News

Disability Rights

Speech - iPhone or Trombone: Age or Disability Don't Have to be Barriers (2012)

Alan used to work as a civil engineer, and is a trombone player with two orchestras and two bands. He has competed in the Australian Band Championships for the last three years. He sold his soils laboratory to 'retire', and has never looked back. He still works part-time in soil testing, but as well as trombone playing he is a volunteer in a Rotary shop, walks 30-40 kilometers weekly, won a silver medal in the 10 km Road Race in the Australian Masters Games 2012, and completed a novel for pre-teens called 'Alex', designed to raise awareness about healthy lifestyles.

2 October, 2012

Race Discrimination

Freedom of speech should not trump the right to safety (2012)

Many people will be familiar with the recent “Aboriginal memes” page on a popular social media site, in which images of Aboriginal people were published with highly derogatory captions.

29 August, 2012

Race Discrimination

Launch of the National Anti Racism Strategy (2012)

Racism is a curb on our potential, and on our full humanity. It holds us back; it slows us down, and stops us bringing our best to the table. Let’s not shirk from this one, then. Let’s use our talents not only to call racism when we see it, but to envisage a nation beyond it – one confident enough to own its challenges; one capable enough to meet them, one fortunate enough to share in the results.

24 August, 2012

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

NSW Teachers Federation Annual Conference (2012)

I would like to begin by acknowledging that we sit on the lands of the Gadigal peoples of the Eora Nation, and I thank the Traditional Owners for allowing us to do so.

1 July, 2012

Race Discrimination

Mental Health Impacts of Racial Discrimination in Victoria

Good afternoon and thank you for being here for the launch of the Mental Health Impacts of Racial Discrimination in Victorian Aboriginal Communities Report. And I am proud to be launching this Report on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation, and I pay my respect to elders both past and present.

14 January, 2012

Age Discrimination

Tackling Age Discrimination in the Labour Market: the role of the Australian Human Rights Commission (2011)

I start by acknowledging the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation, the traditional owners of the land upon which we meet. I pay my respects to their elders, both past and present.

13 December, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Constitutional reform: moving towards reconciliation (2011)

It is with respect and gratitude I acknowledge that we sit on the lands of the Cammeraigal People of the Curingai Nation and I thank the Traditional Owners for allowing us to do so.

22 November, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

The Power of Identity: Naming Oneself, Reclaiming Community

Thank you Peter for your kind words of introduction and thank you Krystelle (Jordan) for your welcome to country. Krystelle, can I begin by acknowledging and paying my respects to the your people, the traditional owners of this place upon which we sit and talk here tonight. I honour your Elders that have come before us, those Elders who are here tonight and I await in optimistic anticipation of those Elders, like you, who are yet to emerge. My people are the Gangulu from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland.

2 November, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Strengthening our relationships over lands, territories and resources

Let me begin by acknowledging and paying my respects to the Traditional Owners of the place upon which we sit and talk tonight. I honour your Elders that have come before us, those that are here tonight and I await in optimistic anticipation for those Elders who are yet to emerge.

24 October, 2011

Disability Rights

2011 Disability Speech: NSW Careers Forum

RITA KUSEVSKIS-HAYES: Good morning, everybody. If I can ask everyone to take their seats. Good morning, everybody. My name is Rita Kusevskis-Hayes, and I would like to welcome you on behalf of the 2011 Careers Forum Organising Committee to the University of New South Wales.

6 September, 2011

Commission – General

The empowered citizen: the importance of education and equality for a modern democracy (2011)

I would like to begin this evening by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, the Awabakal People. I pay my respects to their elders past and present.

30 August, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Symposium on Indigenous Sentencing, Punishment and Healing (2011)

I am a Gangulu person from the Dawson Valley in Central Queensland and when I speak to my Elders, they ask me to pass on my salutations to the Traditional Owners of the land I visit for their continued fight for their country and their culture.

5 July, 2011

Age Discrimination

Reflections on age discrimination: The price we pay for growing older

But first let me acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. I pay my deepest respects to their elders both past and present.

21 June, 2011

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice

Effective engagement: The tonic for a reconciled nation (2011)

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Mick Gooda charts an agenda of hope that can guide us towards a reconciled Australia.

30 May, 2011

Disability Rights

One size does not fit all (2011)

It's true of almost everything in life - clothes, relationships, jobs, etc … one size does not fit all.

11 May, 2011