Join us as we welcome the inimitable Nova Peris OAM to Australia's largest synagogue for a deeply insightful discussion that will traverse topical issues for our community, including her allegiance to the Jewish people, her views on Israel and the path towards social cohesion.

ABOUT NOVA PERIS

Nova Peris OAM OLY is a descendant of the Gija people of East Kimberley, the Yawuru people of the West Kimberley & the Gagudju people of West Arnhem Land.

While Nova’s achievements as an international athlete brought attention to the potential of Aboriginal women, undoubtedly, it was her explosive time in Federal Parliament that showcased her desire to improve the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She has been, and continues to be, a trailblazer for Aboriginal people and an inspiration to Mothers and women of all backgrounds.

Nova competed at two Olympics, four World Championships, three Champions Trophies and the Commonwealth Games. In Atlanta in 1996, Nova became the first Aboriginal person to win an Olympic Gold Medal as part of the world-dominant Hockeyroos; she also became the first mother since Shirley Strickland, in 1956, to claim Olympic Gold for Australia. Transitioning her hockey career to sprinting, she became a Commonwealth Games Champion in 1998 in the individual 200m and 4x100m relay, making her the only person to win Olympic and Commonwealth Gold in two sports. She remains the only person to make back-to-back Olympic Games Finals in different sports at consecutive Olympics!

Following a successful athletic career, in 2013, Nova became the first Aboriginal woman elected to the Australian Federal Parliament. During her three-year senate term, she travelled the length of Australia, tirelessly championing the causes and struggles facing Aboriginal people throughout the country. Pride in her Aboriginal identity is a vital ingredient in her fight for the rights of all people, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal alike.

She has served in roles that include being an International Indigenous Human Rights Ambassador and also a National Ambassador for Reconciliation Australia. She has actively participated in promotional and advocacy campaigns for domestic violence, youth depression and youth suicide. She was an inaugural Board Member and acted as National Patron for Beyond Blue. Nova has also served as the International Ambassador for the World Health Organisation & Griffith University Youth Suicide Prevention and as an International Ambassador for Hepatitis Australia. She is the current Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF) and Patron of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA).

Nova has written two autobiographies: Nova — My Story and Nova: Finding My Voice.

Nova has recently had her portrait hung in the Australian Parliament in Canberra, started her own charity, The Nova Peris Foundation, had her 2.4-metre bronze statue unveiled in Melbourne, and been inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.