Later this year, a national referendum will be held to decide whether to enshrine in the Constitution of Australia an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to the Australian parliament and government.
Constitutional recognition was central to the call to action delivered by 250 First Nations Representatives through the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Orygen supports the Voice to Parliament and believes it will further support the self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by providing a body through which they will have a say on the national laws, policies, programs and investments that impact them.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including young people, self-determination has been linked to social and emotional wellbeing. Enshrining the Voice in the constitution also recognises the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture to this country and enshrines this process in a way that brings certainty and continuity for all Australians.
Orygen recognises the importance of a robust and respectful discussion in relation to the Voice to Parliament referendum. Orygen urges that commentators consider the impact of their messaging on the mental health and emotional and social wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, their families and our broader community.
Orygen encourages young people, their families and supporters, our staff and broader stakeholders to equip themselves with the facts to support safe, informed conversations. Young people’s wellbeing will continue to be at the centre of everything we do.
KEY RESOURCES