21/08/2023: This event has been cancelled due to the unavailability of a key speaker.
“Multicultural Australia for the Voice” invites you to a Q&A Forum about the Voice for an afternoon of food and information from Indigenous leader, Noel Pearson, and constitutional lawyer, Dr Shireen Morris, facilitated by the CEO of Maurice Blackburn, Jacob Varghese.
Time: Saturday 2 September 2023 at 4.00pm – 5.30pm.
Venue: Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000 (near State Library)
A research group from the University of Melbourne is currently conducting a study on understanding health decision-making in Australian Chinese families. Their research is funded by Australia’s National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). They are seeking participants to interview as part of their research.
The government website https://voice.gov.au/ has updated their official translation of “First Peoples” in the referendum question from “第一民族” to “原住民族” after the Chinese community raised concerns about the original translation, ABC reported on 3 August 2023. The original translation, “第一民族”, does not precisely convey the essence of the term “First Peoples” and may potentially lead to confusion and misinformation. CCCAV has played a leading role in advocating for the revision of the Chinese translation of the referendum question, aiming to make it aligned more accurately with its English meaning.
公投问题:
在公投投票日，选民将被要求对一个问题投“赞成”或“反对”票。在议会批准的前提下，问题将是：
“这项拟议法律：修改宪法，通过建立原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之声承认澳大利亚的原住民族。
您是否赞成这一拟议修改？”
宪法修正案:
如果在全民公投中获得批准，以下文字将写入宪法。
第九章 承认原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民 129 原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之声
为承认原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民是澳大利亚的原住民族： i. 应设立一个名为“原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之声”的机构； ii. “原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之声“可以就与原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民有关的问题向议会和联邦行政政府提出意见； iii. 在符合本宪法的前提下，议会有权就与原住民和托雷斯海峡岛民之声有关的事项制定法律，包括其组成、职能、权力和程序。
Members of Chinese and Multicultural Communities Gathered to Show Support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament
On the sunny Saturday afternoon of 22 July 2023, about seventy members from the Chinese and multicultural communities gathered at the iconic Chinese Museum in Melbourne to learn about and show their support for the First Nations Voice to Parliament. This forum was organised by the Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV) and supported by the Chinese Museum.
The event featured a series of inspiring speeches delivered by distinguished speakers, including Cr Philip Liu from the City of Melbourne, Leila Gurruwiwi, an Indigenous representative, Mohamed Mohideen OAM JP, the Vice President of the Islamic Council of Victoria, Dr Judy Tang, the Founding Director of the Australian Institute for Diversity in Mental Health, Gavin Choong from the Radical Centre Reform Lab, and Mark Wang, CEO of the Chinese Museum. The speeches were eloquently translated by this country’s preeminent English/Chinese translator, Professor Charles Qin OAM.
The overwhelming support shown at the forum by the Chinese and multicultural communities for the First Nations Voice to Parliament was heartwarming.
We believe that this year’s Voice referendum is really about responding to the sincere invitation put forth in the “Uluru Statement from the Heart” by our First Nations people to all Australians to walk hand in hand together towards a healed, united, and better country. It is a humble and modest ask, and a gift to the nation.
There is so much to gain by achieving a successful outcome for this year’s referendum. The referendum, if successful, will lead to the long-overdue recognition of our First Nations people in the Constitution. It will result in better outcomes for improving the lives of First Nations people through genuine listening and understanding. Ultimately, it will lead to a healed and united country.
A country cannot truly heal and be complete until its heart is healed. Let us embrace this historic opportunity to take a positive step forward together towards a better future for everyone.
The care and support sector is the fastest-growing sector in Australia right now. With the growth of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and Australia’s ageing population, there are plenty of opportunities for people looking for rewarding work that fits in with their lives.
Let’s come together at the Multicultural Community Forum on 22 July 2023, to learn about and support the First Nations Voice to Parliament. You are cordially invited to attend this event. 诚邀参加澳华和多元文化社区论坛，了解和支持原住民之声。
Supported by the Australian Government’s National Foundation for Australia-China Relations (NFACR) and named after the first Australian barrister of Chinese and Asian heritage and co-founder of the Sino-Australian Association the late William Ah Ket (1876-1936), this ‘exec ed’ program aims to educate, upskill and equip talented emerging Chinese-Australian leaders with the skills, knowledge and expertise to become more effective leaders in their field, and if relevant, play an active role in advancing Australia’s engagement and bilateral relationship with China.
The program will include a comprehensive academic and practical approach to focus on effective training and upskilling for emerging Chinese-Australian leaders on the following topics and more: risks and opportunities of Australia-China relations; power, influence and communication as Chinese-Australian leaders; succeeding in the Australia-China landscape; and personal profile building and finding your authentic voice.
The program is open and eligible to applicants between the ages of 30 to 45 who self-identify as Chinese-Australian and/or an Australian of Chinese heritage. The four-day program will be taking place from 20 to 24 August 2023 at ANU’s campus in Canberra. Successful participants will be attending free of charge with accommodation and travel covered – all thanks to the incredible generosity of NFACR.
Applications are due on Sunday 25 June 2023 at 5pm AEST. If this is a program for you or if you know of someone across your networks who is eligible and suitable, please submit an application of interest as soon as possible. Further details about the program and application process can be accessed via the following link – https://www.anu.edu.au/events/william-ah-ket-leadership-program
MOJO News recently covered the informative Voice session organized by the Chinese Community Council of Australia, Victoria Chapter (CCCAV) on 16th March 2023.
The event featured Dr Shireen Morris, Director of the Radical Centre Reform Lab, a Senior Lecturer at Macquarie University Law School and a Constitutional lawyer, who has worked on Indigenous constitutional recognition for more than a decade, and Thomas Mayo, a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man, member of the First Nations Referendum Working Group, who is an passionate advocate for the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
The seminar was aiming to engage the Chinese community in understanding the significance of the Voice referendum in the healing and reconciliation process of our country.
* MOJO News is an independent media organisation run by Monash University’s journalism and media communication students. https://www.mojonews.com.au/about-us
