Online Thursday 27 July 4.00 p.m.
Featuring Uncle Ron Briggs, Aunty Violet Sheridan and Esmai Manahan
The final session in Catholic Social Services’ webinar series will feature three different voices of First Nations peoples, who will form a reflective panel that will consider what the Voice means for them, and what the referendum might mean for their communities and Australia. We will hear from Uncle Ron Briggs, of Good Shepherd Australia New Zealand, Aunty Violet Sheridan and Ngunnawal Elder (Canberra), and Esmai Manahan from MacKillop Family Services.
Uncle Ron Briggs is Senior Aboriginal Cultural Advisor for GSANZ. He has worked in Aboriginal Men’s health for more than 20 years and co-facilitated a drug and alcohol program within the Victorian prison system. He is on the Board of Directors for the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and sits on various committees concerned with the health and wellbeing of the Melbourne Aboriginal community.
Aunty Violet Sheridan is a pillar of the community in Canberra and the region, who was recently recognised when she was named ACT NAIDOC Elder of the Year 2022. She is a passionate Ngunnawal Elder who shares her cultural knowledge and expertise so the next generation can learn about and understand the oldest continuous living culture in the world.
Esmai Manahan is a proud Yorta Yorta woman, who was brought up in a politically active family and someone who remains passionate about making positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Esmai is trauma and family therapy trained and responsible for the oversight of cultural safety at MacKillop Family Services. She is an advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, and families, particularly the most vulnerable in the areas of child protection and out-of-home care. Esmai has spent many years working in key roles in the Aboriginal community sector and State Government.
Both CSSV and CSSA have released their own statements on the referendum earlier this year, urging deeper engagement and consideration by all in the ask for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, alongside the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference and Catholic Religious Australia, who previously endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
This webinar series is for a broad spectrum of people who want to enhance their knowledge and understanding of the upcoming referendum and inform their vote. This webinar series is for those working and volunteering in programs or classrooms, health practitioners or those leading in board rooms and organisations.
Catholic social services, education and health organisations should encourage members and staff to sign up. Clergy and parishioners are invited from across the country to attend the webinar series to enrich their decision-making process through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching and the expertise of the presenters.
Monique Earsman, Executive Director CSSA, said: “We want our webinar series to provide those working in Catholic Social Services, Health, Education, and parishes across Australia to be better informed, with a deeper understanding of the issues currently being debated in the public sphere.”
“As the referendum approaches, discussions in the media and our communities will intensify, and some may attempt to create pisions or spread fear. We aim for our three events to ease those concerns and tensions, while providing a platform for thoughtful and well-reasoned debate.
“We would strongly urge those within leadership roles ats our members and those non-members within the Catholic sector to promote and allow staff to attend the series. We all have a role to play in furthering Reconciliation in Australia as articulated in the Uluru Statement from the Heart.”
Joshua Lourensz, Executive Director CSSV, said: “A Constitutional referendum doesn’t come around too often, so it is so important that we take this seriously. The invitation inherent in the Uluru Statement of the Heart is vibrant and generous. Our consideration of the actions and activities that flow from it should be in the same spirit.”
The format will include an introduction, keynote speakers followed by a Q&A session before concluding at 5.00 p.m.
