4 September 2018: Prominent Indigenous rights advocate Mick Gooda will deliver the 2018 Ngunnawal Lecture at the University of Canberra TOMORROW.
The Ngunnawal Lecture is an annual event hosted by the University. This year, Mr Gooda will present Racism today: Addressing race power and a constitutional referendum.
Mr Gooda, a Gangulu man, recently retired from his position as Commissioner for the Royal Commission into the Protection and Detention of Children in the Northern Territory.
Prior to that, he was the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.
“Mick has witnessed more racism than most Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People,” Professor Peter Radoll, Dean of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Strategy, said.
“The impact of racism extends beyond emotions or words into actions and behaviour. Racism excludes Indigenous peoples from the economy through discriminatory practices.
“This is best highlighted through the fact that non-Indigenous businesses are less likely to employ an Indigenous person than an Indigenous business.”
The 2018 Ngunnawal Lecture coincides with the second UC Library and Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership and Strategy Great Book Swap.
This initiative supports the Indigenous Literacy Foundation’s vision to lift literacy levels in remote communities and instill a lifelong love of reading in students.
“The Great Book Swap celebrates reading, creates awareness and helps raise much-needed funds for remote Indigenous communities,” Professor Radoll said.
“Equally important is the confidence that is built through reading and writing that enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children to develop skills and pursue other opportunities.”
Last year, the event raised over $190,000 for the Indigenous Literacy Foundation and this year the goal is to raise $300,000 to gift 30,000 new books to remote communities.
WHAT: 2018 Ngunnawal Lecture –Racism today: Addressing race power and a constitutional referendum
WHEN: Wednesday, 5 September 2018 – 6pm – 8pm
WHERE: Ann Harding Centre (Building 24), University of Canberra (campus map)
For interview opportunities, contact the University of Canberra media team:
Andy Visser: 0414 260 417 | Andy.Visser@canberra.edu.au
Antony Perry: 0434 795 919 | Antony.Perry@canberra.edu.au