Submissions Library

Dyan Summers is a Bass Strait Islander Bunurong woman. In this submission, she shares her family history and the experience of being moved/kidnapped from Point Nepean and taken to the Bass Strait Islands.

She also discusses land, loss of language, and the Voice referendum.

Lindsay Hammond shares his journey of discovering his Aboriginal heritage and his family’s history. Lindsay emphasises that the government needs to start listening to and working with Aboriginal people to fix issues, and highlights the importance of white Australia being educated about Aboriginal culture and history.

This submission is from researchers from the Indigenous Nation Building and Governance research hub (INBG) within the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education & Research at the University of Technology Sydney.

“Our aim in this submission is to present a framework through which to understand the systemic nature of injustices faced by First Peoples, which we argue are caused by the nature of relations imposed on First Peoples by the settler state. Our submission outlines why the injustices in these specific areas can only be understood systematically – that is, as structural, pervasive and causally interlinked – when they are viewed in the light of the fundamental logic of settler-colonial governance that denies First Peoples’ sovereign rights to collective self-determination.”

Mick Harding belongs to the Nattarak Baluk and the Yowong-Illam Baluk clans of the Daung Wurrung, commonly known as the Taungurung people. He is an artist and owner of Ngarga Warendj, which means “dancing wombat”.

In this video submission, Mick discusses:

• His history and work as an artist
• His and others’ early work on the treaty, including the Treaty Working Group
• His work with the Heritage Council
• Self-determination
• And more

Ryley Page is a Mununjali and Badtjala man. In this video submission, Ryley discusses education, self-determination, health and housing and what it’s like to be Aboriginal in Victoria.

Reuben Berg is a proud Gunditjmara man and a Co-Chair of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria. In this video submission, he reflects on what it’s like to be an Aboriginal person living in Victoria. He discusses self-determination, his hopes for his children, and the importance of water in looking after country.

Jennifer Mason is a Wamba Wamba and Dhudhuroa woman. Lowanna Moore is a Wamba Wamba descendant.

In this video submission, they discuss how First Peoples’ history could be better taught in schools through empowering culture. They reflect on barriers in the education system for Aboriginal people, self-determination, and the effect of the loss of land on intergenerational wealth.

Josh Carter is a Noongar and Bardi man. In this video submission, he discusses how it feels to be an Aboriginal person living in Victoria, the changes he’d like to see for future generations, self-determination and how Aboriginal leaders in sport can drive cultural awareness.

In this video submission, Elias Jarvis, a proud Djab Wurrung and Kirrae Wurrung man, discusses the bittersweet experience of being an Aboriginal person in Victoria, the impact of land loss on culture and intergenerational wealth, what self-determination looks like, and the challenges for Aboriginal people in accessing affordable and appropriate housing.