Gunditjmara woman Sissy Austin, a local leader in the Indigenous community, said Reconciliation Week was a good time for people to reflect on their own understanding of reconciliation.

“There’s so many resources and information available,” she said. 

As co-chairman of the City of Ballarat’s Koori Engagement Action Group, Ms Austin has played a key role in the council’s strategy and is also putting on an assembly this week at Loreto College in her role as the school’s Koori engagement officer. 

Ballarat City councillor Belinda Coates said goals from the council’s Reconciliation Action Plan were already achieved. 

“Harmony Festival (ticked) off a lot of objectives from the (plan) and having that sort of up-front leading of the parade of nations,” she said. 

“It’s about working in with existing services but also raising awareness around cultural issues.”