Justice & Advocacy
Three St John’s College within the University of Queensland students, Nick Nairn, Abigail Williams and Ella Anderson, share their thoughts on the referendum about constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians through a Voice to Parliament following a College gathering, which included Aunty Dr Rose Elu as a guest speaker
Justice & Advocacy
“In my experience, the best way to find out what’s working and what’s not is to ask the people who are receiving the services. The Voice will be an advisory body, and when it’s up and running Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members from the grassroots will be able to communicate via a direct avenue to Parliament about why ‘the gap’ isn’t closing and how best to close it,” says former nurse Jill Rylatt from St John’s, Hervey Bay
“The proposed constitutional amendment is well worded. When I found out in the church presentation that Parliament will determine the Voice’s ‘composition, functions, powers and procedures’, I realised that the constitutional text makes sense. I personally think that it’s all good. I encourage voters to read this proposed constitutional text because, at the end of the day, it’s the only thing we are voting on in the referendum,” says Reg Dean from The Parish of Bundaberg West
“I believe that the Voice will help enable more culturally safe and person-centred healthcare because we would be able to better shape the policies that impact us. We need to keep our kids healthy and in school if we are to later see them in university rather than in prison,” says Torres Strait Islander man and nursing student Aiden Wu from St John’s College within the University of Queensland
Over 300 community leaders recently gathered in St John’s Cathedral for a Queensland Community Alliance assembly in support of constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice to Parliament
“Indigenous peoples have ancient cultures and ancient wisdom to share, including solutions from the grassroots to address the inter-generational impacts of children being stolen from their families. I am convinced that the Voice to Parliament will allow these solutions to be communicated in an effective way to enable healing,” says Barry Kuskopf from Christ Church, St Lucia
“I am aware that the Anglican Church Southern Queensland has been a leader in the Reconciliation space for decades — the ACSQ’s first submission in support of constitutional recognition was sent to the Federal Government in 2011, so your Diocese has been an active supporter of this for years,” says Devett Kennedy from the Queensland Community Alliance
Justice & Advocacy
Justice & Advocacy
Justice & Advocacy
Justice & Advocacy
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