Uncle Jim Berg, a Gunditjmara Elder
Gunditjmara Elder Uncle Jim Berg

Submissions

Through submissions to Yoorrook, people right across Victoria have shared their truths on the impacts of colonisation on First Peoples and the strength and resistance shown.

We invite all Victorians to engage with these powerful truths that document experiences of land dispossession, child protection and criminal justice systems, health and education and ongoing systemic challenges, as well as stories of cultural resistance and community connection. 

These submissions are more than just documents - they are living testimonies to help learn the truth of our shared history, and walk together to transform our shared future. 

Please be aware that some of the content on this page contains potentially offensive or controversial material. If you are affected by the content and would like support, please contact 13 YARN on 13 92 76 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Yoorrook reserves the right not to publish all or part of a submission if it considers it inappropriate to do so. By publishing a submission, Yoorrook expresses no opinion about the content or accuracy of the submission or material referred to in the submission. Submissions are not published where the person making the submission has asked that it be kept confidential.

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Submission – Anonymous 1491

The author decided to make this submission as they believe their early education and experiences would mirror those of many other non-Indigenous Australians. She reflects on her family history, how she was not taught about the impacts of colonisation on Aboriginal people until university and how that silence now seems deafening. She highlights the lack of services for Aboriginal people in Victoria compared to the Northern Territory and hopes for future generations to respect Indigenous ways and for the Treaty process to promote unity.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 58.22 KB

Submission – Sian Prior

Sian Prior, a sixty-year-old white person, acknowledges their privilege and the injustices faced by First Nations people in Australia. They call for truth-telling, a treaty, and self-determination for First Nations communities, suggesting a percentage of land tax to support these initiatives. They emphasise the need to recognise the value of First Nations culture and the contributions of First Nations people to Australian society.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 55.14 KB

Submission – Anonymous 1481

The author has a broad understanding of colonisation’s impact on First Peoples but feels Victoria’s education system was extremely limited in teaching First Nations history and culture. They advocate for place-based knowledge, respect for Elders, and a shift towards a “Caring for Country” model. They also support truth-telling, treaty, and self-determination for First Peoples, and advocate for a commitment to life-long learning and creating new foundations.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 71.79 KB

Submission – Jackie Mansourian

Jackie Mansourian recalls a childhood incident of racism that sparked her curiosity about First Peoples, which was not addressed in her education. She later learned through an Aboriginal Studies elective and placement with the Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service. She believes non-Indigenous Australians need to unlearn fears and assumptions, engage with First Peoples’ voices, and hold the government accountable for treaty negotiations.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 72.25 KB

Submission – Denise Cusack Sister of Our Lady of Sion

Denise Cusack, Sister of Our Lady of Sion, found attending some of the Yoorrook Justice Commission public hearings to be a deeply moving experience, heart-breaking, humbling, at times breath-taking. She learned little about First Nations history in school but was profoundly affected by meeting Aboriginal people and attending the 1988 Bicentenary Protest. She advocates for wider recognition of the Uluru Statement from the Heart, comprehensive education reforms, and public support for truth-telling and treaty processes.
30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 73.53 KB

Submission – Anonymous 1501

Anonymous 1501, who grew up outside Victoria, is still learning about the state’s colonisation and its impacts. They appreciate the Yoorrook Commission’s work and advocate for continued efforts. They found their children’s education on First Nations history to be insufficient and suggest more comprehensive approaches, including field trips and cultural safety training. They call for bipartisan support for Voice, Truth, and Treaty, and propose various ways to promote First Peoples’ history and culture, such as public broadcasts, revitalised curricula, and civic acknowledgments.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 72.55 KB

Submission – Prof. Mark G. Brett

Prof. Mark G. Brett’s paper, “Reinventing Waste Land as a Colonial Legal Fiction,” explores the historical development of the concept of waste land from the 17th century to its role in 19th-century Australian legislation. It examines the impact of this legislation on Aboriginal people, who were forcibly dispossessed of their lands, and discusses ways in which this could be remedied.

30 November 2024
Format:
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Size: 267.64 KB

Submission – Rebekha Naim

Rebekha Naim, a white Australian, expresses deep sadness over the rejection of The Voice in 2023 and highlights the ongoing marginalisation and destruction of Aboriginal culture and rights. She advocates for a Treaty for Victoria, urging the recognition and respect of Aboriginal voices and culture.

30 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 49.40 KB

Submission – Peter Noble

In this submission, Peter Noble shares his learning about Victoria’s colonisation through various sources and advocates for treaties, improved education, and cultural site protection. He suggests non-First Nations Victorians participate in truth-telling and support self-determination. He promotes First Peoples history and culture through school and university curricula, cultural events, and place markers.

29 November 2024
Format:
PDF
Size: 70.58 KB