - HACC related, but some good insights shared
- Self Determination from an International Perspective video.
Further discussion
Nathan Tyson works with the Synod in the role of Director, First Peoples Strategy and Engagement. Nathan is an Aboriginal man who has spent most of his life in Sydney and is of Anaiwon/Gomeroi descent (with connections to the Brown, Munro and Sullivan families from the Tingha region in North Western NSW).
Nathan has an extensive career working across Government, Corporate, Community and Academic sectors, primarily in human rights, advocacy, consumer protection, and community engagement. Nathan has University qualifications in Law, Jurisprudence and Management has held a number of elected Executive roles with Aboriginal groups and organisations.
Part of Nathan’s role with the Synod is to support Presbyteries and Congregations who wish to learn more about First Peoples histories, cultures, issues and perspectives, and who may wish to build and/or strengthen relationships with local Aboriginal communities and organisations.
Nathan is happy to participate in a Zoom discussion with your Presbytery/Congregation/workplace group and can be invited to attend gatherings of a Congregation or Presbytery (for example a Sunday Service, or meeting of a Social Justice Group) to speak about issues relating to:
- The Uniting Church’s Covenant Statement of 1994;
- How Congregations can build relationships with the UIACC;
- The Voice/Treaty/Truth issues raised through the Statement from the Heart
- How Congregations can build/strengthen local relationships with Aboriginal people/communities in NSW and the ACT.
- His personal perspectives on a range of current issues through a Q&A session.
Nathan spoke at the Healthy Churches Expo in 2020. Watch his session on Supporting First Nations peoples and communities - Covenanting in 2020 and beyond here.
Feel free to give Nathan a call to discuss how he might assist your Presbytery or Congregation (0474 908 460) or contact him via email: NathanT@nswact.uca.org.au