Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities

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

Reconciliation Victoria are seeking nominations for a First Nations Co-Chair! Are you passionate about Voice, Treaty and Truth, ready to help drive Reconciliation Victoria into a new and exciting year? If this sounds like you, please fill out our Rec Vic Nomination Form   https://lnkd.in/gKTk93RM Use this link for more information Co-Chair Position Description. https://lnkd.in/gKPxyTAs

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

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

"I recently had the pleasure of attending a graduation event hosted by (National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice) – to celebrate and recognise the important work of the inaugural 10 community fellows involved in delivering the Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities project. This innovative project engages Victorian multicultural communities on reconciliation, truth-telling and justice through a series of workshops and projects delivered by community fellowship recipients representing a diverse cross-section of our vibrant multicultural community. Victoria is proudly home to one of the most culturally diverse societies in the world. Our country is also home to the oldest living culture on earth, with First Nations history dating back over 65,000 years, and this history is also one of our greatest strengths and sources of pride.'' - an extract from a Ministerial Statement delivered in the Victorian Parliament from Ingrid Stitt. Extract from: https://lnkd.in/gVXBkP9b Photo: Minister Ingrid Stitt together with staff from the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice - Shankar Kasynathan, Andrew Gunstone, Maria Dimopoulos and lifelong community advocate Dr Jennie Barrera.

The National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice is strongly committed to supporting the transformational work of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Our team has made several submissions to the Commission. - Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, ‘Education’. 19 November 2024. - Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD, ‘Health and Healthcare’. 19 November 2024. - Jesse J. Fleay, ‘To reform the university sector for First Nations Australians’. 19 November 2024. - Shankar Kasynathan, Maria Dimopoulos, Andrew Gunstone, and Jesse J. Fleay, ‘The Role of Multicultural Communities in Addressing Injustice Experienced by First Nations Peoples’. 22 November 2024. - Andrew Gunstone, ‘The history and impact of Stolen Wages in Victoria’. 17 April 2024. - Andrew Gunstone, ‘Reconciliation, Reconciliation Action Plans, Whiteness, and Allyship’. 15 November 2024. We also remind all Victorians that today is the last chance to make a submission to the Yoorrook Justice Commission. See https://lnkd.in/gST6G_Tk. #Truth #Justice #Treaty #Reconciliation National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Yoorrook Justice Commission Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Federation University Australia Reconciliation Victoria Reconciliation Australia Sue-Anne Hunter Travis Lovett Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD Jesse J. Fleay Maria Dimopoulos Shankar Kasynathan

Thank you Sara Jubran and best wishes for your journey ahead. You made the first chapter of Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities incredibly impactful with the support you provided the entire team. Welcome Alexander Radoll!

I was overjoyed to see my dear friend and mentor Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA receive an Honorary Doctorate this week from Federation University Australia. Dr Huggins has been a national leader in reconciliation for more than four decades, and has been at the forefront of every major reconciliation milestone during this time, ranging from her work at the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, to Co-Chairing Reconciliation Australia, to being a member of last year’s Referendum Working Group and Engagement Group. Dr Huggins has also made an enormous contribution to Federation University, including serving on the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice's Advisory Board, launching the National Centre in early 2023 with Senator Patrick Dodson, speaking at our events supporting a First Nations Voice, and co-delivering our 2024 Reconciliation Lecture. On a personal note, I have been enormously privileged to have known Jackie for over twenty years. I first met Jackie when I was a PhD student and learnt more from her in a one-hour meeting than I did in three years of studying. Over the next two decades, Jackie has continued to generously support and inspire me, as she has also done for so many others as well. Thank you Jackie for your seminal and extraordinary contributions to reconciliation in Australia. National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth, and Justice Federation University Australia Reconciliation Victoria Roads to Reconciliation: Activating Multicultural Communities Reconciliation Australia Reconciliation Queensland National Indigenous Times Victorian Aboriginal News Bindi Bennett Emma-Jaye Gavin, PhD Jesse J. Fleay Sara J. Duncan Bentley Maria Dimopoulos Shankar Kasynathan