Deepening our conversation on The Voice to Parliament

Jesuit Social Services supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament and throughout 2023, we are advocating for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum.

We believe that the Voice will support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in determining their own lives and contribute towards shaping a society in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and other Australians join hands together, acknowledging the past and looking to the future.

We were honoured to welcome Amanda Watkinson, who is an Aboriginal woman and former Jesuit Social Services staff member, to speak to staff at our recent All Staff Day in June about what a YES vote would mean for Indigenous peoples and for Australia as a whole.

“If you are here today, you are morally obliged to engage in the conversation about Aboriginal sovereignty and our shared national identity. For me, there is no option. I have to vote ‘yes’ because ‘no’ isn’t available to me. I can’t continue to be a second-class citizen in my country and it’s unacceptable for my children. ervices supports a constitutionally enshrined Voice to Parliament and throughout 2023, we are advocating for a YES vote in the upcoming referendum.

“It’s taken us 235 years to get to a place where we’re even prepared to have this conversation about the autonomy of Indigenous people, and now we can move forward with an inclusive  national identity that restores our right to make decisions about our own sovereignty.

“The Voice is not going to solve all the problems that exist in this country. It is about a commitment and establishing tools. It is about advancing our thinking, and about working together to remove us from the circumstances we are in now.

“I encourage you to be the voice of change. Find a way to participate in the conversation in a meaningful way. Be discerning and be courageous. Learn how to be calm in the conversation that is polarising the community. Find out why ‘yes’ is important and how you can articulate it, whilst being mindful of the impact your conversations are having on Aboriginal people across the country.”to get to a place where we’re even prepared to have this conversation about the autonomy of Indigenous people, and now we can move forward with an inclusive  national identity that  restores our right to make decisions about our own sovereignty”.

At the end of Amanda’s reflection, she asked three questions for staff to reflect on about what a YES vote would mean. Staff engaged in rich discussions at their tables using these questions as a guide.

We invite you to consider each of these questions as part of your own journey to understanding the Voice or in conversations you’re having with friends and family:

1. Reflect on a time when you didn’t have agency. How did being in that position make you feel in the moment? Were you able to express anything about the impact the situation had on you and, if not, what was that like for you?
2. What are you doing in your work and life to help Australia get to ‘YES’?
3. How do we imagine a world after ‘YES’? What does the world look like for Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal people? How will things be different?

We have created a dedicated resources page on our website to support and encourage learning about the upcoming Referendum. To access these resources, please visit the link below.