Sometime in 2023, all Australians will be asked to vote in a referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice to parliament in our national constitution. This referendum represents a hopeful turning point for our nation — but in order for it to be successful, we need everyone involved in the conversation, listening and learning.

In this panel, we'll discuss:

What the Voice is, and why First Nations people are calling for it
How we got here — reckoning with the past in order to shape a better future
Actions you can take to unite your friends, family and community behind the Voice

Hear from proud Yiman and Gangulu woman Kara Keys (From the Heart); and Jon Faine AM (journalist, author and former ABC broadcaster). This panel will be moderated by Mary Crooks AO (Victorian Women's Trust) project director for Together, Yes.

Due to other commitments, the previously announced panelist, proud Kamilaroi woman Nadina Brockhurst will no longer be able to attend the event.

Note:

Panel discussion will be followed by a short audience Q&A
This event will be closed captioned

“We seek constitutional reforms to empower our people and take a rightful place in our own country. When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish. They will walk in two worlds and their culture will be a gift to their country.”

Uluru Statement from the Heart, May 2017

Panellists

Kara Keys
Kara is a proud First Nations woman as a descendant of the Yiman and Gangulu peoples of Central Queensland. Kara brings to the Yes! Campaign extensive experience in developing and leading a range of strategic campaigns, policy development, advocacy and stakeholder engagement programs with over 15 years’ experience working in member based representative organisations.

She has a passion for building the capacity of, and working with, First Nations organisations and also has a particular interest in justice, gender equality, and building and empowering communities. Kara was on the board of Cbus (United Super), the Cbus Investment Committee and was Chair of the People Culture & Remuneration Committee until 2021. Kara is Chair of Women in Super (elected November 2020).

Jon Faine AM
Jon Faine is a Vice Chancellors Fellow at the University of Melbourne for 2022 and 2023, attached to The Melbourne Law School but with a roving commission across the entire university. Until October 2019 Jon Faine was the host of the agenda-setting morning broadcast for ABC Radio in Melbourne for over twenty years. Before joining the ABC in 1989 to host ‘The Law Report’ on Radio National, Jon had practised for seven years in both commercial litigation and as a legal aid/human rights advocate. For over thirty years, Jon has been in demand for conference keynote speeches, presentations, facilitation, and panel moderation. Specialising in complex matters of public policy, strategy, legal issues, technological challenge or cultural clashes, his work has covered every imaginable field.

Mary Crooks AO (moderator)
After an extensive public policy career, Mary became the Executive Director of the Victorian Women’s Trust in 1996. She has designed and led ground-breaking community engagement initiatives, such as the Purple Sage Project and Our Watermark Australia. In June 2012, Mary was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, for her distinguished services to public policy and advocacy for the advancement of women. In 2016, Mary won the Public Policy category as part of the AFR/Westpac’s 100 Women of Influence for her years of work in shaping public policy in Australia.

Together, Yes is a campaign by the Victorian Women’s Trust as trustee of The Dugdale Trust for Women & Girls. We have created the campaign to enable many thousands of Australians from all walks of life to play a positive role in securing a YES vote at the 2023 referendum on the Voice to parliament.