‘Many Stories, One Home’
‘Many Stories, One Home’ was commissioned by the Settlement Council of Australia for their Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
STORY:
From across the seas, many journeys converge—each carrying their own histories, cultures and dreams—moving towards the hope of a new beginning. These journeys meet at the moment of arrival, where new beginnings intersect with over 65,000 years of story, custodianship and connection, and reconciliation first becomes real.
But arrival is deeper than a new country to call home – it is the start of a new relationship with ancient Traditional Lands and a partnership with their Custodians, cultures, histories and shared responsibilities. And so, surrounded by the enduring presence of First Peoples, new arrivals begin with truth at the foundation—learning the history of the land, recognising unceded sovereignty, and celebrating the strength and leadership that has always been here.
From this moment, pathways extend outward as people begin to walk together. Communities meet, listen, share and act—engaging in an ongoing journey of truth-telling, truth-listening and truth-acting. These are not single moments, but continuous practices that build relationships grounded in respect, justice and understanding. Supporting these journeys is the Settlement Council of Australia, helping communities by creating space for stories to be shared, heard and carried into action.
At the centre of the artwork is the intersection where SCOA creates a bridge between First Nations truths, settlement journeys and our shared future. This space represents the critical defining moments of the present—the relationships we build, decisions we make, and the actions we take that ultimately shape the future we will create. Encircled by the ongoing journey of truth, it reminds us that the future is not something we arrive at, but something we actively create through intention, accountability and shared responsibility.
Flowing beneath it all is a sacred living river; the vein that sustains all life, heals all wounds and carries all knowledge across time and space. Two worlds travel beside the river: the search for safety, opportunity and belonging, and the enduring impacts of displacement, loss and erasure. These worlds co-exist in tension, yet both must be honoured, understood and carried with care to shape the journey forward.
Within the river are many waterholes, each carrying a story. As the river winds and coils toward the final meeting place, these stories are no longer separate—they are woven together into the veins of Country where our united future begins to grow. As we share, understand, respect, protect and care for each other’s story our future grows tall and strong, because there is no meaningful multiculturalism without justice for First Peoples, and no true belonging without reckoning with truth.
© 2026 Amy Allerton.
Digital vector artwork on iPad Pro, Adobe Fresco with Apple Pencil 2
We were delighted to create ‘Many Stories, One Home’ and then use the artwork as the feature of our design of the Settlement Council of Australia’s Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan.
