Lunchtime Forum - Launceston

Back due to popular demand are our Lunchtime Forum series will be running across the State during National Reconciliation Week (NRW). Enrich your lunchtime this NRW, 
with very affordable tickets, bring your lunch so it doesn’t cut into school or work hours, and listen to Aboriginal community speakers discuss current issues and topics including the 2023 Referendum for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

MC of the event is Grant 'Tank' Shaw. Tank is a passionate Pairrebeenne man who resides in Launceston Tasmania, and has worked in the Australian Education system for over a decade. During this time, he has worked in many Aboriginal identified positions. He has also served on the Indigenous Advisory Board at the University of the Sunshine Coast, and held many volunteer positions within community.

Tank is also the owner/operator of Indigegear, an Aboriginal business of 20 years, dedicated to sharing art, traditional tools, contemporary bush tucker foods and knowledge to the community. And he is a Director of Mara Melaythenner Aboriginal Corporation, a member of melythina tiakana warrana aboriginal corporation, as well as the Elders Council of Tasmania Aboriginal Corporation.

Nick Cameron is from the Pairrebeene/Trawlwoolway tribes. Currently he works as Manager of Education and Training at TasTafe for the Trades and Manufacturing Division including Automotive, Construction, Plumbing, Metals, electrotechnology and Allied Trades. He’s also the Chair at Melythina Tiakana Warrana Aboriginal Corporation and the Tasmanian Representative for the Voice Referendum Engagement Group. He’s the Director at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Legal Service and a Community Representative at the Tasmanian Aboriginal Advisory Body.

Proud palawa woman Aunty Sharon Holbrook is a member of the Stolen Generations and reconnected with her palawa family 54 years after she was forcibly removed. Her story has been published by outlets such as Koori Mail, The Examiner and the ABC. Aunty Sharon now volunteers for the Aboriginal Elders Council of Tasmania as a cook at functions and for cultural tourism experiences. Aunty Sharon personally prepares the food for every wukalina Walk trip and all departures begin with her freshly baked scones. She also often delivers welcomes to country for visitors is a respected matriarch within her rediscovered family and community.

Nathan Charles Brown is a Director and Practitioner in men's wellness and healthcare in TAS, starting in the healthcare sector in 2009 as a Health Care Worker. After that he pursued his own journey specialising in removing multi-cultural barriers around providing health and mental health services for men. Multicultural health and wellness is one of his passions, he is also passionate about men’s health, and wants to help remove any barriers for men seeking healthcare.

Having experienced his own trauma from Domestic Family Violence (FDV) during childhood he found a social worker who had also experienced trauma and who really helped him. This then lead to him exploring the effects FDV had on others. Through his work he promotes SelfCare Aware lifestyle solutions - domestic/family violence + Alcohol and Other Drugs + Mental health. Nathan identifies as a gay man and is also transgender.