Swinburne reaffirms support for Voice to Parliament
Swinburne’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and proud Wiradjuri man, Professor John Evans
In summary
Swinburne has reaffirmed its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution
Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and proud Wiradjuri man, Professor John Evans, says the Voice to Parliament is an important national reform
Swinburne is committed to advancing reconciliation by embedding self-determination, cultural safety and Indigenous knowledges across the university
National Reconciliation Week 2023 is particularly unique. It falls during a historic year, in which Australians are being asked to vote in a referendum to recognise First Peoples.
In this spirit, Swinburne University of Technology has reaffirmed its support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and its call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution.
Swinburne has a strong and demonstrated commitment to actively driving reconciliation and working with Indigenous communities to create positive impact.
Swinburne’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement and proud Wiradjuri man, Professor John Evans, says the proposed Voice to Parliament is an important national reform.
“It marks a significant point in Australia’s maturation as a country looking to be more just and to strengthen its understanding of its Indigenous population,” he says.
“First Nations peoples have a right to expect that their knowledge and experiences are protected by and reflected in policies and programs that govern and determine their futures. This has never been done before and is a key feature of the Voice.
“We welcome this opportunity to unite to create a better future for all Australians – Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike – and believe it is a critical moment for our community to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander recognition and representation,” Professor Evans says.
An ‘important start’ for improving outcomes
Professor Evans emphasises the vital importance of maintaining ongoing dialogue to ensure the Voice functions as intended.
“While the Voice is an important national reform, it will not be perfect to start with. Nothing is perfect, and the pursuit of perfection often prevents us from doing anything.
“There will need to be years of discussion and constant recalibration to make sure the Voice is serving its purpose,” he said.
“But it is an important start to improving outcomes for Australia’s Indigenous population and will be a significant improvement on what we have at the moment.”
Professor Evans offers the following advice to individuals contemplating the decision ahead.
“My advice to people would be to not get caught up in the politics or be distracted by perfection. Look at the Voice for what it is and be critical about how it can be further improved to help our Indigenous population,” he said.
“By maintaining this dialogue, we can ensure that the Voice stays relevant and is in the best interest of our people for generations to come.”
Conscious of varying perspectives within the community, Professor Evans asserts the need for progress.
“While we know there are a range of views on the proposal within our community, we believe that this is an important step forward for our country,” he said.
“We welcome an informed and respectful debate, but support a First Nations Voice enshrined in the constitution, as an organisation that is committed to leadership on reconciliation.”
Swinburne was the first Australian university to achieve ‘Elevate’ status from Reconciliation Australia for its Reconciliation Action Plan and is committed to advancing reconciliation by embedding self-determination, cultural safety and Indigenous knowledges across the university.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- University
TEDx is coming to Swinburne: seeking nominations for distinguished alumni to be celebrated
Swinburne will be hosting its first TEDxSwinburne event later this year and will showcase Swinburne's world class innovation and ideas from some of Australia's brightest minds.
Thursday 18 April 2024 -
- University
Swinburne's Social Innovation Institute backs projects on circular economy, ancestry and critical care nursing
Three Swinburne research projects have received seed funding from the Social Innovation Research Institute which helps support and co-create solutions to complex social problems.
Tuesday 23 April 2024 -
- Student News
- University
Swinburne ushers in a new era of student representation
Swinburne has been collaborating with students to improve the student experience and resolve challenges with student representation.
Thursday 18 April 2024 -
- University
Students get first shot in Victoria at entrepreneurial Swinburne Startup Year
Swinburne’s Startup Year will equip students with the skills required to build the foundations of a successful business venture, whilst also earning a qualification.
Monday 22 April 2024 -
- Astronomy
- University
OzGrav 2.0: A ‘new era of astrophysics’ launched at Swinburne
The next phase in the world-leading ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery, dubbed 'OzGrav 2.0', launched this week at Swinburne University of Technology.
Wednesday 17 April 2024