In honor of Reconciliation Week, we are proud to share a powerful poem, “The woven oneness of Collaboration,” by Alison Overeem (Smith). Alison is a proud Palawa woman from South-East Tasmania, Leprena/Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress Manager, and UnitingCare Australian Board member.​ This poem was originally presented at last year’s Leaders Forum and has been adapted to resonate with this year’s theme.

Alison’s words capture the essence of unity, strength, and healing that comes from working together. The metaphor of weaving a basket, or “tirrina,” symbolises the intricate and essential connections between individuals and communities. Through collaboration, each unique thread contributes to a collective strength and shared wisdom that holds us all.

We hope this poem inspires you as much as it has inspired us, reminding us of the importance of unity, justice, and the power of coming together.

Here is the full poem:

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The woven oneness of Collaboration

Alison Overeem (Smith)

Now more than ever

The tirrina / basket of oneness
Holding
Healing
Twining

Sharing
Learning
Unlearning
Weaving
Unweaving
Leaning into with and for each other

Strengthening each strand through and with relation
Through and with collaboration
Holding each other in the vulnerability and strength

In the weaving
In the coming together
In the oneness of individual threads, but ones connected with, and for each other
comes strength, safety, security and belonging

Each thread speaking and holding a unique strand

A unique story narrative and history

Full of hope intent and impact
Heard and held in the oneness

Heard and held in the weaving together

Each one being
Each one knowing
Each one holding

Each one nurturing the other

But in the collaboration
Comes the woven
The weaving of justice
The weaving of advocacy

The weaving of voices
The weaving of shared wisdom
The weaving of oneness

As each one is woven in
It gently weaves with another
Bringing all the stories of hope together

Be in the basket
Be with the woven
Let your voice be woven through

Hold all voices in with and through

To a calling of oneness

May the weaving of shared collaboration

Be the healing of a nation

May we continue to weave the threads of solidarity through our shared oneness

May the basket give strength to who we are as uniting care as UAICC and as Church –
the woven oneness of justice

May the ancient wisdom and knowledge of the lands now called Australia, be a gift and
guide to us all in the oneness of connection , relationship and in the woven

Join your words of weaving wisdom in arms through this healing basket

Now more than ever.