Castan Centre and King & Wood Mallesons Annual Lecture
The Castan Centre for Human Rights Law hosted its Annual Lecture presented by Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLittSW AO, in partnership with King & Wood Mallesons.
10 May 2023
On 9 May 2023, the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law hosted its Annual Lecture presented by Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLittSW AO in collaboration with King & Wood Mallesons.
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO, who is a member of King & Wood Mallesons' inaugural First Nations Leaders Circle, spoke on the upcoming constitutional referendum on the Voice. Muriel reflected on her more than 30 years’ experience as Chief Executive Office of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA) and experience as Chair of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the peak Australian agency for Indigenous child and family services.
‘I strongly believe that a Voice to Parliament will make a difference to Aboriginal Australians. I hope you vote yes when you get a chance. But I also hope that you will be able to have different conversations with colleagues, family and friends about giving a voice to others doesn’t take away from your voice. And that surely it’s time that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are recognised in the Constitution.’
We thank Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO for her powerful lecture and King & Wood Mallesons for their ongoing partnership with the Castan Centre, enabling us to deliver the Annual Lecture which brings human rights academics, advocates, and practitioners together to hear from outstanding human rights leaders.
Speech by Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLittSW AO
Read the unedited speech Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO gave at the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law Annual Lecture in conjunction with King & Wood Mallesons, on Tuesday 9 May 2023.
Read the speech by Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO
This speech can be cited as:
Muriel Bamblett, 'Voice to Parliament' (Lecture, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law and King & Wood Mallesons, 9 May 2023) www.monash.edu/law/research/centres/castancentre/our-areas-of-work/indigenous/speech-by-muriel-bamblett
Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett Hon DLittSW AO
Muriel Bamblett is a Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman who has been employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency since 1999. Muriel is Chair of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the peak Australian agency for Indigenous child and family services.Muriel is active on many boards and committees concerning children, families and the Indigenous community, including the Aboriginal Children’s Forum; the Dhelk Dja Family Violence Partnership Forum, the Aboriginal Justice Forum, the First Peoples Assembly and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service. Muriel is also a member of King & Wood Mallesons' inaugural First Nations Leaders Circle. Muriel’s contribution to her community and to Victoria has been recognised in many awards. In 2019 Muriel was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to the Indigenous community in Victoria as an advocate for the self-determination and cultural rights of children. Muriel has been inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll and the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
Professor Melissa Castan, Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law (left) with Adjunct Professor Muriel Bamblett AO (right).
Learn more
Researchers at the Castan Centre for Human Rights Law continue to compile timely factsheets, articles, publications, and multimedia content on our First Nations Voice to Parliament Resources Website. This resource space is focused on supporting and responding to the Uluru Statement from the Heart, offering easily accessible public educational materials and thorough legal analyses to keep you well-informed throughout this year. We work closely with the William Cooper Institute and Monash University to highlight our contributions to a democratic referendum. For more information on Monash University’s commitment see monash.edu/voice.