Voice to Parliament Community Panel

On 2 June 2023 during National Reconciliation Week, James Cook University hosted the first of a series of community events to discuss the upcoming referendum on the Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Held on the lawns of the Eddie Koiki Mabo Library at JCU’s Bebegu Yumba Campus in Townsville, panel members shared their insights on the Voice and what it means for all Australians. The discussion was followed by a community Q&A session revealing local perspectives on the referendum.

The expert panel included:

• Cr Ross Andrews, Mayor of Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
• Dr Janine Gertz, Lecturer Nura Gili Centre for Indigenous Program, University of New South Wales Sydney and recent JCU PhD graduate
• Professor Bronwyn Fredricks, Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Engagement, University of Queensland
• Associate Professor Sana Nakata, Principal Research Fellow at JCU’s Indigenous Education and Research Centre
• Facilitated by Mr Ben Gertz, Senior Associate, Indigenous Outcomes for the Northern Australia Infrastructure Facility and JCU Alumnus

Panel Gallery