26 January is not a date to celebrate
Today, 26 January, marks a day of mourning for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Known as Survival Day or Invasion Day, 26 January 1788 was the day the First Fleet landed in Australia, beginning centuries of invasion, dispossession, murder and colonisation.
CMY is proud to take action to Change the Date Ourselves for the fourth consecutive year, and our offices will be open on 26 January.
26 January is not and will never be a day to celebrate. It only represents the ongoing violence enacted against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Importantly, ‘Australia Day’ has only been celebrated as a public holiday on this date since 1994.
Campaigns to change the date from 26 January to an appropriate date have been happening in Australia since 1938. The first Day of Mourning protest was staged 88 years ago by First Nations men and women on Gadigal land. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and their allies come together on 26 January to protest and rally for changing the public holiday date to represent this land’s rich history. There will be Invasion Day services and marches across the country today. These marches are an opportunity to have our voices heard while celebrating the survival and resistance of First Nations people.
Over 70% of CMY staff have agreed to substitute the date again in 2026, and take an alternative public holiday. This is a fantastic outcome representing CMY’s dedication to our values of human rights, participation and diversity. We are beyond proud to be part of an organisation that approaches Change the Date proactively.
In late 2025, CMY launched its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), marking the next chapter in our reconciliation journey. The Innovate RAP builds on the work of our Reflect RAP, an important foundation for CMY’s ongoing commitment to building respectful relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Our RAP guides our efforts to deepen understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, knowledge and rights, and affirms our shared responsibility to support justice and self-determination as part of shaping a more equitable future.
Resources to learn more about 26 January and take action: