Jagesh Panchal, a Gujarati born and raised in Australia, had little understanding of reconciliation until recently.
On Tuesday evening, he was one of ten members of Victoria’s multicultural community who graduated from a nearly year-long reconciliation course at the Koorie Heritage Trust in Federation Square, before a packed audience.
The course, Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Project, was run by the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice. It aimed to engage multicultural communities in the reconciliation process.
The Australian Human Rights Commission states, “Reconciliation is the responsibility of all Australians.” It requires acknowledging past injustices and ongoing inequalities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (First Nations) peoples and committing to a more equal and respectful future.
Panchal took part in the course because he firmly believes that “our role in allyship for multicultural and First Nations communities is crucial—without our active support, these efforts are at risk of failing.
“We must advocate for our First Nations brothers and sisters, pushing for better programmes, increased funding, and stronger allyship. We can’t be indifferent to another culture’s struggle for equality.”
As part of the course, Panchal gained firsthand experience through a field trip to Gunditjmara country. He was struck by the deep knowledge of how First Nations people manage the land, including their use of resources, farming techniques, and traditional cooking methods.
He noted that many of these practices are often lost in translation and no longer used in other contexts. He found it enlightening to understand the ways in which the First Nations and Aboriginal communities care for the land and realised the importance of learning from these practices as allies.
Panchal applied the insights he gained from the course to his community projects in the City of Casey, where he resides. He also organised a forum with the South Asian community in Fitzroy, engaging many young South Asians in discussions about reconciliation.
What he discovered in the process was that young South Asians are more connected to the issue than their older counterparts. “The older Gujarati community are often hesitant to get involved, largely due to a lack of awareness and a conservative mindset, with some questioning why they should engage in reconciliation efforts.”
Therefore, he believes that young people have a crucial role in bridging this gap, encouraging their parents and grandparents to understand and participate in reconciliation. Panchal emphasises that living in Australia means actively participating as allies and embracing allyship.
Arfa Sarfaraz Khan also found the programme invaluable, particularly for those from migrant communities with limited knowledge. “It reveals the intricacies and sensitive areas we need to be aware of, and learning true history from the people is crucial. I gained insights into acknowledgements and learned what can and cannot be done.
“Without attending the course, I wouldn’t have acquired this knowledge. Over six-eight months, I understood the impact of colonisation, including language loss and the burden carried through generations—important lessons that need to be learnt and understood,” says Khan.
Khan now feels equipped to share knowledge about true history. She believes the multicultural community can play a key role by standing with the truth, having learned this through the sessions and discussions.
The “Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Project,” led by Professor Andrew Gunstone from Federation University and Co-Chair of Reconciliation Victoria, alongside Shankar Kasynathan and Maria Dimopoulos, has made significant strides. The project successfully recruited ten multicultural fellows and engaged them in impactful work over the past year.
Gunstone says, “The graduates have done remarkable work. We offered them diverse experiences, including truth-telling sessions, reconciliation activities, and field trips. They also organised local events in their communities, creating a ripple effect.
“We focused on educating the broader community about these issues. This was a key area of concern, as there has been limited engagement with reconciliation within multicultural communities,” says Gunstone, who hopes to expand this “unique programme” nationally.
In closing, Panchal adds, “I was surprised by how little we know about First Nations communities and allyship, and how much misinformation exists. This programme addresses these gaps by educating the public on the facts and proper acknowledgements. We encourage everyone to engage in reconciliation and learn about First Nations peoples.”
An initiative that appears to be just the beginning, it is a reminder to acquaint oneself with the country one lives in.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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