Ministerial Statement

Agius, Auntie Josie

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Employment, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation, Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Science and Information Economy) (14:21): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement on the life and contribution of Auntie Josie Agius.

Leave granted.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: Today, I raise to speak about the life and significant contribution Ms Josie Agius made to the South Australian community. Josie Agius, or Auntie Josie as she was better known, was born in Wallaroo in 1934; in fact, Monday would have been her 82^nd birthday. She grew up in Point Pearce on the Yorke Peninsula. Many South Australians will recognise her from the Welcome to Country ceremonies she performed.

Auntie Josie did so much in life, served her community in so many capacities, accomplished so much and meant so much to so many people from across the entire state that it is hard to know where to begin to pay tribute. It is true to say that Josephine Agius was one of a kind and that she simply cannot be replaced. She was a woman of massive experience, wisdom and energy, and possessed a legendary cheeky wit. She was a deeply proud Aboriginal woman, with strong connections to Narungga, Kaurna, Ngarrindjeri and Ngadjuri peoples. I know that she was proud in particular that she had connections to a culture that was so diverse.

She passionately loved her community, in particular her Port Adelaide community where she lived for much of her life. Many people admired Auntie Josie for her inclusive and peaceful nature. She did a tremendous amount of work towards reconciliation in South Australia, in part because she was highly skilled at bringing people together, both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal, and South Australians from all cultural backgrounds, and helping them feel comfortable and connected to one another. Make no mistake, she was a fierce and highly committed advocate and activist for Aboriginal people, and she stood up for Aboriginal people and their rights with unyielding determination.

Auntie Josie was one of South Australia's first Aboriginal health workers; in fact, she was at the forefront in those days of influencing specialist Aboriginal health services in this state. Education was another passion of Auntie Josie's. For almost a decade she worked with Aboriginal children from reception to year 7. She broke down barriers, especially for Aboriginal children. They clearly held a special place for her.

In speaking with members of her family, they described her as a major influence on their lives, the lives of those around them and their community. She helped many people find their place and where they fitted in in terms of connection to country and community. Auntie Josie always encouraged those of the next generation to have a voice for what they wanted to do and wanted to achieve, and of course those who knew Auntie Josie spoke of her wit and humour.

She was a giant in the Aboriginal community, but she was also a highly accomplished professional community worker. The impact she made in her working life will continue to be felt for many years. When you look at the long list of things that Auntie Josie did in her 81 years—all the jobs she worked in, appointments she held, the communities and groups she assisted, her achievements and the recognition she received—it is quite hard to believe that it is only one person's life that is being described.

Ensuring that Aboriginal women and children in particular could access high-quality health services was a deeply-held passion for Auntie Josie, and there is no doubt that her commitment inspired many others to follow her example. She was also a pioneering Aboriginal education worker and had a way of connecting with children that was magical. She engaged and delighted students in primary schools around the Port, especially at Taperoo primary school where she worked for many years. While there, she introduced an Aboriginal Culture Week in the school and linked the children with the special NAIDOC Week activities.

Auntie Josie was especially a tremendous champion of language and culture. She was highly influential in promoting and reviving Aboriginal languages. As I have highlighted, she was extremely passionate about insisting that young Aboriginal people maintain an interest in and a knowledge of their culture. A great deal of her remarkable energy was put towards this purpose in many of the roles that she held throughout her life, but I know she would like for part of her legacy to be that young Aboriginal South Australians carry on the work about which she was so passionate, work such as:

guiding us in taking the many challenging steps that will lead our community towards reconciliation;

ensuring future generations of Aboriginal people will no longer suffer from needless and debilitating inequalities in areas like health and education; and

instilling in the hearts and minds of new generations a heartfelt connection to culture, to language, to heritage and to history.

Auntie Josie spent her life leading us towards a strong and positive future that she envisaged for Aboriginal people in South Australia. I believe the best way to honour her contribution and the tremendous impact she made is for us to continue working to advance the causes for which she lived. For me, that will be a great privilege, and I know thousands of people whose lives she touched and who were inspired by her astonishing energy and dedication will feel the same way.