We recognise that the task of reconciliation with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters is the responsibility of all Australians. We are committed to working for reconciliation and growing healing, justice and peace in this land.

This commitment is put into action through practical reconciliation and justice, spirituality and cultural recognition and awareness.

We make an Acknowledgment of Country each time the school community gathers together. The Acknowledgement of Country also appears in our publications and on our website.

We display the Australian, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islands flags at our events and special days and process these flags, along with our Aboriginal candle and message stick into all assemblies and Masses.

We have a Reconciliation Covenant which guides our whole-school initiatives including marking special days and events such as National Apology Day, Reconciliation Week, Harmony Day, National Sorry Day and NAIDOC Week.

FIRE Carriers

We are a FIRE Carrier school. FIRE stands for Friends Igniting Reconciliation through Education. Each year, FIRE Carriers are elected from each year level and our teaching staff, to investigate ways that we can put reconciliation into practice.

Our FIRE Carriers meet fortnightly to progress ideas and organise initiatives and are regularly called on to participate in College events to ensure we have an Acknowledgement of Country central to all our gatherings and rituals.

Reconciliation Covenant

In 2010, we established our Reconciliation Covenant. This Covenant states our commitment to working for Reconciliation and outlines key actions to deliver this work in the areas of spirituality, cultural recognition and awareness and practical reconciliation and justice. The Covenant is reviewed and updated annually, lead by our FIRE Carrier committee, our Deputy Principal Faith and Mission and a representative of the OLSH Sisters.

Our Reconciliation Covenant states that:

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart College recognises that the task of reconciliation with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters is the responsibility of all Australians. For us, reconciliation means, firstly, acknowledging the great injustices which have been endured by Aboriginal Australians; secondly, to listen and then engage in dialogue with our Aboriginal brothers and sisters about the shared task of reconciliation; and thirdly, to actively promote and work towards mutual self-understanding and healing, which also involves addressing remaining issues of injustice. OLSH College recognises that reconciliation remains an ongoing project.