A Colleague is
Changing The Date
What does this mean and how is it possible?
Changing the date they celebrate Australia Day means that your colleague is supporting the #changethedate movement.
Your colleague feels, like many Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander people, that the 26th of January can only be a time for mourning. It was on this date in 1788, that the first of Great Britain's fleet arrived, beginning the dispossession of Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders.
So how can that date mean something joyous to Australia's First People?
This doesn't diminish your colleague's desire to celebrate Australia, it simply recognises that the 26th of January isn't the date we should celebrate.
Australia’s Great!
That’s why we want everyone to be able to celebrate it.
Unfortunately, we can't change what happened as a result of January 26th 1788, so how can it mean something joyous for Australia's First People.
Learn more about why we #changethedate
How is Changing the Date Possible?
As our website helps people to discover, often their award or workplace agreement allows employees to request a substitution of public holidays.
And What Does This Mean For Me?
Even though your colleague will be working on the 26th of January, they understand that many others won't be. Similarly, on the date they do take off to celebrate Australia, you may be working.
If you commonly liaise with them, they are simply preparing you for their absence on that date.
I Feel This Way Too
Find out how you can #changethedate yourself.
