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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
10 March 2025SpeechDiversity Council Australia Panel Webinar
Discover insights from the Diversity Council Australia panel webinar focusing on fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion across workplaces and communities. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
27 May 2024Media Release
Social Justice Commissioner: now more than ever, Australia must reconcile with its First Nations people
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Katie Kiss, has marked the start of Reconciliation Week by calling on Australians to finally overcome generations of disadvantage and division when it comes to First Nations rights, and forge a path for unity. The Commissioner warned that systemic failures facing Indigenous communities in all sectors of society including… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
30 January 2014Opinion piece
We need to fix the Constitution, says Social Justice Commissioner
Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the nation’s Constitution is a waste of time, 2UE Drive host Justin Smith recently argued. There are many things the Constitution doesn’t recognise, he said, the document is dull, and we would be better off if we paid attention instead to the words we use every day. I agree with Mr Smith on one point: the Constitution isn’t a page… -
27 November 2015Book page
The need for better engagement - Year in review
1.1 Introduction In last year’s Social Justice and Native Title Report, I raised concerns about the changes resulting from the 2014-15 Budget and the restructure to Indigenous Affairs through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS). Despite initial concerns about how these changes would impact our communities, I indicated that the streamlining of programs and the move away from a ‘one size… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
Uluru Statement calls for First Nations’ voice in the constitution
To resounding applause, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates from across the country have agreed to a landmark Uluru Statement calling for the establishment of a First Nations’ voice enshrined in the constitution. "We, gathered at the 2017 National Constitutional Convention, coming from all points of the southern sky, make this statement from the heart. "Our Aboriginal and Torres… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
24 May 2023News story
Uluru Statement anniversary
Learn about the anniversary of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
27 January 2021Opinion piece
Can January 26 ever be the day that all Australians unite and rejoice in our sense of collective belonging?
OPINION: I want to celebrate being Australian and I want to celebrate our remarkable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander civilisation. But every year I brace myself for the 26th knowing that it is not the day we can do this. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
13 September 2021Opinion piece
Incorporating UNDRIP into Australian law would kickstart important progress
Given the challenges we face collectively, it is all too seldom that the world's First Nations peoples are able to come together to develop shared solutions. When we do, we achieve great things. -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
25 August 2022Speech
Sir Wallace Kyle Oration
Jalangurru lanygu balangarri. Yaningi Yatharra ngindaji muwayi indirranggu, Kaurna yani U. It is wonderful to be here with you today on Noongar Boodja country. I would also like to acknowledge all the country from around this state and beyond that people may joining in from online. My deepest respects to all our elders past, present and emerging. I would like to express my thanks to Michelle… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
5 July 2021Opinion piece
Return to country endangered by failure to invest
Covid-19 has triggered the most significant return to country by First Nations people since the homeland movement commenced in the 1960s. Thousands, like myself, returned to remote communities out of necessity. Facing the unknown, our family leaders who could made the courageous decision to gather loved ones and travel out to country, with minimal resources. Importantly, Australian… -
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice
29 May 2019Opinion piece
Indigenous Australians can be bystanders no longer
Explore the opinion piece on Indigenous Australians and bystander intervention. -
14 December 2012Book page
Chapter 2: Constitutional reform: Creating a nation for all of us - Social Justice Report 2010
A century ago, the Australian people engaged in a debate about creating a nation. They held meetings...They wrote articles and letters in newspapers. Many views were canvassed and voices were heard. The separate colonies, having divided up the land between them, discussed ways of sharing powers in order to achieve a vision of a united Australia. The result was the Australian Constitution,… -
Legal
14 December 2012WebpageCommission submissions: Katinyeri
1. The Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission ("the Commission") by notice of motion dated 24 December 1997, has sought leave to intervene in these proceedings pursuant to ss.11(1)(o)of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986 (Cth) ("the Act") relying upon the affidavit of Christopher Dominic Sidoti sworn on 24 December 1997. -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Chapter 2
Every morning our people would crush charcoal and mix that with animal fat and smother that all over us, so that when the police came they could only see black children in the distance. We were told always to be on the alert and, if white people came, to run into the bush or run and stand behind the trees as stiff as a poker, or else hide behind logs or run into culverts and hide. Often the white… -
14 December 2012Book page
Bringing them Home - Chapter 4
From 1835, when the European occupation of Victoria commenced, until the 1880s government policy was one of segregation of Indigenous people on reserves. These were mainly controlled by missions. -
15 July 2014Book page
Chapter 1: How far have we come? Looking back on 20 years of the Social Justice Commissioner role
1.1 Introduction This year marks 20 years since the establishment of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner (Social Justice Commissioner) role under the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986 (Cth). When I first started in this position I was asked if any of the previous Commissioners had left any words or notes of advice. I answered them ‘no, but they all… -
14 December 2012Book page
Commission Website: National Inquiry into Children in Immigration Detention
According to National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) as of 5 February 2002 there were 16 children with disabilities such as vision impairment, acute dwarfism, trauma, Perthes disease, cardiac, asthmatic and genetic disabilities residing in detention centres (Port Hedland and Woomera). This number does not include any of the detained refugees on the Pacific Islands like Nairu, Christmas Islands… -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2001: Chapter 2: Mutual obligation, welfare reform and Indigenous participation: a human rights perspective
In recent years a mutual obligation approach has been adopted to reform public policy on welfare and employment issues. There has been much discussion about the applicability of this approach within an Indigenous policy context. It is seen by many as consistent with Indigenous cultural values such as reciprocity and an emphasis on community, as well as suggesting an antidote to the damage caused… -
14 December 2012Book page
Native Title Report 2000: Appendix 3
1. The Committee considered the tenth, eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Australia, submitted as one document (CERD/C/335/Add.2), at its 1393rd, 1394th and 1395th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1393, 1394 and 1395), held on 21 and 22March 2000. At its 1398th meeting, held on 24 March 2000, it adopted the following concluding observations. -
14 December 2012Book page
Social Justice Report 2000: Appendix 2 - Concluding observations on Australia of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, 24 March 2000
1. The Committee considered the tenth, eleventh and twelfth periodic reports of Australia, submitted as one document (CERD/C/335/Add.2), at its 1393rd, 1394th and 1395th meetings (CERD/C/SR.1393, 1394 and 1395), held on 21 and 22 March 2000. At its 1398th meeting, held on 24 March 2000, it adopted the following concluding observations.