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Dean of Identity | Mr Charles Brauer
A Constitutional Convention
‘All that’s scared comes from youth’. Not only are these the words of a song from my favourite band (I wonder when they will next tour), the essence of these words drive me as an educator. Although at times we may experience moments of frustration with our youth, we must treat their energy, passions and creativity as scared. It is these gifts that can become diluted in a complex adult world. This display of youth sacredness was evident in Parliament House last week.
Stevie Deen-Fisher (Year 10) and Lewin Turnbull (Year 11) represented our College and families at the 2017 South East Queensland Schools Constitutional Convention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students. Below is Stevie’s experience of the day. He joined over 150 students in discerning an approach to Constitutional recognition of First Australians.
Last week’s Constitutional Convention at Parliament House was hosted by Mr Brett Nutley, recently appointed Parliament Indigenous Liaison Officer. Mr Nutley is a Mununjali / Yugambeh Man (Beaudesert, Queensland) who will be responsible for improving engagement between Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and the Queensland Parliament.
Present at the convention were many other invited schools and their Aboriginal and Torres Islander students. The purpose of the gathering was to further enlighten and educate those present in relation to the history of our First People, past injustices and current social and political issues. Most significantly, the students present were presented with the concept of a ‘Treaty’ between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the Australian Government.
A highlight of the gathering was listening to the speeches of students that centred on the possibility of a ‘Treaty’, including the purpose of the treaty and how our First People would benefit from this treaty. From the 17 students who spoke, four were elected to represent the convention in a similar gathering in Canberra later in the year.