The 16-year-old student and member of the college's reconciliation group for four years addressed her school assembly last Friday to acknowledge the event.

Caitlyn, 16, told students the "words of healing" were "a demonstration of a national recognition, a national sorry, and a national desire to move forward".

"You [have] witnessed a great historical moment, one that will be read about in history books in the years to come.

"We are being touched by history".

Earlier, she told the Journal she was pleased to see "the first step" to reconciliation taken at the national level.

"Hopefully it's going to signify more recognition between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians."

Caitlyn's reconciliation group of teachers and students has fostered recognition at the school.

The college lecture theatre is named after Bunjil the eagle, a creative spirit of the Wurundjeri people.

Last year, Caitlyn and nine other students visited the Santa Teresa indigenous community, a former mission in the Northern Territory which has a self-imposed alcohol ban.

She said she didn't want to dwell on the atrocities committed against the stolen generations, but preferred to focus on celebrating the fact that an apology was made and "moving forward".

"The most important thing for the future is consultation with Aboriginal leaders."