Acknowledgement of Country

This event will be held on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation (specifically in Darlington at the University of Sydney campus). We acknowledge elders past and present, and that this land was never ceded; it will always be Aboriginal land.

About the Event

Event registration will commence at 1 PM, and the event will commence by 1:30 PM. We will begin with the Court of Testimony, which will be followed by networking activities and open-floor networking. Light refreshments will be provided during the open-floor networking. We advise attendees to enjoy lunch prior to arriving for the event.

Court of Testimony – Storytelling for a Purpose

Theme: Humanising the Intersections of Race, Gender, Migration, and Culture in the Workplace

As part of the RISE Project, this event introduces a compelling and transformative activity: The Court of Testimony—inspired by community-based human rights tribunals. This innovative format uses the power of storytelling to surface the lived experiences of Culturally and Racially Marginalised (CARM) women navigating systemic barriers in their professional journeys.

The RISE Project is committed to dismantling these barriers and championing equity in employment. While Diversity Council Australia’s research provides a strong evidence base, Settlement Services International (SSI) has also captured hundreds of hours of powerful, often heart-wrenching stories from CARM women in middle and senior management roles. These stories deserve to be heard—not just as narratives, but as testimonies that drive meaningful change.

What is the Court of Testimony?

The Court of Testimony (CoT) is a storytelling model that draws on the framework of human rights courts. It creates a formal-yet-empathetic space for participants to speak truth to their workplace experiences. These are not fictional accounts or abstract case studies—they are real stories, told by real people, reflecting the complexities of culture, race, migration, gender, and systemic inequality.

In this adapted version of a human rights tribunal:

• Selected participants from the RISE Project will share their lived experiences in the

Australian workplace, presented in an anonymised and de-identified format.

• A panel of experts will respond, drawing connections between the testimonies and

broader organisational practices, including workplace culture, employment rights,

discrimination, and gender inequity.

• Audience members—including leaders, colleagues, allies, and HR professionals—will

bear witness, engage reflectively, and consider avenues for personal and structural

change.

Purpose and Impact

This isn’t about judgement or legal verdicts. It’s about:

• Upholding the Right to Voice – Right to Be Heard

• Recognising and affirming lived experiences

• Sparking conversation and commitment to actionable change

• Encouraging human rights literacy within workplace settings

By engaging with the stories shared, attendees are invited to consider how their organisations can foster cultures of inclusion, fairness, and dignity at work.

Why It Matters

The Court of Testimony offers a rare opportunity to bridge the gap between policy and lived experience. It humanises systemic issues and prompts a collective inquiry into how we, as a community and as workplaces, can do better. This model has been successfully used worldwide to amplify the voices of refugees and others affected by human rights violations. Now, it serves as a vital platform for elevating the voices of CARM women in employment—bringing their challenges, insights, and aspirations to the fore.

Sponsorship Acknowledgment

This event is proudly sponsored by the University of Sydney.

Please note: this is a hybrid event and will be viewable to online attendees. The online event will be streamed from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM.