A Catholic Social Services Webinar Series
Catholic Social Services Victoria (CSSV), in conjunction with Catholic Social Services Australia (CSSA), is pleased to invite you to join us for a series of webinars to learn more about the upcoming referendum on Constitutional Recognition for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and the Voice to Parliament. We will be exploring questions like:
- What is the history of the referendum?
- Should First Nations Peoples have a Voice? And why now?
- How has the Catholic Church engaged with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples over time?
- How might Catholic Social Teaching be applied to the questions that lie before us in 2023?
Learn from legal, historical and theological experts, and hear from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders about their experiences, hopes and concerns for the Voice referendum in 2023.
Learn more about The Voice and how your vote at the referendum matters
This three part webinar series will include:
25 May: Part 1 – What is The Voice to Parliament all about?
Hear from Professor Melissa Castan, Director of the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University.
Melissa will be exploring the history of the referendum and the processes that have led to this point. She will discuss why the Uluru Statement from the Heart included a call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice and why there is a call for this Voice to be enshrined in the Constitution.
29 June: Part 2 – The Church, Catholic Social Teaching and engagement with First Nations Peoples
Hear from Fr Frank Brennan SJ, Australian Jesuit priest, human rights lawyer and academic
Fr Frank will speak from his extensive experience on how the Church has engaged with First Nations Peoples over time and what particular work is required now. He will unpack how Catholic Social Teaching might be applied to the questions before us in 2023 regarding the Voice referendum, and reconciliation more broadly. He will also share about how First Nations spirituality has contributed to the Church thus far and how it might enrich all Australians, Church liturgy and ways of being in the world. Fr Frank will also discuss how the Voice (if successful) may enhance this further.
27 July: Part 3 – First Nations Voices
Hear from a panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples: Uncle Ron Briggs (Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand), Esmai Manahan Yorta Yorta Elder (MacKillop Family Services) and Cr Anne Dennis – Gamilaraay woman (Councillor, New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council).
This panel discussion will be an opportunity to hear from First Nations People as they reflect on their experiences over time, their hopes and concerns for the Voice referendum in 2023 and what they may be asking of the Church, Catholic organisations and the wider community.
This Webinar Series is open to anyone who is interested in better understanding the Uluru Statement from the Heart, the Voice to Parliament and the upcoming referendum. Please feel free to share the details with your team members, Board, volunteers, sector colleagues, parish, family and friends.
Registrations are available for all or selected sessions.
Details:
Time and Dates
4-5pm (AEST) – 25 May, 29 June and 27 July
Costs
CSSA and CSSV Members (including all staff, Board members and volunteers): Free of charge
Non-members: $12 per session or $30 for the full series
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