By Dr Bibiana Chan
Scroll down to the bottom of the page for the Chinese (Traditional) version. 送上‘土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲’- 事事皆有所得
After watching the special report on the 10th anniversary of NDIS last week, I responded to the call from ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) to help ‘fix’ the system. I described myself as ‘a Voice for the Voiceless’ in my capacity as a support person and assisted some Mandarin-speaking NDIS applicants (in the psychosocial stream) at a ‘How to Appeal Your NDIS Review?’ Workshop. What is the parallel in regard to ‘A First Nation Voice to the Parliament’? In Australia, despite its appearance as a democratic and prosperous nation, there is a small percentage of the population that, due to historical events (e.g. The Stolen Generation) or highly ‘stigmatised’ illnesses, is lagging behind.”
While researching materials for this article, I came across ‘The Uluru Youth Dialogue Declaration’. I was glad to see the ‘Uluru Statement from the Heart’ give ‘hope’ to the First Nations youth and empower them to campaign for a ‘Voice to Parliament’. This youth-led campaign working towards a successful referendum, highlights the importance of engaging First Nations youth and their communities in discussions about this Voice. It emphasizes that young people, especially First Nations young people, should not be excluded from the media debate and decision-making process as they are crucial to shaping the nation’s future.
The concept of “Nothing about us without us” resonates strongly with the campaign for an Indigenous Voice. Drawing parallels with the Peer-led Recovery Program in North America (my topic of my 2010 Churchill Fellowship), which values the insights gained from lived experiences, the call for Indigenous representation at the decision-making table gains momentum. This approach acknowledges the wisdom and perspective that Indigenous people bring to the table, especially in matters concerning their own communities and well-being.
Supporters of the Indigenous Voice argue that it follows a community development approach, embracing a “bottom-up and co-design” strategy. In this context, the key principle is to consult and engage with affected communities in decision-making processes. The Mornington Island Indigenous leaders’ demand for Aboriginal-led solutions to youth crime exemplifies the positive impact of consulting and empowering local communities. By providing Indigenous Australians with a Voice to Parliament, the nation can work towards more inclusive and harmonious policies and achieve better social outcomes.
Respectful consultation with Indigenous communities also addresses past failures in policy implementation. The hasty introduction of the ‘Closing the Gap Intervention’ without consultation in 2007-08 serves as a cautionary tale. Sixteen years later, some health indicators have regressed, emphasizing the need for collaborative and inclusive decision-making processes. Recognizing Indigenous Australians as the First Nation of the country and consulting the Voice to Parliament on matters affecting them will ensure more efficient and cost-effective use of taxpayers’ money, benefiting all Australians.
Critics of the Indigenous Voice proposal express concerns about the lack of detailed information, fears of potential corruption, and the relevance of past policies on current and future generations. They also question why other minority groups, like migrants, do not have a specific voice in Parliament. These concerns are valid and should be addressed transparently to build public trust. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) supports Indigenous peoples’ right to participate in decision-making processes affecting their rights. By incorporating the Voice into the Constitution, Australia aligns with international human rights standards and recognizes the political representation rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. The Voice is a step towards rectifying historical injustices and promoting equality, anti-discrimination, and redress for institutional and structural discrimination. In a recent episode of the Australian Stories, Constitutional Law Academic, Prof. Megan Davis’, shared passionately her with to ‘give a Voice to her People!’
The Indigenous Voice also offers an opportunity to combat systemic racism, which has severe negative impacts on mental health and social cohesion. By giving Indigenous Australians a platform to voice their concerns and perspectives, the nation can work collectively to address racial discrimination and build a more inclusive and understanding society. It is essential to listen to all perspectives on the matter, including those who express reservations about the Indigenous Voice proposal. By addressing concerns, clarifying details, and engaging in informed and respectful conversations about Indigenous issues, Australians can work together towards a better future for all.
The Productivity Commission’s recent report further supports the call for an Indigenous Voice. It highlights that a “government knows best” approach has failed to close the disadvantage gap, underscoring the need for inclusive and transformative changes that the Voice can help facilitate. Supporting the referendum for an Indigenous Voice has everything to gain and nothing to lose. It is a crucial step towards recognizing and respecting the First Nations of Australia, valuing their lived experiences, and empowering them to participate in decision-making processes that will shape the future of the nation. By embracing a community-led, bottom-up approach, Australia can create a more inclusive, harmonious, and prosperous society for generations to come.
Further readings:
- Uluru Youth Dialogue Declaration: https://nit.com.au/24-07-2023/6913/uluru-youth-dialogue-declaration-appoint-youth-ambassadors
- “Closing the Gap” Report: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/12/closing-the-gap-just-four-targets-on-track-with-four-going-backwards-in-latest-report
- Mornington Island Indigenous Leaders’ Demand. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-08/mornington-island-youth-crime-better-future-young-people/101939772
- UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/un-declaration-rights-indigenous-peoples-1#:~:text=The%20United%20Nations%20Declaration%20on,on%20Thursday%2C%2013%20September%202007
- “Voice from the Heart” – Megan Davis: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-06-30/voice-from-the-heart-megan-davis/102548466
- Poetry Slam – “The Model Minority”: https://communityflowerstudio.org/newsletter-december-2022/
7. UNSW Nura Gili Centre Indigenous Programs: https://www.indigenous.unsw.edu.au/nura-gili-centre-indigenous-programs
8. Productivity Commission Report on Indigenous Voice: [Voice to parliament: Productivity Commission says ‘government knows best’ approach failing to close the disadvantage gap (afr.com) https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/voice-could-help-close-the-gap-productivity-commission-20230725-p5dr0a
9. Uluru Statement from the Heart: https://ulurustatement.org/the-statement/
Article in Chinese (Traditional)
送上‘土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲’- 事事皆有所得
社區花藝工作室創辦人 陳智穎博士 (Dr Bibiana Chan)
我在不久前看完 ABC (澳大利亞廣播公司) 的 NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) 十周年特別報導之後，我響應了節目主持的號召，提供幫助“修復”(改善) 該系統的意見。我在“如何為您的 NDIS 審查提出上訴？”的研討會上， 我將自己描述為“為無聲者發聲”的支持者。我協助了一些說普通話,在心理社會障礙項目的 NDIS 申請人表達意見和發問。 “土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲”(Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament, 以下簡稱為 The Voice) 公投 (Referendum) 跟 NDIS 有何相關呢? 澳大利亞儘管表面上是一個民主和繁榮的國家，但仍有一小部分人口由於歷史事件（例如“被偷走的一代”The Stolen Generation）或患上高度‘污名化’(stigmatized) 的疾病而導致大大落後於其他人。
在搜集譔寫本文的材料時，我偶然發現了“烏魯魯青年對話宣言”(The Uluru Youth Dialogue Declaration)。 我很高興看到“烏魯魯之心聲明”(Uluru Statement from the Heart) 給青年原住民帶來了“希望”，並使他們能夠為“The Voice’而開展活動。 民意調查顯示，不僅年輕原住民（高達 83％）而且年輕選民（73％）都對 The Voice 強烈支持。 這些統計數據強調了讓年輕人(尤其是來自原住民社區的年輕人), 參與決策過程的重要性，因為他們對於塑造國家的未來尤其重要。
借鑒我在 2010 丘吉爾獎學金 (Churchill Fellowship) 中學習的北美同路人主導的康復計劃，“沒有我們的參與，就沒有關於我們的決策”的原則強調了生活經歷的價值。 同樣，中國傳統就有“久病成醫”的概念，重視到那些面臨“長期患病”的過來人的經歷， 對其他遭受同樣疾病困擾的人， 交流求醫心得，分享經驗。 對康復帶來一些希望，可以發揮的革命性的作用。 這一原則與讓原住民參與有可能影響到他們生活的政策的討論和規劃的呼籲，互相呼應。
“是”運動支持議會之聲，遵循社區發展“自下而上和共同設計”的方法，確保原住民的聲音被聆聽和採納，並在製定政策時考慮他們的觀點與角度。 早先制定的“烏魯魯之心聲明”是原住民憲法學者梅芹·戴維斯教授 (Prof Megan Davis) 的畢生心願。 這種方法不僅是合乎理性的，亦有必要避免過去的錯誤，例如 2007 年倉促的“拉近差距計劃”(Closing The Gap Intervention) 沒有與澳大利亞原住民協商，導致重要的健康指標倒退。
在莫寧頓島 (Mornington Island)，2022 年青少年犯罪急劇增加後，召開了兩次社區會議。會議決定，居民將實施原住民主導的解決方案，將“控制權”交還給擁有文化知識的長者。 莫寧頓島議會市長凱爾·揚納 (Kyle Yanner) 表示，
“An on-country program helps them learn about their family lines and gives them purpose and connection.”
“一項本土化的政策可以幫助他們了解自己的家庭血統(和民化發展)，並賦予他們目標和聯繫。”
這是與基層社區協商產生一個更理想地影響社會的例子。 要實行這類 “自下而上和協同設計”的方案, 最初是要花多些時間來協商， 但這項投資最終是會獲得回報的。 這是我為社區花藝工作室 (Community Flower Studio) 制定為青年人而切的活動的經驗之談。 我希望這個“土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲”雖然沒有立法權，但能夠確保任何影響澳大利亞原住民的決定, 都是在尊重和協商的情況下制定出來的，從而建立一個更加和諧和包容的國家。
對於非土著澳大利亞人的經濟利益之一, 是更有效地利用納稅人的錢。 通過讓原住民參與社區政策制定的資詢，政府可以更融洽地取納他們的需求，從而更有效地利用資源, 並改善對整個澳大利亞國家未來的成就。 換句話說， – 節省公共資源！
《土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲》提案的批評者，大部份針對 The Voice 缺乏細節內容、潛在行政不善和腐敗的可能性， 以及堅持過去政府的行為, 應該不會影響當代和以後代代子孫等等的論點. 對此, 我表示擔憂。 然而，解決這些問題需要實施反貪污保障措施，並推崇因實踐‘尊重和包容性決策’而帶來的較長遠的利益。政府的政策要有遠見而非短視. The Voice 並不是要提升一個群體高於其他群體，而是承認澳大利亞原住民是該國的土著 (The First Nation). 它符合《聯合國土著人民權利宣言》，該宣言主張土著人民參與有關其權利的決策。 此外，The Voice 可以被視為澳大利亞打擊系統性的種族歧視的一步。 種族歧視對心理健康的負面影響已有充分研究報告，為“土著居民和托雷斯海峽島民之聲”創建一個包容性平台對於幫助在系統性制度層面去解決種族歧視，是踏出了第一步。
The Voice 的設立不會帶來過多訴訟或阻礙議會工作的重大風險。 相反，澳洲生
產力委員會報告指出， The Voice 允許採取更加敏感和知情的方法來解決澳大利亞土著居民面臨的劣勢差距，The Voice 的支持者認為， 公投是承認和尊重原住民獨特的歷史和文化的一個進程。 它為建設一個更加包容、公平和和諧的國家鋪平了道路，澳大利亞原住民可以在塑造他們的未來方面發揮積極作用。 事事皆有所得，一無所失，支持聲音是一項集體責任，旨在為子孫後代創造一個更強大、更團結的澳大利亞。
Bibi’s stories
I graduated from School of Public Health, UNSW’s PhD program in 2007. My research interest is to explore the help-seeking pathway of Chinese-Australians when they experienced something similar to clinical depression or other psychological distress. I started talking about mental well-being on SBS Cantonese radio in August 2007. In 2010, I was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to visit Yale University in USA, McGill University in Canada. I was invited back to Yale University in 2012 for my post-doc. Program for Recovery and Community Health is a pioneer program on Peer-led Mental Health Program. When I returned to Sydney in 2013, I really want to put my effort in mental health promotion. I did a Cert 3 floristry course at TAFE. I worked part-time at a florist and found it very therapeutic. While I was learning the trade secrets of running a flower shop. I did consultation for various organisations such as St Vincent de Paul Society and Mental Health Coordination Council. In 2018, I heard about a Social Enterprise in Canberra called “GG’s Flowers” which started in 2013 to provide job opportunities for young people with intellectual disability. I was inspired and started a Community Flower Studio Think Tank with some former UNSW colleagues. In August 2019, we officially registered with Department of Fair Trading. CFS sells fresh flowers and terrariums to the public. Net proceeds are used to fund our Creative Workshops by Young People for Young People and Youth Mentoring Program. Our vision is to Help Youth learn Life skills and Find Meaningful Employment. CFS is a registered charity with Australia Charities & Not-for-Profit Council since April 2022. Donations to CFS are tax-deductible.