Join delegates and guests for the Joint World Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development Public Lecture on Thursday 10 July 2014, 5.00 – 6.30 pm, Plenary 2, Melbourne Convention Centre.
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STRONG COMMUNITIES, STRONG FUTURES Strengthening social and cultural wellbeing – Australian Indigenous leaders’ perspectives Chair: Professor Kerry Arabena, The University of Melbourne |
Click here to download the Public Lecture Flyer
Past decades have seen a proliferation of organisations premised on the principles of self-determination, economic independence and cultural wellbeing. Not only are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples investing in achieving equality – for the health of our nation, so our children have a good future – this equity is being achieved on terms that are dictated by our own organisations. We have more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participating in higher education, and greater opportunities than any other generation, however, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are still referred to as the most disadvantaged group in Australia.What have these leaders done to make the achievement of equity more a reality? Why are we still ‘disadvantaged’?
Chaired by Kerry Arabena, this conversation will inspire, celebrating the strengths in our communities, despite the obstacles, while also acknowledging how far we have to go. These discussants will provide an overview of an Indigenous Social Capital Framework based on culture, mutual benefit and collective action and share their strategies for achieving equity for all.
The public lecture is free, however registration is required. Please complete the short registration form to indicate your attendance.
Date: Thursday 10 July 2014
Time: 5.00 – 6.30pm
Venue: Plenary 2, Melbourne Convention Centre
Registration: The public lecture is free, however registration is required.
Please complete the short registration form to indicate your attendance.
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Chair: Professor Kerry Arabena Professor Kerry Arabena is a social worker with a PhD. She is the Chair for Indigenous Health at the University of Melbourne, where she is also the Director of the Onemda VicHealth Koori Health Unit. She has an extensive background in sexual health, reproductive health, public health, remote area health service administration and community development with current research projects across sexual and reproductive health, health equity, community engagement and health service reform. She has managed projects receiving a total of $34M funding, and has published extensively. Professor Arabena is a Torres Strait Islander and is an internationally recognised consultant in sexual and reproductive health policy, administration and community development. Her contributions have been recognised by her selection as Australian of the Year Finalist, 2010, recipient of the prestigious JG Crawford Prize for Academic Excellence, ANU, 2011, and nomination in the ‘Smart 100’ Australians, Health and Medical Research Category, Bulletin Magazine, 2004. Her roles influencing policy/practice include: 9 Ministerial appointments; Chair of 1 international, 5 national, and 2 state committees/working groups; Proxy for Principal, AIATSIS at 8 national committees; Member of 3 current boards, working groups and committees; Director of 7 Aboriginal Corporation Boards of Management; Consultant for 52 organisations. She has given over 500 radio, television and print media interviews, 38 keynote and plenary national and international addresses and has been Chair of 13 national conferences. |
Discussants:
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Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett, AO Muriel Bamblett is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman who is active on many boards and committees concerning children, families and the Indigenous community, including the Victorian Children’s Council; the Foundation to Prevent Violence Against Women and Children; the Australian Institute of Family Studies Advisory Council; the Aboriginal Justice Forum and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service. Muriel was inducted into the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2011 and was a finalist for a Human Rights Medal with the Australian Human Rights Commission. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency Co-op Ltd. |
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Mr Paul Briggs, OAM Founding Chairman of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), and the Rumbalara Football Netball Club in Northern Victoria, Paul has been awarded an Australian Medal for service to the community. He is also founding Chairman of the First Nations Australian Credit Union, the first Indigenous credit union offering national access to financial services. He is also a past Council member of University of Melbourne and is current Chairman of the Kaiela Institute which has built partnerships to collaborate in building an inclusive future for Aboriginal people and people of the Goulburn Valley. |
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Dr Christine Fejo-King Dr Christine Fejo-King is an Aboriginal woman from the Northern Territory. Her mother is a Warumungu woman from Tennant Creek and her father was a Larrakia man from Darwin. She has worked for Reconciliation Australia where she was responsible to oversight of final versions of Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs) for Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments, all schools and universities, peak bodies, and community organisations. Christine has been involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander activism as a social worker for many years, having supported: the establishment of the Aboriginal Child Care Agency (Karu) in the Northern Territory as well as SNAICC, and the Stolen Generation Alliance. She is the founder and Chairperson of the National Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Workers Association, was heavily involved in the background work with regard to the Apology to the Stolen Generations. A ‘proud and passionate social worker’, she mentors other Indigenous social workers and students. She holds a Community Development Certificate from the South Australian Institute of Technology (now University of South Australia) a Bachelor of Social Work from the Northern Territory University (now Charles Darwin University) and has completed her doctorate at the Australian Catholic University on ‘The Aboriginal Kinship System: Informing Social work theory and practice in Australia’. |
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Mr Peter Nathan Peter Nathan from North West Queensland is a Pitta Pitta man from the Dajarra and Boulia areas with a stong connection to his grandmother’s country – Lardil peoples of Mornington Island. Peter has been working for Oxfam Australia for almost six years in two roles. The first being Community Development Officer on Mornington Island, focused on youth engagement and community governance support. His current role is as the National Youth and Self-Determination Programs Coordinator for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Program. Both roles have provided challenges to identify innovative and effective ways to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – particularly youth. Peter is an experienced trainer and facilitator and has led consultations within various settings – remote communities, regional planning and development and education and training forums – and facilitated national youth events in participation, community action and Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Peter has also attended and participated in National and International forums, providing expertise and insight into youth engagement. Peter is an advocate for youth centered engagement with participation that is effective and purpose driven. Peter is passionate about youth engagement and learning, with his role at Oxfam Australia supporting the growth and development of young people and building partnerships with youth based organizations to connect to Aboriginal communities and their youth. Peter hopes to encourage youth action through creating training and development spaces that is youth dominated and led, that supports the growth of capabilities and knowledge. Peter underpins this approach on the idea of progressive participation – a process that continually engages learning and growth through mutual accountability and encouraging reciprocity. |