‘Uluru Statement from the Heart – A Deeper Understanding’ featured keynote speaker Noel Pearson.
Tuesday 16th May 2023 at the Adelaide Town Hall.
This was an extraordinary evening of inspiration, enlightenment, and immense pride as up to 1000 people gathered at the Adelaide Town Hall to witness the transformative impact of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. And what an honour it was to have esteemed keynote speaker, Noel Pearson, grace us with his profound wisdom and impassioned words.
Noel’s powerful address received a standing ovation and was followed by a rich and informative panel discussion comprising of South Australian First Nations Leaders Tanya Hosch, Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the Australian Football League – SA State Recipient Australian of the Year 2021, Commissioner for First Nations Voice Dale Agius and Arrin Hazelbane General Manager of Aboriginal Practice and Services, Communities and Justice in the Department of Human Services.
About our Keynote Speaker – Noel Pearson
Noel Pearson comes from the Guugu Yimidhirr community of Hope Vale on South Eastern Cape York Peninsula. Noel is a lawyer, Founder and Director of Strategy of the Cape York Partnership and Founder and Co-Chair of Good to Great Schools Australia. Noel also cofounded the Cape York Land Council, and helped to establish Apunipima Health Council, Balkanu Cape York Development Corporation and Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships. He served as a member of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians and the Referendum Council.
About our Panellists – Tanya Hosch, Commissioner Dale Agius and Arrin Hazelbane
Tanya Hosch – Executive General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the Australian Football League, SA State Recipient Australian of the Year 2021.
Ms. Hosch has a long and distinguished history in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, advocacy, governance and is an accomplished public speaker. Before joining the AFL as the first ever Indigenous person and second woman in their Executive ranks in August 2016, Tanya was the Joint Campaign director of the Recognise movement for constitutional recognition. Tanya is a Co-Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Group of the National Australia Bank, an ANU Council member, Director of the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE), a Board Director of the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and was a member of the Referendum Council that led the process and final recommendation that resulted in The Statement from the Heart in May 2017.
Commissioner Agius is a Kaurna, Narungga, Ngadjuri and Ngarrindjeri person with connection to communities and Country across South Australia. His previous roles include Director of Aboriginal Practice and Partnerships within the Department of Human Services, Manager of DHS’ Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services and Executive Officer in the Office of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement. His experience and ability to connect with Aboriginal nation groups, mainstream service providers and Government agencies will be valuable for working collaboratively in bringing together a Voice model.
Arrin Hazelbane is a proud Warai and Kokatha man with strong cultural connections to the Finniss River region in the Northern Territory and the Far West Coast in South Australia. He has held various positions across the State Government and has served on a range of committees working on policy and strategic initiatives. He is currently the General Manager, Aboriginal Practice and Services, Communities and Justice in the Department of Human Services. Arrin is a respected member of the community, who was a facilitator at the First Nations Regional Dialogue in Adelaide, a South Australian delegate to the First Nations National Constitutional Convention in Uluru and signatory to the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
We were proud to align with sponsorship partners Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Sarah Constructions Pty Ltd, Intract Australia, Adelaide PHN, SAACCON, SDA, Sofitel Adelaide and Property Council of Australia.
We also acknowledge the invaluable support from our funding partners the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council, the Government of South Australia and strategic partners City of Adelaide, Don Dunstan Foundation and Reconciliation SA
