The Voice Referendum: Documentary Screening and Myth-busting panel at Addi Road

THE VOICE REFERENDUM
Join us to hear from a diverse panel from different communities who will be addressing common misconceptions and questions, which have been pre-submitted, around the Voice to Parliament PLUS a special screening of the film Come Walk With Us.

Panelists are Thomas Mayo, Khushaal Vyas, Ali Faraj, Tu Le and Osmond Chiu and moderated by Sam Mostyn.
6pm-9pm / Free entry and free food and hot drinks available
Are you undecided? Confused? Want your questions answered?
The referendum for the Voice to Parliament is raising many questions and misconceptions. Addi Road presents an opportunity for you to listen, learn, and engage with other communtiies.
Questions will be collected anonymously in advance here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3HGBB32
This evening is part of Addi Road’s ongoing work with multicultural communities around the Uluru Statement from the Heart and connecting those communities with First Nations people.
Please register here.

'COME WALK WITH US' DOCUMENTARY

The film showcases the MUA’s long record of solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, from wharfie Fred Maynard who led the first all Aboriginal political Voice, the AAPA, to today supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the referendum for its key proposal: a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice.

We follow seafarer Vicky Morta on her personal journey as the first female Indigenous bosun, to her home to learn about her peoples history from her Elders, to the national stage where she has become a prominent champion in the ‘Yes’ campaign.

PANELISTS

Thomas Mayo

https://www.thomasmayo.com.au

Thomas Mayo is a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man. He is the Assistant National Secretary of the MUA.

Thomas is a signatory of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and has been a leading advocate since its inception in May 2017. He is the Chairperson of the Northern Territory Indigenous Labor Network and a director on the Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition board.

Thomas is the author of six books published by Hardie Grant and has many articles and essays published across the major media providers.

His latest book is co-authored with well-respected journalist, Kerry O’Brien: The Voice to Parliament Handbook - All the details you need; published 17 May 2023.

Khusaal Vyas

https://westernsydney.edu.au/staff_profiles/WSU/mr_khushaal_vyas

Khushaal Vyas is a lawyer, non-executive director and freelance journalist. He is the Co-Founder of Desis for Yes; a grassroots collective focused on informing and mobilising the South Asian community to support a Yes vote.

Khushaal has an extensive background in civil litigation, social justice and diversity & inclusion advocacy having worked closely with Indigenous and multicultural communities since his time as President of the UNSW Law Society.

He regular advises government agencies & departments on multicultural issues and is the National Co-Chair of the Australia India Business Council’s Young Business Leaders Forum and COO of the Australia India Film Council.

A recipient of the Premier’s Multicultural Youth Medal, Khushaal is also a freelance journalist with a particular interest in issues of law, multiculturalism, intersectionality, diversity and discrimination. He has been published across several mainstream media channels including Crikey, Pedestrian Group and Huffington Post Australia.

Ali Faraj

General Manager Commmunity - GWS Giants, AFL

Faraj has been part of the GIANTS since their inception. Born and raised in a Lebanese family in Western Sydney, he attended Granville High School and tried AFL at North Shore in 2009.

Last year Faraj was named the club’s Head of Community and recognised for his extensive work with the multitude of multicultural communities in Western Sydney and his knowledge and experience of multicultural issues and helping deliver harmony and social cohesion outcomes.

He has a Masters of Education, Leadership & Management from Uni of Syd, Masters of teaching, Education from UWS and a Bachelor of Arts, Cultural and Social Analysis from UWS

Tu Le

Tu Le is a community worker, advocate, and organiser who is committed to fighting for greater diversity and justice in Australian society and politics. She currently works as the Communications and Strategic Partnership Manager at Marrickville Legal Centre. She was recognised as the overall winner of the 40 Under 40 most influential Asian-Australians award in 2022 and the NSW Award for Excellence in Women's Leadership 2023.

The co-founder of Ycollab – a social enterprise based in South West Sydney supporting youth-led grassroots initiatives, and the Vietnamese Australian Forum, Tu also serves as the chair of Asian Women at Work, an organisation which empowers migrant women in low paid and precarious employment.

Osmond Chiu

http://osmondchiu.com.au

Osmond Chiu is a Sydney-based Research Fellow at the Per Capita thinktank. He has over a decade of experience in public policy roles and has been recognised as one of the 40 most influential Asian Australians under 40.

Osmond has spoken and written about a range of topics including the Australian politics, social democracy, public services, the future of work, digital rights, the Chinese diaspora and multiculturalism. He has been interviewed by a range of domestic and international print, television and radio outlets including the New York Times, BBC and CNN.

His writing has appeared in local and international publications including the Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian, Canberra Times, South China Morning Post, Crikey, Jacobin, Tribune, The Interpreter Eureka Street, Junkee and Meanjin. He was also a contributor to the book ‘What Happens Next? Reconstructing Australia after COVID-19’.