OzSpirit: Taking Action

	Participate in National Reconciliation Week 27 May - 3 June 2007 This year marks the 11th anniversary of the establishment of National Reconciliation Week and the theme for this week will be Their Spirit Still Shines. National Reconciliation Week offers people across Australia the opportunity to focus on reconciliation, to hear about the culture and history of Australia's Indigenous people, and to explore new and better ways of meeting challenges in our communities. Reconciliation Australia has put together resources to use in promoting National Reconciliation Week and details events around the country which you can participate in. Visit their website
	Speak out Speak out and challenge racist stereotypes whenever you come across them in your home, school, work place or in the media. Your voice counts!
	Become a volunteer There are many ways you can volunteer to support the work of Indigenous groups around Australia. One group, Indigenous Community Volunteers (ICV) is a not for profit organisation providing Indigenous Australians with new skills. Indigenous Communities, organisations or individuals identify their skill needs then ICV matches volunteers to address those needs. Volunteering with ICV is about sharing skills and knowledge and learning together. Skills transfer projects can lead to employment, self employment and community development. Visit their Website
	Become informed Become informed about the challenges faced by Indigenous Australians in our society today, and the steps being taken to meet these challenges. Check out these organisations who deal with issues of social justice in general and Aboriginal justice issues in particular. Find out what they have to say.
	Australian Catholic Social Justice Council Visit their Website ANTAR -Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation Visit their Website ERC - Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education Visit their Website Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission Visit their Website NATSIEC The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission Visit their Website Reconciliation Australia Visit their Website UNIYA - Jesuit Social Justice Centre Visit their Website

Indigenous Theology Conference
NATSIEC is organizing a national Indigenous theology and spirituality conference to which all are warmly invited. It will take place 9 - 12 July 2007 at Noosa Lakes, Queensland and is part of the NATSIEC Theology Project.

To register your interest and get more information

Tel 02 9299 2215
Email natsiec@ncca.org.au
Website www.ncca.org.au/

Send the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs a Boiled Lolly.
The National Council of Churches Australia is calling on all Australians to the Minster for Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs boiled lollies to remind him that short term solutions which look good and which may bring short term sweetness are not what Indigenous Peoples are after, they have had too many broken promises in the past. What is needed is long term solutions developed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address the needs and priorities identified by them.

To find out how you can support this campaign click here

Watch the DVD KANYINI
KANYINI is a beautiful and moving Australian documentary made by Aboriginal leader Bob Randall and filmmaker Melanie Hogan to bring Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians closer together. Winner of the "Discovery Channel Inside Film Award" and the "Independent Spirit Inside Film Award" in 2006, Kanyini is one of those powerful films that will stay with you for a long time to come. Jeff McMullen writes: " On three occasions I have watched diverse audiences of many educational levels hushed by this film into a deep contemplation of its truth."

Other famous Australians such as Jack Thompson, Toni Collette, Sigrid Thornton, Lisa McCune, Jude Bolton and Deborah Mailman have all seen Kanyini and have personally written testimonials to encourage all Australians to see this film.

See their testimonials on the film
Visit their Website

To Buy Kanyini
Visit their Website

Caritas Australia's Indigenous Programs
Caritas Australia has been working in partnership with Indigenous organisations and communities for over 30 years.

Through its Australian Indigenous Program, Caritas Australia supports sustainable development projects that are developed and implemented by, or in close collaboration with, Indigenous Australians. The project therefore reflect an Indigenous view of the world as well as support Indigenous advocacy issues. Visit their Website

Drawing Together
Drawing Together is an art competition exploring reconciliation and promoting the employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian Public Service. This competition encourages artists to focus on their own creative interpretation of what reconciliation means to them and is OPEN to all Australians.

The competition offers national recognition and substantial prize money to artists, across seven award categories including youth and Indigenous awards.

The Drawing Together...an art competition exploring reconciliation will be open to entries from Friday 9 March 2007 - Friday 8 June 2007. Visit their Website

Booty Challenge
The Booty Challenge is a scavenger hunt style social justice awareness event. Open to students from both secondary schools and universities, the inaugural Booty Challenge is being held to raise awareness about the current campaigns of Make Poverty History, Bombs Begone!, Hooked (Students for Trade Justice) and Vgen (Vision Generation).

On April Fools day teams will compete for points by obtaining scavenger items, completing physical challenges, employing campaigning skills and using ingenuity to bring flair to the competition. The teams with the most points win the cash prize pool for their nominated campaign. Visit their Website