Voices for Impact – Meet the First Nations leaders mobilising around the Referendum

Join us on Thursday 27 April to meet the First Nations leaders mobilising around the upcoming Referendum.

Later this year, Australians will vote in a referendum that asks a key question: should we alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice?

Join us for Voices for Impact and find out how you can support Australia’s First Peoples in having a say in the laws and policies that affect them. The Impact Fund will be funding a range of initiatives presenting on the night, and inviting co-contributions after the event.

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to come together to ensure we reach a milestone in creating a fairer and more sustainable Australia for all. Speakers include leaders from Yes 23, the Uluru Dialogue and Passing the Message Stick.

Spaces limited. Stay tuned for more details including speaker updates.

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Event details

Meet at The Edge, Fed Square, Naarm (Melbourne) at 5:30pm for a smoking ceremony conducted by Wurundjeri man Daniel Ross. The evening's formal proceedings will begin at 6:30pm. Food and drink served by Mabu Mabu.

This event will have an Auslan interpreter. The Edge has lift access and is wheelchair accessible.

Joining online? You'll receive an email on the day with your link to the livestream, kicking off at 6:30pm AEST.

This event will take place on the unceded lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We pay our respects to their elders past and present. Always was, always will be.

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Presenting organisations

Yes23

In the lead-up to this year’s Referendum, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition (AICR) is enabling all Australians to be a part of this historic opportunity through a national Indigenous-led campaign: Yes23.

Rachel Perkins
Co-Chair, Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition

Rachel is an Arrernte and Kalkadoon woman, a multi-award-winning filmmaker, signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and with Danny Gilbert, Co-Chair of AICR. She also co-chairs the National Native Title Council and Commonwealth government’s partnership to reform Indigenous heritage laws. In 2020, she was named one of the most culturally powerful Australians in the AFR.

Passing the Message Stick

A multi-year research project shifting public narrative in support of First Nations justice and self-determination. The project is supported by Australian Progress and GetUp.

Larissa Baldwin-Roberts
Passing the Message Stick Lead, and Chief Executive Officer, GetUp

A proud Widjabul Wia-bul woman from the Bundjalung Nation, Larissa has dedicated her life to First Nations justice, climate action and a more fair Australia. Prior to founding and leading the First Nations Justice team at GetUp, Larissa co-founded Seed, Australia’s first Indigenous youth climate network.

Uluru Dialogue

The Uluru Dialogue represents the cultural authority of the Uluru Statement from the Heart and leads community education on the Uluru Statement’s reforms of Voice, Treaty and Truth. The Uluru Dialogue is based at the Indigenous Law Centre, UNSW Sydney.

Bridget Cama
Co-Chair, Uluru Youth Dialogue

Bridget is a Wiradjuri First Nations and Pasifika Fijian woman who was born and grew up in Lithgow, New South Wales and has connections to the Cudgegong River just outside of Mudgee. Working with the Uluru Dialogue since March 2019, Bridget is Co-Chair of the Uluru Youth Dialogue, an associate of the Indigenous Law Centre at UNSW and a member of the legal support team to the Uluru Dialogue.

Allira Davis
Co-Chair, Uluru Youth Dialogue

Allira is a Cobble Cobble woman from the Barungum and Birrigubba Nations. Allira has worked closely with Bridget Cama in leading and co-convening the Uluru Youth Dialogue, organising and co-chairing the Uluru Youth Summit (2019) and providing First Nations youth with the skills and knowledge to make substantive change to the lives of our people and a better future for all.

Marcus Stewart
Co-Chair, First People’s Assembly of Victoria

Marcus is a proud Nira illim bulluk man of the Taungurung Nation and Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. He is a negotiator and strategist with more than 15 years’ experience in Aboriginal affairs.

Joining the organisations presenting on the night 

Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA (Emcee)
Passing the Message Stick Lead

Jackie is a Bidjara (central Queensland) and Birri-Gubba Juru (North Queensland) woman who has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for over thirty years. Jackie is a celebrated author, historian and activist. She is the former Co-Chair of Treaty/Treaties in Queensland, Co-Chair National Congress of Australia’s First Peoples, former member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, Co-Chair Reconciliation Australia, the State Library Board of Queensland and the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies.

Jack Heath
CEO, Philanthropy Australia

Jack has been a leader of for-purpose organisations for more than 25 years. He believes there has never been a more important time for philanthropy as we grapple with huge societal challenges. Jack holds a deep-seated belief in the ability of philanthropy to inspire long-lasting, positive change in individual lives and communities.

Maree Sidey
CEO, Australian Communities Foundation

Maree has been Chief Executive Officer of Australian Communities Foundation since 2015. Maree also holds Non-Executive Director roles at Community Foundations of Australia, Australian Progress and Philanthropy Australia.

 

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Featured artwork: Walpa Winaka (To Burn & Leave) #8 by Wergaia/Wotjobaluk artist, Robby Wirramanda, courtesy of The Torch.