National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice

I am delighted to welcome Garrwa woman Lalie Rivers to the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice team! Lalie has recently started her PhD with us exploring truth-telling in health. Lalie will be working closely with the team, including her PhD supervisors Professor Bindi Bennett and myself, and Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, in her national leading work on truth-telling. I also want to gratefully thank everyone who bought a copy of my book at the events I spoke at this year, and the organisations, state reconciliation bodies, and local reconciliation groups that held these events, as all proceeds from these book sales have helped to fund Lalie’s PhD scholarship. #Truthtelling National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Yoorrook Justice Commission Federation University Australia Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation NSW Reconciliation Queensland Reconciliation SA Reconciliation Tasmania Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation WA National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News

We are delighted to announce the latest issue of the “Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues” has recently been published. The journal is one of the leading, and longest running, Indigenous Studies journals in Australia, now in its 27th year of publication. It publishes articles, that go through an independent peer review process prior to acceptance, across a wide range of areas. The journal is hosted by Informit, which is Australia’s leading source of publications on humanities and social sciences. The latest issue, which can be accessed at https://lnkd.in/g3FTmMxP, contains the following four articles and one poem. Articles - “Indigenising the Archibald: Portraits of Aboriginal people in the Archibald Prize”, by Donna Leslie - “Identifying pathways towards Indigenous Australian flourishing: An interpretative phenomenological investigation”, by Charles O’Leary and Peggy Kern - “‘Performative Reconciliation': Two case studies of Elevate Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs)”, by Andrew Gunstone - “The Indigenous self-government landscape in Australia: A descriptive and conceptual model”, by Anthea Compton, Donna Murray, and Alison Vivian Poetry - “The Shearers are arrivin’”, by Donna Leslie National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Federation University Australia Reconciliation Australia

** UPDATE ABOUT THE ANGLESEA LIONS CLUB EVENT HELD ON INVASION DAY 2024 ** People might be aware that I was prevented by racism and white fragility from delivering my invited speech to the Anglesea Lions Club annual January 26 event this year. I was heavily booed, sworn at, and heckled by the 250 strong crowd. The Lions Club MC told me I couldn’t continue speaking, physically pulled me from the microphone, and made me exit through the crowd, which escalated the very aggressive booing and swearing. See https://lnkd.in/gAFjr4b8; https://lnkd.in/gz-TC3G2 Yesterday, I met with the Anglesea Branch of the Bendigo and Adelaide Bank who sponsored that event. We had a very productive meeting. It will no longer sponsor the Anglesea Lions Club January 26 events. It will also look to partner with the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice on national truth-telling projects, fund local reconciliation activities, and work with Reconciliation Victoria and the National Centre on its RAP. Thanks so much to Simone Sexton (Mununjali) for facilitating this meeting. While at Anglesea, I also met up with Jennie DeNeefe and Julie Butler, two leaders of the Surfcoast Reconciliation Group. This group, formed after the January 26 event, is doing wonderful work engaging the local community in reconciliation. I was privileged to speak alongside Uncle Charles Pakana at two of their events this year. This group is far more representative of the local community, who voted over 70% for Yes at the 2023 Referendum, than is the Anglesea Lions Club. Reflecting on the past year of my advocacy highlighting this matter, I am struck by how isolated the Anglesea Lions Club has become. The local Surf Coast Shire Council, Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Surfcoast Reconciliation Group, and many others, have all criticised the Anglesea Lions Club on their failure on January 26, and on their failure since to accept Reconciliation Victoria’s invitation, which still stands, to meet to discuss how we can support them on their reconciliation journey. This whole story is an important reminder that the significant majority of non-Indigenous peoples, when they genuinely engage in truth-listening, can move beyond performative reconciliation to understand and support substantive reconciliation. We saw this numerous times during the 2023 Referendum campaign. This should be borne in mind by reactionary politicians, like Peter Dutton, David Crisafulli, and Pauline Hanson, who remain mired in the politics of division, anger, and fear. #racism #whitefragility #truth #justice #advocacy #reconciliation National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Reconciliation Victoria Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Federation University Australia National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News Reconciliation Australia Lions Clubs International Geelong Advertiser

After almost 10 years of research and practice to develop a market for cultural fisheries in Tasmania through commercial quota, the warmest congratulations to Professor Emma Lee, Professorial Research Fellow at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, on also helping to deliver a Treaty recommendation in full. #treaty #justice Federation University Australia Tasmanian Government Reconciliation Tasmania

Warmest congratulations to Professor Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, Professor of Indigenous Truth-Telling Research at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, who co-convened two wonderfully engaging and thought-provoking conferences over the past two days, both of which were co-hosted by the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice. “Why won’t settlers listen? – Barriers to truth-telling and justice in settler-colonial Australia” was held on Thursday at the Koorie Heritage Trust in Naarm/ Melbourne. It was co-convened with Dr Dan Tout (Federation University Australia) and Dr Dr Julia Hurst (University of Melbourne) and co-hosted with the Australia Centre (University of Melbourne), with around 15 presenters from across Australia. We were honoured to hear an amazing Keynote Address from Commissioner Sue-Anne Hunter (Yoorrook Justice Commission). The conference papers will be published in an edited book. “Class, Race, Place: Exploring Intersectionality for Access to Higher Education Globally” was held online on Friday. It was co-convened with Professor Steve Roberts (Monash University) and co-hosted with the Alliance of Working-Class Academics, with around 20 presenters from across Australia, Scotland, England, Ireland, and New Zealand. We were delighted to hear two brilliant Keynotes from Professor Jay Phillips (Monash University) and Gavin Brewis (Glasgow Caledonian University). The papers will be published in the Journal of Australian Indigenous Issues (https://lnkd.in/g8U-F6Pu). Thanks very much to Sara J. and Alexander R. from the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice and Erin Penny from Federation University Australia, for their great work in helping to organise the conferences, and to our partners – The Australia Centre and the Alliance of Working-Class Academics – for co-hosting the events. #truthtelling #truthlistening #truthacting #justice #class #race #place #intersectionality

I am thrilled to share our National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice’s “2024 Annual Report”. Our highlights include: - Continuing our strong support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart – Voice, Treaty, and Truth - Awarding of an Honorary Doctorate to our dear friend and Advisory Board member Jackie Huggins - Partnering with amazing First Nations and reconciliation bodies, industry, government, and academia - Undertaking transformational research across many areas, which is funded by over $13 million - Significant research outcomes including publications, presentations, media, and PhD supervisions - Continuing our critical project Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities - Holding our 2024 Reconciliation Lecture, with Rueben Berg, Jackie Huggins, and Sue-Anne Hunter - Organising our inaugural Public Lecture Series, with Dennis Foley, Jesse J. Fleay, and Emma Lee - Hosting a public dialogue in Ballarat with Thomas Mayo, Sheree Lowe, and Deborah Lowah Clark - Co-convening two major symposiums in partnership with international and national collaborators - Co-hosting with Reconciliation Victoria the 2024 National Reconciliation Week Victorian Breakfast - Supporting several key events, including the AIATSIS Summit, Treaty Day Out, and Treaty in the Park Thanks so very much to our amazing team, who it is an immense privilege to work alongside. - Staff: Bindi Bennett, Dennis Foley, Emma Lee, Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, Jesse J. Fleay, Sara J., Alexander R. - Advisory Board: Emma Garlett, Jackie Huggins, Sue-Anne Hunter, Barry Judd, Peter Morris - Adjuncts: Alan Carter, Maria Dimopoulos, Tony Hansen, Sadie Heckenberg, Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra, Shankar Kasynathan, Jim Morrison, Jody Nunn, Prof. Dr Donna Odegaard AM, Lester-Irabinna Rigney, Robyn Smith-Walley Federation University Australia Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation NSW Reconciliation Queensland Reconciliation SA Reconciliation Tasmania Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation WA First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria Yoorrook Justice Commission Treaty Authority Victorian Aboriginal News Australian Research Council BHP Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Kendall Grants Program Medical Research Future Fund Pew Trust The Peregrine Centre Victorian Government #reconciliation #truth #justice

** Call for Expressions of Interest to contribute to an upcoming book, "Rethinking Reconciliation" ** Jesse J. Fleay and Andrew Gunstone from the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, warmly invite expressions of interest to contribute a chapter to their new edited book, "Rethinking Reconciliation", which will explore current debates on reconciliation in a post-Referendum Australia. Submissions are welcomed from Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples across industry, community, activism, and academia. Possible themes include: - Community organising and activism - Constitutional transformation - First Nations international relations - Healing and lateral violence - Lands, peoples, and cultures - Policy, rights, and reform - Racism, discrimination, and cultural resilience - Reparative and distributive justice, Closing the Gap - Sustainability and the environment - Reconciliation, Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), allyship - Uluru Statement from the Heart, Voice, Treaty, Truth For more information, please reach out to Jesse at j.fleay@federation.edu.au or Andrew at a.gunstone@federation.edu.au. To express your interest, please email Jesse and Andrew your proposed chapter title, a 150-word abstract, and a 50-word bio by 10 January 2025. Photo: Andrew Gunstone and Jesse J. Fleay meeting yesterday at the Koorie Heritage Trust to discuss the edited book. Allies for Uluru ANTAR Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation NSW Reconciliation Queensland Reconciliation SA Reconciliation Tasmania Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation WA The Uluru Statement from the Heart - Uluru Dialogue (Official) Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Federation University Australia National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News

Last night, I was honoured to speak at an event in beautiful Meanjin/ Brisbane with Dr Jackie Huggins and Erin Lang. Held at kural dhagun at the State Library of Queensland, and hosted by Reconciliation Queensland and the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, we had a wonderful discussion with the sold-out audience on the lessons from the Referendum for reconciliation. We also had a very moving and poignant conversation about yesterday’s shameful and disgraceful decision by the Queensland Government to abolish the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry QLD and the First Nations Treaty Institute. There was much sadness and hurt about this appalling action and a deep concern about the devastating impact that this this will have on Treaty and Truth in Queensland. It was inspiring though to hear from Jackie, Erin, and many other First Nations leaders at the event, on their deep determination to continue the critical work of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, Voice, Treaty, and Truth, and substantive reconciliation. It was also tremendous to hear the unwavering support from so many non-Indigenous allies to continue to work for Voice, Treaty, and Truth. The National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice stands in absolute solidarity with the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry QLD and the First Nations Treaty Institute. We urge the Queensland Government to learn about the transformational impact of Truth and Treaty in Victoria, led by the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, and reverse their deplorable decision. To learn more about the Queensland Government’s shocking action, see https://lnkd.in/g4KrKgB8 and https://lnkd.in/gDi6Bvyp #Voice #Treaty #Truth #StayTrueToUluru #Justice #Reconciliation Reconciliation Queensland Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation Australia National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Federation University Australia National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News

Prominent humanitarian author Jesse J. Fleay is joining Federation University as a Research Fellow with the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, led by Professor Andrew Gunstone. Jesse brings remarkable experience, from co-hosting the Global Citizen NOW summit alongside The Hon. Julia Gillard AC, Hugh Jackman, and the Duchess of York, to working on the Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities project in Victoria. His impact is felt both locally and globally. Jesse’s passion and expertise in reconciliation, truth, and justice strengthen our Centre’s already existing position as Australia’s leading academic think tank in these fields. Additionally, Jesse will represent Australia on the world stage as a delegate for the UN Global Environment Outlook (GEO-7), advocating for Indigenous languages and local knowledge to address global challenges like climate change. Please join us in welcoming Jesse to the Federation family as he prepares to relocate to Victoria next year. We are excited to see the transformational change he will lead with us. Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/498oWNT #FedUni #ReconciliationTruthAndJustice

The National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice is absolutely delighted to announce that Jesse J. Fleay has been appointed to a new five-year position as Research Fellow in the Centre. Jesse started with us last year as Research Associate for our project Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities, and has excelled in both this and other projects with the Centre. Please see this university news story to read more about Jesse’s exceptional regional, national, and international work and impact across a wide range of reconciliation, truth, and justice areas. https://lnkd.in/gCm3jS5b Photo: Jesse with National Centre colleagues at our 2024 Reconciliation Lecture. From left to right, Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, Andrew Gunstone, Bindi Bennett, Jesse J. Fleay, Emma Lee, and Sara J.. National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Federation University Australia Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation Australia National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News Maria Dimopoulos Shankar Kasynathan