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National Sorry Day 2027 – Aboriginal-Led Cultural Programs

National Sorry Day is commemorated across Australia on 26 May each year.

The day acknowledges the experiences, strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations survivors, their families and communities.

In 2027, National Sorry Day will mark 30 years since the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 26 May 1997.

Aboriginal Cultural Immersions provides respectful, Aboriginal-led cultural programs for workplaces, government departments, councils, universities, schools and community organisations across Australia.

National Sorry Day 2027 falls on Wednesday, 26 May.

Enquire About a National Sorry Day Program

What Is National Sorry Day?

National Sorry Day is a national day of acknowledgement, reflection and truth-telling held on 26 May.

It recognises the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were forcibly removed from their families, communities, cultures and Country under past government laws, policies and practices. These children and their descendants are known as the Stolen Generations.

The day provides an opportunity for Australians to learn about this history, acknowledge its continuing intergenerational effects and recognise the strength of Stolen Generations survivors and their families.

National Sorry Day should be approached with respect, care and a willingness to listen and learn.

The History of National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day followed the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from Their Families.

The inquiry’s landmark Bringing Them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 26 May 1997. It documented the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who had been forcibly removed from their families and made recommendations addressing acknowledgement, justice, healing and support.

National Sorry Day and the National Apology

National Sorry Day and the National Apology are connected, but they are not the same event.

National Sorry Day is commemorated on 26 May. It began in 1998 following the tabling of the Bringing Them Home report.

The National Apology took place on 13 February 2008. On that day, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd delivered a formal apology in the Australian Parliament to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly members of the Stolen Generations.

Both dates are important opportunities to acknowledge the truth of Australia’s history and the continuing need for healing, justice and meaningful action.

Why National Sorry Day Matters

National Sorry Day centres the experiences and voices of Stolen Generations survivors, their descendants, families and communities.

Meaningful commemoration begins with listening, acknowledging historical truth and understanding that the effects of forced child removal continue today.

For workplaces, schools and organisations, National Sorry Day can support deeper understanding of Australian history, encourage respectful discussion and strengthen ongoing commitments to reconciliation.

It should not be treated as a celebration or a one-off symbolic activity. The day calls for reflection, culturally respectful learning and continued action beyond 26 May.

Aboriginal-Led National Sorry Day Programs

Aboriginal Cultural Immersions works with Aboriginal cultural educators, artists, performers and facilitators to deliver culturally appropriate programs for different audiences and locations.

Programs may include Aboriginal cultural learning, Yarning Circles, storytelling, art workshops, cultural awareness sessions, artefact presentations and other forms of facilitated cultural engagement.

Every program is planned around the audience, location, available time and purpose of the event. Content and cultural protocols remain guided by the Aboriginal facilitators delivering the experience.

National Sorry Day programs can be delivered as standalone sessions or incorporated into broader activities for National Reconciliation Week, which begins the following day on 27 May.

Plan a Respectful National Sorry Day Program

National Sorry Day Activities for Workplaces and Organisations

Corporate, government, council, university and community organisations can observe National Sorry Day through Aboriginal-led learning and reflection.

Depending on the organisation and location, an appropriate program may include a facilitated Yarning Circle, cultural awareness session, storytelling presentation, Aboriginal art workshop or discussion about history, culture and reconciliation.

Programs can be tailored for staff groups, leadership teams, conferences, organisation-wide events and Reconciliation Action Plan activities.

The most effective workplace programs provide time for listening and reflection while connecting National Sorry Day with longer-term organisational learning and action.

Explore Aboriginal Cultural Training and Workplace Programs

National Sorry Day Activities for Schools

Schools can use National Sorry Day to help students understand the history of the Stolen Generations through age-appropriate and culturally respectful learning.

Aboriginal Cultural Immersions provides school incursions for early learning centres, primary schools and secondary schools. Programs can be delivered to individual classes, year levels or whole-school groups.

Activities may include storytelling, Yarning Circles, cultural presentations, Aboriginal art, artefacts, music and other interactive learning experiences appropriate to the students’ ages and the program objectives.

School programs can range from focused one-hour sessions to rotating workshops and full-day cultural learning experiences.

Explore Aboriginal Cultural Programs for Schools

National Sorry Day Programs Across Australia

Aboriginal Cultural Immersions coordinates Aboriginal-led cultural programs in capital cities and regional locations across Australia.

We work with appropriate Aboriginal facilitators according to the event location, cultural authority, audience and requested program.

Sydney and New South Wales
Melbourne and Victoria
Brisbane and Queensland
Adelaide and South Australia
Perth and Western Australia
Canberra and the surrounding region

Regional delivery may also be available, subject to facilitator availability, travel requirements and appropriate cultural connections.

Early planning is recommended because National Sorry Day falls immediately before National Reconciliation Week, one of the busiest periods for Aboriginal cultural programs across Australia.

How to Plan a Respectful National Sorry Day Event

Begin by considering what your organisation or school wants participants to understand, reflect upon or carry forward after the program.

Allow Aboriginal facilitators to guide cultural content and avoid treating National Sorry Day as a celebration. The tone should recognise Stolen Generations survivors, historical truth, resilience, healing and the continuing effects of forced removal.

Organisations should also consider how the event connects with year-round cultural learning, reconciliation commitments and practical action.

When enquiring, provide your location, preferred date, audience, participant numbers, available time and the type of learning experience you are considering.

Continue Cultural Learning Beyond National Sorry Day

National Sorry Day begins an important period of reflection and learning immediately before National Reconciliation Week, held from 27 May to 3 June.

NAIDOC Week, held each July, provides another opportunity to recognise and engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures, achievements and continuing connections to Country.

National Reconciliation Week Programs
NAIDOC Week Programs
Significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dates

Plan Your National Sorry Day 2027 Program

Aboriginal Cultural Immersions can help your workplace, government department, council, university, school or organisation plan a respectful Aboriginal-led cultural learning experience.

Programs are tailored to the location, audience, event objectives and available time.

National Sorry Day 2027 will be commemorated on Wednesday, 26 May.

Early enquiries are recommended for programs delivered during National Sorry Day and National Reconciliation Week.

Enquire About National Sorry Day 2027

Enquiries with Aboriginal Cultural Immersions

Download our National Sorry Day Brochures for Students and Teachers

School Incursions

We work with students and children's groups of all ages, demographics, and denominations, serving schools with 20 to 1,600 students. We deliver an array of Indigenous Immersions to whole school, individual year or single classrooms, from full-day to one-hour programs. Read more on Aboriginal Activities for school kids here.

Download School Brochure

Early Learning and Kindergarten

We have special educators who love working with the little kids at kindy and early learning centres, and who help build the children's Indigenous understanding in a fun environment.

Download Early Learning Brochure

Download Aboriginal Workplace Program Brochures by City

Download city-specific brochures for National Sorry Day Aboriginal cultural programs, workplace training, school incursions and respectful cultural learning across Australia.

Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast

Download Brisbane Brochure

Greater Sydney, Wollongong and Newcastle

Greater Sydney spans the Country of several Aboriginal peoples and clans. The City of Sydney acknowledges the Gadigal of the Eora Nation as the Traditional Custodians of its local area, while Dharug communities have longstanding connections across Western Sydney. Wollongong is on Dharawal Country, and the Newcastle area is connected to the Awabakal and Worimi peoples.

Download Sydney Brochure

Greater Melbourne, Dandenongs to Geelong

The Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong peoples are the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which Melbourne is built, with enduring cultural, spiritual and community connections to Country. To the west, Wadawurrung people hold deep and continuing connections across the Geelong region and surrounding areas of western Victoria.

Download Melbourne Brochure

Adelaide Plains, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula

The Adelaide Plains are on Kaurna Country, where Kaurna people maintain deep and continuing cultural connections to the lands, waterways and communities of the Adelaide region. To the east, Peramangk people are the Traditional Custodians of the Mount Barker region and parts of the Adelaide Hills, with enduring cultural connections extending across the eastern ranges and surrounding areas of South Australia.

Download Adelaide Brochure

Book NAIDOC Canberra and Queanbeyan

Canberra and Queanbeyan are part of a culturally significant region with enduring Ngunnawal and Ngambri connections. Aboriginal Cultural Immersions works with appropriate local cultural educators and facilitators according to location, cultural authority and program requirements.

Download Canberra Brochure

NAIDOC Week in Perth and Fremantle

The Whadjuk Nyoongar people are the Traditional Custodians of the Perth and Fremantle regions of Western Australia, with deep and continuing cultural connections to Country across the Swan Coastal Plain, from areas around Wanneroo in the north to Rockingham in the south. Their connection to land, waterways and the Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River) remains central to Whadjuk culture, identity and community today.

Download Perth Brochure

National Sorry Day Frequently Asked Questions

When is National Sorry Day 2027?

National Sorry Day 2027 will be held on Wednesday, 26 May. National Sorry Day is commemorated throughout Australia on 26 May every year.

What is National Sorry Day?

National Sorry Day is a day of acknowledgement, reflection and truth-telling that recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations survivors, their families and communities. It also acknowledges the continuing effects of forced child removal.

Why is National Sorry Day held on 26 May?

National Sorry Day is held on 26 May because the Bringing Them Home report was tabled in the Australian Parliament on 26 May 1997. The first National Sorry Day was held one year later, on 26 May 1998.

What are the Stolen Generations?

The Stolen Generations are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families, communities, cultures and Country under past government laws, policies and practices. The term also recognises the continuing effects of these removals on descendants, families and communities.

Is National Sorry Day the same as the National Apology?

No. National Sorry Day is commemorated on 26 May and began in 1998. The National Apology was delivered by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in the Australian Parliament on 13 February 2008.

How should a workplace commemorate National Sorry Day?

A workplace can commemorate National Sorry Day through Aboriginal-led cultural learning, a facilitated Yarning Circle, storytelling, cultural awareness training or a reflective staff event. Activities should be respectful, carefully planned and connected with ongoing learning and action.

What National Sorry Day activities are suitable for schools?

Suitable school activities may include age-appropriate storytelling, Yarning Circles, cultural presentations, Aboriginal art, artefact learning and guided discussions about the Stolen Generations, resilience and reconciliation.

Do you deliver National Sorry Day programs across Australia?

Yes. Aboriginal Cultural Immersions coordinates Aboriginal-led programs in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra and other metropolitan and regional locations, subject to facilitator availability and cultural suitability.

Can National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week activities be combined?

Yes. National Sorry Day is held on 26 May and National Reconciliation Week begins on 27 May. Organisations and schools can plan connected activities across both periods while recognising the distinct meaning and purpose of each occasion.

How early should we book a National Sorry Day program?

Early booking is strongly recommended. National Sorry Day falls immediately before National Reconciliation Week, creating high demand for Aboriginal cultural educators, artists and facilitators throughout Australia.

How do we enquire about a National Sorry Day program?

Provide your event location, preferred date, audience, approximate participant numbers, available program time and the type of experience you are considering through the Aboriginal Cultural Immersions contact page.

Aboriginal Programs For Other Significant Indigenous Dates

Book Aboriginal Activities for National Reconciliation Week 2027

#NRW2027
National Reconciliation Week

The National Reconciliation Week begins on 27 May and runs to 3 June 2027.

Reconciliation reminds us that advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' rights isn't a passive activity, and it is not solely the responsibility of First Nations people, who have carried the weight of championing, explaining and acting for far too long.

Learn More about Reconciliation Week

NAIDOC Week 2027

After National Sorry Day and Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week 2027, from 4 to 11 July, provides another important opportunity for schools, workplaces and organisations to continue Aboriginal-led cultural learning through workshops, incursions, Yarning Circles, art, storytelling and performances.

Learn more about NAIDOC Week