Albany is hosting several important events for Reconciliation Week this week, including a symposium with local elders for National Sorry Day and the launch of the Great Southern reconciliation action plan.

The week begins with National Sorry Day on Tuesday, and Southern Aboriginal Corporation and the Great Southern Aboriginal Health Service are hosting a Stolen Generation symposium at Retravision Stadium.

The event kicks off at 9.30am and includes a panel discussion with elders alongside cultural weaving sessions.

Reconciliation WA’s flagship breakfast is being broadcast directly to Albany and Newman from Optus Stadium in Perth, with the Albany event hosted at the Albany Entertainment Centre.

Noongar journalist Narelda Jacobs OAM is this year’s keynote speaker, with Karla Hart and Tremane Baxter-Edwards facilitating the discussion.

Doors will open at 8am, with the broadcast beginning at 8.45am.

Albany is also hosting the launch of the first place-based reconciliation action plan in Australia immediately after the breakfast broadcast.

Reconciliation WA’s project lead will be in Albany on Wednesday morning alongside other staff to help launch the pilot project, explaining how it works and what it aims to achieve.

The project has been designed with the help of Noongar communities across the Great Southern.

It aims to engage the region’s Indigenous community to work together with Reconciliation WA and Reconciliation Australia to take action towards reconciliation that are specific to the region and its residents’ needs.

The theme of this year’s Reconciliation Week is All In, encouraging all West Australians to be involved in the journey of reconciliation.

“As we mark Albany’s bicentenary in 2026, we are reminded that our history is not just a reflection of the past, but a foundation for our future,” Reconciliation WA chief executive Jody Nunn said.

“Our commitment is to ensure that regional Western Australians have the same opportunities and voice as those in the city.

“By taking a place-based approach, we are grounding our bicentenary reflections in local knowledge and community aspirations, ensuring this milestone is a catalyst for reconciliation momentum across the Great Southern.”

“The 2026 theme, All In, is a direct challenge to the status quo.

“Reconciliation is not a spectator sport, and it cannot be the sole responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of this movement for far too long.”

Wagyl Kaip Southern Aboriginal Corporation is hosting a day to celebrate Noongar culture on Wednesday, with the doors open from 10am-2pm.

On June 2, The Albany Public Library is hosting a free screening of the documentary The Last Daughter, beginning at 1.30pm.

Palmerston is hosting a barbecue in honour of Reconciliation Week on June 8 at Lake Weerlara in Lockyer from 10am.