National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice

Warmest congratulations to Alexander R., Project and Administrative Officer at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, on receiving the Federation University Australia Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander TAFE Award at the recent Federation TAFE Awards. Alex is pictured with co-recipients Chris Britten and Azlan Harris, along with PVC VET and University Pathways Darren Gray.

Today is the 17th anniversary of Australia’s National Apology to its Indigenous Peoples. Then Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologised on behalf of Australia for the wrongs of the past treatment of Australia’s Indigenous Peoples, including the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities, and their Country. Today, we wish to reflect on the Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities project. In 2023 and 2024, this project engaged multicultural communities from across metropolitan and regional Victoria in developing their understandings of reconciliation, truth, and justice. The project was organised by the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, Australia’s leading think-tank on reconciliation, and led by two of the Centre’s adjunct fellows, Maria Dimopoulos AM and Shankar Kasynathan, both former Victorian Multicultural Commissioners.

Earlier this week, I was delighted to attend a Treaty Victoria Information Session for multicultural communities, hosted by the Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic) and the Victorian Multicultural Commission. It was wonderful to hear fantastic presentations from Natalie Hutchins MP, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, and Terry Garwood, Deputy Secretary First Peoples State Relations, that outlined the critical importance of developing a Treaty in Victoria. It was inspiring to hear such strong support from the audience for Treaty in Victoria and the leadership of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Treaty Authority. With the recent divisive and ill-informed decisions of the Queensland Government and the Northern Territory Government to abandon their Treaty journeys, Victoria’s approach remains a beacon for the rest of the country on how to genuinely engage in truth-telling, reparative justice, and reconciliation. I was also grateful for the opportunity to talk with many multicultural leaders about the role the Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities project is playing in engaging multicultural communities across metropolitan and regional Victoria on reconciliation. The project is led by former Victorian Multicultural Commissioners Maria Dimopoulos AM and Shankar Kasynathan, and is run by the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice. To learn more about Treaty, visit: * First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria - https://lnkd.in/gev_2NEA * Reconciliation Victoria - https://lnkd.in/g3tpJ-Ec Photo (from L-R): Myself, Natalie Hutchins MP, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, Dr Harpreet Singh Kandra, a colleague from Federation University Australia and a strong local community leader, Eden Foster MP, State Member for Mulgrave, and Vivienne Nguyen AM, Chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission. #Treaty #Justice

My petition on unlawful racial deportations was accepted and published in Hansard, p. 17 ‘United States of America’ link below: https://lnkd.in/g52QgsSe

Call for Indigenous Authors: Contribute to the Groundbreaking Book on Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Are you passionate about Indigenous health, wellbeing, and resilience? We invite healthcare practitioners, policymakers, public health researchers, allied health researchers and community leaders to contribute to an upcoming book that explores Indigenous health and wellbeing from multi-disciplinary perspectives. This book aims to bridge gaps in existing literature by focusing on contemporary challenges, strengths, and culturally informed solutions. It blends traditional knowledge with modern healthcare practices to promote equity and resilience among Indigenous communities worldwide. Book Structure: Indigenous Determinants of Health – Examining colonial impacts, systemic racism, socio-economic disparities, epistemicide  and community strengths. Mental Health and Wellbeing – Moving beyond trauma narratives to explore Indigenous-led healing practices, resilience strategies, LGBTQIA+ communities, neurodiverse and living with disability communities and culturally grounded mental wellness approaches. Public Health and Innovation – Emphasising decolonisation in healthcare, community-driven and co-design health interventions, and the role of Indigenous youth in shaping the future of wellbeing. Interplanetary health and land-based healing – Highlighting the connection between land, environment, and holistic health approaches. We are seeking contributions that integrate lived experiences, research, and practical applications. This book is designed for students, academics, policymakers, and health professionals seeking a strength-based and culturally responsive understanding of Indigenous health. Submission Details: Interested authors should submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) outlining their proposed chapter, including a brief abstract (250 words), author bio, and relevance to the book’s themes. Deadline for EOIs: 10th March 2025 Submission Email: bindi.bennett@federation.edu.au and kelly.menzel@burnet.edu.au Join us in advocating for meaningful systemic change while celebrating the resilience, knowledge, and agency of Indigenous communities. We look forward to your contributions! Kelly Menzel

Professor Emma Lee OAM, Professorial Research Fellow at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, spoke yesterday to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) about the recent divisive and ignorant decision by the Northern Territory Government to walk away from Treaty, as well as the nation-leading work being done in Victoria for Treaty. First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria Treaty Authority

It was wonderful to attend Treaty Day Out yesterday at Morwell in beautiful Gunai Kurnai Country with colleagues from the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, Federation University Australia, Reconciliation Victoria, and several Gippsland local reconciliation groups. The National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, Federation University Australia, and Reconciliation Victoria remain strongly committed to supporting Treaty in Victoria and the transformational work of the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Treaty Authority in leading Treaty. Alexander R. Shannen Mennen Luke Bosworth Nick Johnson Alistair King #Treaty #TreatyDayOut #Gippsland

Along with colleagues from the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice – Maria Dimopoulos, Shankar Kasynathan, and Alexander R. – I was delighted to meet this week with Lisa Thorpe and her team at Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre. We discussed several ideas on how our organisations might work together to strengthen communities experiencing racism in Victoria. These ideas involved both extending the current work of the Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities project – including our community fellowship program, community workshops, digital stories, and cultural events – into a focussed engagement in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, as well as a range of other innovative collaborations.

Last week, I travelled to beautiful Wotjobaluk, Jaadwa, Jadawadjali, Wergaia and Jupagulk Country, to meet with the Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BGLC), the local Registered Aboriginal Party, and a community group in Natimuk, including members of the Gariwerd Wimmera Reconciliation Network (GWRN). I was honoured to be invited to meet with BGLC and the Natimuk group to discuss the very concerning reactions from some in the non-Indigenous community towards Parks Victoria’s new Dyurrite Cultural Landscape Management Plan. The plan balances sustainable recreation with conservation of cultural heritage and the environment. It protects Dyurrite’s irreplaceable cultural heritage and sacred sites, which the Traditional Owners have a legal and cultural obligation to protect, and have been calling for since the 1980s, during which climbing routes have expanded indiscriminately across Dyurrite without any regulation or consideration for cultural heritage values. However, instead of recognising the plan is about protecting cultural heritage and the landscape for generations, a reactionary minority of rock climbers have started a highly impactful misinformation campaign, falsely claiming there would be a complete ban on rock climbing, despite over 1500 climbing routes still being available. This divisive campaign has also brought in many bad actors and has resulted in devastating levels of racism and white fragility being directed to First Nations peoples across the region. See this article https://lnkd.in/gu8jGjUt. This is reminiscent of the racism and misinformation in the region against the Voice, which resulted in just 20% Yes support. Reconciliation Victoria and the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice strongly condemns this campaign and calls on the wider community to recognise that Traditional Owners have lived in, been a part of, and cared for the Dyurrite Cultural Landscape for tens of thousands of years, and have a legal, cultural, and self-determining right to protect the cultural heritage of Dyurrite. To find out more about the beautiful Dyurrite Cultural Landscape, see this BGLC website: https://lnkd.in/gVHsKfmy The picture of Dyurrite was taken by me during a visit organised by the Natimuk community group. Victorian Government Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic) Parks Victoria Horsham Rural City Council Reconciliation Victoria National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Federation University Australia Barengi Gadjin Land Council Aboriginal Corporation First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria Yoorrook Justice Commission Treaty Authority Reconciliation Australia Victorian Aboriginal News National Indigenous Times Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Australian Human Rights Commission Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission National Native Title Council #sovereignty #selfdetermination #culturalheritage

Warmest congratulations to trawlwulwuy woman of tebrakunna country, Professor Emma Lee OAM, Professorial Research Fellow at the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice, for being awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 2025 Australia Honours List. The award recognises Professor Lee's exceptional and transformational work over many years. Read more about Professor Lee's work at https://lnkd.in/grP7nvhU. National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Federation University Australia