‘All In’ at the On Country experience

Learning team member Lucy Melville reflects on the lasting impact of an experience on Country in the lead-up to Reconciliation Week 2026.

At Museums of History NSW, our learning programs inspire young people to celebrate First Nations cultures and think deeply about the effects of colonisation on people and Country. This week, we welcomed nearly 10,000 students to our Reconciliation Week live event. In the lead-up to this event, members of the Learning team attended an On Country experience at Shaws Creek Aboriginal Place in Yarramundi, Western Sydney. I have continued to reflect on this moving experience ever since.

More than an opportunity to step away from our office partitions (although that was certainly appreciated), On Country offers an opportunity to deepen our understanding of Country, truth-telling, and the enduring connections First Nations people share with land, culture and community.

At Yarramundi, away from the city noise and grind, we eased into our camp chairs and quietly took in the sensory delights of the bush. Facilitators Wayne Cornish, from Aboriginal social enterprise Muru Mittigar, and Museums of History NSW’s Dennis Taylor led us through a smoking ceremony and shared their knowledge of First Nations histories interwoven with stories of Dreaming, survival and resilience. Later on, we gathered around a hidden rock engraving to learn about its significance to Dharug knowledge holders. This privilege is one I won't soon forget.

The On Country experience is both beautiful and confronting. It is an experience of connection and reckoning – with the richness of Country and culture, but also with the ongoing impacts of policies and attitudes that continue to affect generations of First Nations people today.

The theme of this year’s Reconciliation Week is ‘All In’, and Reconciliation Australia reminds us that reconciliation is ‘not a spectator sport’. For those of us engaged in the important work of sharing stories, this call to action feels especially significant. Museums are uniquely positioned to reframe history, amplify First Nations voices and contribute with intention to the ongoing pursuit of justice.

I am deeply grateful to Wayne and Dennis for their generosity in sharing their knowledge and stories with us. Privileged experiences like these strengthen our commitment to creating programs that promote truth-telling, empathy and deeper cultural understanding for the hundreds of thousands of visitors we engage with each year.