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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-07-07 Daily Xml
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NAIDOC Week

Ms WORTLEY (Torrens) (15:10): NAIDOC Week is a time when our governments, local councils, schools and community organisations explore and revel in the wonders of our First Nations culture and distinct history. Raising awareness and understanding of our First Nations' culture and an ongoing fight for a stronger voice in the community is at its heart.

NAIDOC Week encompasses an annual theme chosen to reflect a way forward to champion institutional, structural and cooperative reforms, whilst acknowledging and celebrating the achievements of those who led change in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities over generations. This was highlighted on Monday evening, when I attended Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Institute and heard about their future plans.

The first tranche of the 2021 Census data has recently been released, and it reveals a telling story of a changing Australia. More and more Australians are identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, an increase of over 25 per cent. With such a massive jump in numbers, there will no doubt be some speculation as to why. Of course, the politics of identity is always at play, and there will be commentary around targeting the way in which skin tone and colour play a role.

Those thoughtless and worn-out arguments, however, fail to take into consideration how much colonial practices, such as those that led to the Stolen Generations, directly targeted people with lighter skin tones and mixed heritage and how those policies and the trauma associated with that practice have impacted on the decision for people over the years to officially want to record their ethnicity. That is why the Census figures are revealing about changing attitudes in Australia. That is, in part, why NAIDOC Week is important and has proved to be a pivotal face of change.

There is a proud history of getting up, standing up and showing up, the theme of this year's week of Indigenous pride, and the momentum for change is now. I was proud to be a member of the Rudd Labor government that delivered an apology to the Stolen Generations, and I stand here today proud to be a member of the Malinauskas Labor government that appointed the first First Nations Attorney-General, who is already getting on with work on a comprehensive state government approach to telling Truth and a Treaty and building on the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Just last week, Kaurna Narungga Ngadjuri Ngarrindjeri elder Dale Agius was appointed as our inaugural Commissioner for First Nations Voice. His role is to lead consultation with Aboriginal groups to lay the foundations for a state-based implementation of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, to make sure we move beyond words, promises, acknowledgements and good intentions. The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and non-indigenous Australians needs to be based on justice, equity and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people's rights.

This week, in my electorate of Torrens our schools are immersed in NAIDOC Week activities. On Monday, I presented a new Aboriginal flag to Wandana Primary School, which is celebrating the week with a First Nations artist in residence, a special assembly led by student leaders explaining the themes of the week, a boomerang and Pitjantjatjara language workshop, weaving and Dreamtime story activities, and there will be a surprise flash mob Aboriginal dance performance.

I also visited Avenues College where I met with some our First Nations students, and together we replaced the Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Australian flags. By the end of the week, classes will have been engaged in numerous activities including designing their own interpretation flags, participating in a yarning circle and some senior students having joined Aunty Brenda in the preschool to create a cultural mural and Aunty Lisa in reception class to participate in music workshops.

It was wonderful to see Avenues College student Peyton Aspel, a year 12 student, awarded the 2022 Dr Alice Rigney Prize—a prize awarded to a student who embodies all that Dr Rigney stood for and promoted. I recall visiting the school and interviewing Dr Rigney and one of the teachers for a story in The Advertiser many years ago. Peyton is a very worthy recipient and active participant in cultural programs at Avenues College, a talented sportswoman and part of the South Australian Aboriginal Secondary Training Academy elite netball academy. I look forward to following where her journey takes her.

At Hillcrest Primary School, NAIDOC Week is being celebrated with students designing special poster boards including language, Indigenous legends, Eddie Mabo, Indigenous storyboards, and classes are participating in Wingaru digital quizzes.

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