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National Reconciliation Week falls between two significant dates in the relations between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians: 27 May is the anniversary of the 1967 referendum and 3 June is the date the High Court of Australia handed down its judgement on the Mabo case. Eddie Mabo was from Mer, one of the Murray Islands off the coast of Northern Australia. He argued in the High Court that Murray Islanders' rights to their land were not extinguished by the annexation of the islands by the State of Queensland, or by subsequent Queensland or federal governments' legislation. The High Court agreed with this view and the idea of 'terra nullius' - that Australia had been empty of people when settled by the British - was abandoned and the pre-existing rights of indigenous Australians acknowledged.

Each year National Reconciliation Week has a different theme. The theme of National Reconciliation Week for 2007 is The theme of National Reconciliation Week 2007 is Their spirit still shines. This theme reflects the respect and honour we accord to those Indigenous and non-Indigenous people who worked together to bring about the 1967 Referendum. It affirms that Australians continue to be fired by their spirit and remain committed to building a just and equitable society.