It’s hard to believe that spring is upon us! For some, spring represents a time for a fresh start. It could be just that, as we welcome Prime Minister Albanese’s announcement yesterday of the date of the Referendum for a Voice to Parliament on Saturday, 14 October.
In April, the FRSA Board endorsed the FRSA Position Statement on a Voice to Parliament. FRSA’s vision for reconciliation is an Australia in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, families and communities are safe, recognised, respected and valued. Below are various resources for you to be ready and informed:
- The Uluru Statement from the Heart website
- A community toolkit created by the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)
- Reconciliation Australia’s FAQ page on a Voice to Parliament
- Responding to Common Concerns about an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice by the Australian National University
- Community self-care resources by the Healing Foundation, Gaaya Dhuwi and 13Yarn.
- The Australian Electoral Commission’s official referendum booklet
- Voice architecture and operational considerations: Voice as a vehicle for practical community outcomes by PWC Indigenous Consulting
- Voice Referendum: Understanding the referendum from a human rights perspective by the Australian Human Rights Commission
Next week is National Child Protection Week from 3-9 September. It’s a time to reflect on the ongoing message that ‘Every child in every community needs a fair go’. This year’s theme, ‘Where we start matters’ encourages us to look at how we as a service sector offering children and their families support and assistance can make a significant difference to life outcomes.
We aim to highlight the ongoing work and contribution the family and relationships services sector makes to children, families and communities around the country, during our meetings with politicians at SLF in Canberra in less than two weeks. If you haven’t registered, it’s not to late to join us. Access the registration page here.
