National Reconciliation Week 2025: Planting Day at The University of Melbourne

In recognition of National Reconciliation Week 2025, the Solutions+ team proudly joined the University of Melbourne and their campus partners for a special planting event on the University’s Parkville Campus South Lawn.

This year’s National Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’, invited all Australians to reflect on the connection between past, present and future. For our team, this was more than a message – it was a call to action. Together with our partners, we helped coordinate and take part in the planting of 340 Indigenous plants, forming a living symbol of respect, regeneration, and reconciliation.

The event was designed not only to restore the land’s native biodiversity but also to reconnect with the deep cultural and ecological knowledge of the Traditional Owners. The Parkville campus sits on land that was once Plains Grassy Woodland – an endangered ecological vegetation class that historically featured open eucalypt woodland dominated by River Red Gums, a rich understory of grasses like Kangaroo Grass, and diverse herbaceous species. Through this planting effort, we aim to restore and reintroduce elements of this unique ecosystem back to Country.

A highlight of the day was the ceremonial planting of the Eucalyptus viminalis (Manna Gum). This is a culturally significant species for the Wurundjeri people, whose name is derived from the Woiwurrung words ‘Wurun’ (Manna Gum) and ‘djeri’ (the grub found in the tree). Other species like Indigofera australis, Athropodium minus, Mentha diemenica, Rytidosperma caespitosum were chosen for their cultural, medicinal, and ecological significance to the area.

This project is the first step in an ongoing commitment from both the University of Melbourne and our team at Solutions+ to prioritise Indigenous-led plant selection, restore pre-colonial biodiversity, and establish long-term relationships with Indigenous nurseries and seed banks.

In addition to our work on the ground, Solutions+ is proud to support the Indigenous Literacy Foundation as part of this initiative – a not-for-profit organisation helps to create opportunities for First Nations children through access to books and literacy resources. This dual commitment – to Country and to community – reflects our broader goal of contributing meaningfully to reconciliation in every way we can.

Thank you to our dedicated team and our partners for making this National Reconciliation Week event such a success. We look forward to continuing our shared journey of growth, healing, and respect.