National Sorry Day was celebrated around Australia on May 26th. The day is a special time for everyone to remember and acknowledge the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who were forcibly removed from their families and community.

SCH Community Development Officer (Research) Mitchell Hawthorne and Christine Blakeney (SCH Aboriginal Tenant Advisory Committee Member)

In Nowra, Southern Cross Housing staff and members of the organisations Aboriginal Tenant Advisory Committee participated in a local Sorry Day event that was organised by the South Coast Medical Service (AMS) in partnership with the Children of the Bomaderry Homes. The event comprised of First Nations dance, music, storytelling, a smoking ceremony, lunch and a 3km Sorry Day walk across the newly constructed Nowra bridge.

Southern Cross Housing is one of the largest social and community housing providers for First Nations people in NSW and is the largest Community Housing Provider in South Eastern NSW with a service delivery area spanning across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley & Snowy Monaro, managing approximately 2,400 dwellings throughout the region.

Of the approximately 4100 residents that live in properties that are managed by Southern Cross Housing SCH, 768 residents identify as First Nation people making SCH one of the largest providers of social and community housing to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples in NSW.

Southern Cross Housing continues to diversify our service delivery model, working to redress the disadvantages in health, education, employment, and social exclusion experienced by many of our residents and community members, including First Nations People. SCH’s vision for reconciliation is to work together with First Nation People to create homes, places and spaces that are welcoming, safe and appropriate.