National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice celebrates two years of leading transformational change

Today marks two years since the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice was launched by national reconciliation icons Dr Jackie Huggins AM and Senator Patrick Dodson.

It was established by Associate Deputy Vice-Chancellor Reconciliation Professor Andrew Gunstone to drive international, national and regional transformational change in reconciliation.

It is Australia’s leading academic think-tank on reconciliation, engaging with industry, community, government, and academia through research, education, outreach, and advocacy.

The team consists of six leading academics – Professor Gunstone, Professor Bindi Bennett, Professor Dennis Foley, Professor Emma Lee, Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin, and Jesse Fleay.

Their work engages with areas such as reconciliation, reconciliation action plans (RAPs), cultural responsiveness, well-being and trauma, business, entrepreneurship, truth-telling, Voice, land and sea management, knowledges and methodologies, international relations, and constitutional philosophy.

The National Centre is completely committed to the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It advocated strongly for a Yes vote in the 2023 First Nations Voice to Parliament Referendum and continues to work with organisations throughout Australia on Voice, Treaty, and Truth.

The National Centre hosts an Annual Reconciliation Lecture, delivered in 2023 by Noel Pearson, and in 2024 by Dr Jackie Huggins AM, Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter, and Rueben Berg. The 2025 Reconciliation Lecture will be delivered by Stan Grant on May 26.

The National Centre also has an Advisory Board consisting of several eminent reconciliation leaders – Dr Jackie Huggins AM, Emma Garlett, Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter, Professor Barry Judd, and Peter Morris – along with many leading industry and academic adjunct fellows.

“We’re absolutely delighted with our significant achievements over the past two years, including our industry, community, government, and academia engagements, and our research funding success, with our current grants totalling over $13 million,” Professor Gunstone said.

“In 2025, we will continue to work on our transformational projects, and with reconciliation and First Nations organisations across the country on Voice, Treaty and Truth, including with the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the Yoorrook Justice Commission in Victoria.”

More information about the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice can be found on their webpage or by following their work on LinkedIn.