“Whether we acknowledge it or not, we co-exist in a post-conflict nation which has not yet made peace with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people”, writes Noongar and Yawuru academic and storyteller, Dr Elfie Shiosaki (SBS, 2020).
To build peace, healing and equity in this country, genuine collaborations between First Nations and other Australians are essential. This work is structural and relational.
It is work on both sides of the river and in the middle together. Working across racial and cultural divides to put in place just arrangements for truth-telling, justice and equity. It means shifting power and practices of colonial institutions and cultures to centre First Nations’ leadership, culture and knowledges.
It is about collective healing in a country still grappling with colonisation. Through Peacebuilding and Healing, we transform ourselves as we transform our systems.
Eight out of ten Australians believe our democracy is worth trying to fix but is not on the right track. Many feel a sense of declining agency, accountability and trust in information.
We believe one way to address this is by fostering collective agency and more equitable decision-making.
We believe an equitable democracy is one in which dialogue and decisions take place with all of us. It includes diverse perspectives and takes place from communities to the national level.
We are building on what we have learned and demonstrated over the past decade in community-led systems change.
We work with you and your community to create and build ways of collaborating that are more democratic. Not just by those already at the decision making table – but collectively, with equity as the centre.
This work needs to take place in all parts of the system. This is why we work with communities, governments and organisations to strengthen leadership, governance and practices that redefine democracy.
For generations, communities have shown why and how they can, and must, be at the centre of transforming the systems that affect their lives. We know this also requires systems around communities – like human services, economic, infrastructure – to align with community aspirations and context. This is at the core of building a better future together.
Our focus is collaborative systems change that is led by communities. We start with people and Country.
We will continue to work where we are invited in by communities. We work with you and your community toward your vision for more equitable futures. We help you weave in partners – other organisations, governments, philanthropy, and business – to align with what is most important to you.
Our four areas for building capability locally and nationally are:
At the heart of it, we will continue to partner locally, regionally and nationally to:
