INDIGENOUS Conference Services (ICS) is organising a prodigious line-up of keynote speakers for its 2016 conference series.

ICS Australia’s Indigenous conferences for this year, feature three events in Adelaide, one on the Gold Coast, two in Cairns and two in Sydney.

“The overwhelming response of the call for papers clearly indicates the deep interests of organisations and individuals working in the field of Indigenous services to improve First Nations peoples’ wellbeing,” an ICS spokesman said. “With this in mind, we have great pleasure in announcing the high calibre of keynote speakers and great depth of workshop presenters from within Indigenous communities around the world.”

Among the keynote speakers at the 2016 Global Indigenous Men’s Conference, to be staged at Adelaide’s Stamford Hotel Glenelg on September 12-14, is Jack Bulman, a Muthi Muthi man from South Western NSW who is CEO of Mibbinbah – a health promotion charity for Indigenous males. He will feature with Dr Rick Hayes, a university lecturer and co-founder of Mibbinbah.

President of the Men’s Health Forum NSW Inc. and vice president of the Australian Men’s Health Forum Inc., the national peak body for improving male health, Greg Millan will feature, along with world renowned Aboriginal artist from Daguragu, Kalkarindji, Pidgeon Hill and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, Eddie Janama Kitching. Also presenting is  director of Aboriginal Health NSLHD and Gomeroi man from North Western NSW, clinical associate professor Peter Shine.

There are also Dean McLaren and Gavin Kelly of Nyugumba Aboriginal Men’s Programs and Kup-poon-dee Men’s Service; Prof. Norman Sheehan, Gnibi from the College of Indigenous Australian Peoples Southern Cross University; Jermane Herbohn of First Nations Rainforest peoples form Kuranda and Black Duck Dreaming project lead; and Helmut Rohde, the Plus-Partners managing partner.

On the same dates at the Stamford Hotel Glenelg is the 2016 World Indigenous Women’s Conference. This year it will bring together First Nations women speakers including Terabalang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng and Kabi Kabi Elder, along with chaplain and IWC Board director, Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian. Speaking also will be Metis activists and human rights advocates, Muriel Venne and Rachelle Venne, who is the founder of the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women (IAAW).

Other keynotes will be deliverd by Dr Nina Sivertsen, university lecturer and Indigenous Sea-Sámi Nurse from Northern Norway; Linda Burney, the first Aboriginal Australian to be elected to the NSW Parliament and a proud member of the Wiradjuri Nation; Regina Richardson, a Yamatji woman of the Amangu group in the mid-west region of Western Australia; Susan Moylan-Coombs, founder and director of Leader for Change from Woolwonga and Gurindji in the Northern Territory; Eliza Pross, Leader for Change Consultant, who is a Gaimariagal resident, and Yuin/Palawa woman from Southern NSW and Tasmania; plus Wendy Watego, co-founder and national program director of STARS Institute of Learning and Leadership. Speaking at the event will be Luita Casey, an Aboriginal women’s health nurse; Leann Bonner, an Indigenous and CALD  project officer of DonateLife South Australia; Caryn Walsh, CEO of Pure Magic International Business Solutions; and Carol Vale, managing director of Murawin Consultancy and several other board roles.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE FOCUS

As part of the Glenelg conferences, the specially organised Global Indigenous Say No to Family and Domestic Violence Conference will also be staged.

More than half of the featured speakers for this year’s conference are from community based organisations from grassroots First Nations’ communities in Canada, New Zealand and Australia.

Uncle Steve Gadlabarti Goldsmith, traditional owner and Kaurna Elder and Taylor Power- Smith will welcome all conference delegations to country.

Among the featured national and international keynote speakers are Zoe Bettison, Minister for Status of Women with the South Australian Government; Trudy Lavallee, executive director of Ikwe Widdjiitiwin  crisis shelter in Winnipeg, Manitoba; Brandy Kane, manager of Indigenous Battered Women’s Support Services in Vancouver; Aboriginal artist, Judith-Rose Thomas and Nell Kuilenburg, the development and research manager of the Salvation Army Tasmania; Rita Butera, CEO of Women’s Health Victoria; Jenny Munro, CEO of Mudgin-gal Aboriginal Women’s Centre; Terabalang Bunda, Gooreng Gooreng and Kabi Kabi Elder and IWC Board director, Cheri Yavu-Kama-Harathunian; Nicola Paton, manager of New Zealand Family Violence Clearinghouse; Dr Andrew Ramsay, GP consultant in emergency medicine at the Noarlunga Hospital and manager for the Peace Education Program; managing director of Murawin Consultancy, Carol Vale with Hetty Johnston, founder and CEO of Bravehearts; Libby Davies, CEO of White Ribbon and director of Aboriginal Health NSLHD; with a Gomeroi man from North Western NSW, clinical associate professor Peter Shine.

“It is encouraging to see both government and non-government organizations participating in choosing the agenda and as delegates as well,” the ICS spokesman said. “For after all, these conferences are about sharing of information on successful Indigenous programs implemented all throughout the world and provide unique interagency networking at a global level.”

www.indigenoushealth.net

www.indigenousconferences.com

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TWO PROMINENT  Indigenous elders, Lilla Watson and Mary Graham – highly regarded as determined and effective activists, feminists, educators and academics – have been awarded QUT’s highest honorary award: the title of Doctor of the University,

“Both Lilla Watson and Mary Graham have contributed in a quite remarkable way to the development of the community,” QUT vice-chancellor Peter Coaldrake said of the honours which recognised both the womens’ scholarship and example to others.

“Their own life stories are inspirational and both are truly outstanding role models, demonstrating tireless commitment to advancing the cause of Australia’s Indigenous community.”

Dr Watson has been an activist for human rights since the 1970s when she participated in the anti-apartheid Springbok protests and the first Aboriginal delegation to China. She was later instrumental in the development of the renowned LinkUp agency, tasked with the responsibility of reuniting Stolen Generation Children, while as an educator with The University of Queensland she developed and taught subjects such as Aboriginal Perspectives.
Since retiring as a lecturer in the 1990s, Dr Watson has become a successful visual artist and her work can be seen at Brisbane’s Roma Street Parklands, the Brisbane Magistrates Courts, and the Queensland State Library.

Dr Watson has been involved in a number of media organisations as well as the Murri School, the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, and The BlackCard training company. She has also been a member of the Parole Board, and the boards of the Queensland Art Gallery, the State Library, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee of QUT.
Elder, philosopher, intellectual, academic and public figure, Mary Graham has influenced many Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff and students of QUT as well as the wider community.

She has lectured and tutored on subjects in Aboriginal history, politics and comparative philosophy, as well as conducted numerous workshops, published journal articles, and written discussion papers and guidelines for governments, corporations and international bodies.

Dr Graham was the administrator for the Aboriginal and Islander Child Care Agency; ATSIC regional councillor for South East Queensland; a Corrective Services commissioner; a native title researcher; and a foundation member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation.

Currently a member of the Ethics Committee of the National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, her other roles include researcher with the Kummara organisation; facilitator at The BlackCard training company; and member of the Ethics Committee of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.

www.qut.edu.au

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Image caption:

Lilla Watson and Mary Graham have been honoured with doctorates from the Queensland University of Technology in recognition of their scholarship and service to a vast number of community causes.

EXTRA >>

THERE is a new resource available to assist employers wanting to hire Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Developed through an alliance of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Business Council of Australia (BCA), the publication Targeted recruitment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – A guideline for employers helps give potential employers information on how to develop targeted recruitment strategies.

“Despite efforts to close the gap in Indigenous disadvantage, the disparity between employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-Indigenous Australians has increased in recent years,” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Mick Gooda said. 

“Less than half of working-age Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are employed, compared to over three quarters of non-Indigenous Australians. Increasingly, employers are seeking to create employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through targeted recruitment strategies,” Mr Gooda said.

Targeted recruitment strategies include measures such as reserving positions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants; guaranteed interview schemes; work placements or mentoring programs; and engaging an Indigenous recruitment service to hire employees.

“These guidelines will assist employers by giving them the certainty they need to develop targeted recruitment strategies without concern about breaching discrimination laws,” BCA chief executive Jennifer Westacott said.

“Three quarters of Business Council companies have an Indigenous employment strategy – showing us the commitment is there. But commitment to creating opportunities is one thing, it’s equally important to have an enabling recruitment environment.

“This guide, endorsed by all state and territory discrimination authorities, helps create that environment. This means employers are better positioned to help close the employment gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians,” Ms Westacott said.

www.humanrights.gov.au

www.bca.com.au

EXTRA >>

Download the publication here.

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THE second Indigenous Property Rights Roundtable in Broome in early 2016 sounded loud-and-clear on the future economic value that will come out of property rights for Indigenous communities.

Participants in the Broome meeting overwhelmingly agreed that while there had been an expansion of the Indigenous Estate since the commencement of the Native Title Act, it had not delivered development opportunities or sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“Native title is only the starting point for our people in reclaiming land,” Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda said. “The next step is being able to freely exercise our rights to promote economic development, maintain land for cultural purposes and achieve the social outcomes like proper housing for our communities.” 

The Australian Human Rights Commission has welcomed the announcement by Attorney-General George Brandis to commit funding towards the work of the Indigenous Property Rights Network which follows up on work commenced at the Indigenous Property Rights Roundtable in Broome. 

Human Rights Commissioner at the time of the announcement Tim Wilson – who has since resigned to contest the Federal seat of Goldstein – said the Federal Government had listened to the views of Roundtable participants and recognised the importance of property rights in achieving economic development for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

“The Federal Government’s financial support is a welcome commitment to this process, designed to increase the opportunities for Indigenous Australians to use their land for economic development,” Mr Wilson said.

“Improving the freedom for Indigenous Australians to exercise their property rights is essential to improving economic development opportunities and achieving a better future for Indigenous Australians.”

Mr Gooda said positive engagement with government was crucial to the reform process.

“The Broome Roundtable provided an opportunity for us to talk though the challenges to economic development after native title has been determined, and begin to identify real solutions,” Mr Gooda said.

“We are seeking constructive reform that is respectful of native title and protects the inherent rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We require ongoing dialogue with government, and respectful engagement, in order to deliver meaningful outcomes for our people.”

The first Indigenous Property Rights Network meeting was held on Yawuru country in Broome in May 2015.

www.humanrights.gov.au

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