Brimbank City Council’s Post

Today marks Mabo Day, a day of great significance in Australia's history. On this day in 1992, the High Court of Australia recognised the rights of Indigenous Australians to their land, overturning the legal doctrine of terra nullius, which declared that Australia was unoccupied prior to European settlement. Mabo Day is a reminder of the ongoing struggle for recognition and justice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It's a day to reflect on the past, present and future, and to acknowledge the resilience and strength of the First Nations people. Let us remember the legacy of Eddie Mabo and his fight for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, and let us commit to working towards a more just and equitable future for all Australians. By honouring Eddie Mabo's legacy, we reaffirm our dedication to justice, truth-telling and reconciliation, ensuring that the rights and histories of Indigenous Australians are recognised and respected. #MaboDay #Reconciliation #TruthTelling #Justice #IndigenousRights #RoyalFarWest #ReconciliaACTION

Did you know that the first act of reconciliation happened over 250 years ago at the Reconciliation Rocks and is now protected by the Queensland Heritage Register? The Reconciliation Rocks, a group of granite boulders on the banks of the Endeavour River at Cooktown, was where the Guugu Yimithirr Bama (Bama being the collective noun for “people”) offered peace to Captain James Cook and his crew after a dispute over turtles. During National Reconciliation Week, the theme "Now More Than Ever" serves as a reminder to us all that the journey towards justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is ongoing and essential. Learning about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, can help us explore the different ways we can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. We all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation, and in playing our part we collectively build relationships and communities that value Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and their histories, cultures, and futures. #QueenslandEnvironment #NationalReconciliationWeek

My story never get printed into any newspaper/magazine community or any public com platform nor shared on any friend's acct or group since 2017. My story is not quite interesting enough. But why my Grace L. Cuenca fbk acct still blocked/locked since April 2 '24 with 4200+ global, multicultural friends? That makes my groups/pages unavailable for updating its contents. Here's the official start of the events that until now can not be explain. It becomes a mythical story pass around through whispers during events mindful to make the volume at low range.___the nature of which is Politically motivated by extreme expectation to reach the highest level of superiority. Here's a question for MLA Mable Elmore/ Bus Union Director, 4th elected MLA___if you are the Top Filipino Leader of Filipino Canadian community, WHY I END UP AGAIN IN THE SHELTER in 2022 if I settled already at BC Housing after 4 years 5 months in the shelter? It is to make me an example, they will follow the same story if they don't support you?

Today, we commemorate Mabo Day, a pivotal moment in Australia's history. This day marks the anniversary of the landmark High Court decision in 1992, which recognized the land rights of the Meriam people, traditional owners of the Murray Islands in the Torres Strait. Eddie Mabo, a passionate advocate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples land rights, spearheaded this groundbreaking case. His unwavering dedication challenged the long-standing legal doctrine of terra nullius, which falsely claimed that Australia was a land belonging to no one prior to European settlement. Mabo's victory was not just a legal triumph but a monumental step toward justice and recognition for First Nations Australians. It paved the way for the Native Title Act 1993, transforming the landscape of Indigenous rights in Australia. On this day, let us reflect on the importance of Mabo’s legacy: Acknowledging Indigenous Sovereignty: Recognising the traditional custodians of the land. Advancing Legal and Social Justice: Fighting for equality and the rights of Indigenous communities. Celebrating Cultural Heritage: Valuing the rich history and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As we honor Eddie Mabo and his monumental achievements, let's also commit to continuing the journey toward reconciliation and justice for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. #MaboDay #IndigenousRights #EddieMabo #LandRights #Reconciliation #CulturalHeritage #SocialJustice #firstnations

In Australia it is Reconciliation Week. The concept of reconciliation comes from the urgent need to address the ongoing impacts to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders from colonisation. It is about facing the truth of what happened to Indigenous peoples, about respect for Indigenous knowledge, and about building relationships. Reconciliation Week is one week of the year but the act of reconciliation is an ongoing and evolving thing. Wildlife Health Australia has made a commitment to this. #health #planetaryhealth #healthpromotion #sustainabledevelopment #wildlifehealth #onehealth

Did you know this country has Australian values? High time cowardly politicians and instututional leaders started to walk the talk. Businesses and communities rely on stability and predictability to thrive. Investors, whether local entrepreneurs or external stakeholders, are acutely sensitive to the prevailing socio-political climate. In any thriving society, the assurance of safety and security is paramount. However, when threats of violence and intimidation pervade the social fabric, the repercussions extend far beyond mere fear. Such incidents not only jeopardize individual safety but also cast a long shadow over the economic landscape, our societal fabric and social cohesion. These recent events and their implications can no longer be ignored. A Merri-bek councilor received multiple death threats to influence his vote, a restaurant in Toorak facing the grim prospect of firebombing, caved to the demands, and a business subjected to racist and antisemitic attacks and death threats, closed with it's owners going into hiding. Businesses and institutions are now targeted daily by aggresive professional activists. This is Melbourne today. Don't like someone's religion or politics? Bring on the one star Google review brigade, reputational damage and online character assasinations with impunity. Want to free Palestine? Destroy every tenet of DEI and multicuturalism and join a racist zone on campus or Saturday afternoons in the CBD. Consumer confidence is at an all time low, the economy is stuffed and now we have a climate rife with threats and intimidation breeding further trepidation with consumers and investors tightening their purse strings and looking elsewhere for opportunity. So here's the list of Australian values. Do better. - respect for the freedom and dignity of the individual - freedom of religion (including the freedom not to follow a particular religion), freedom of speech, and freedom of association - commitment to the rule of law, which means that all people are subject to the law and should obey it - parliamentary democracy whereby our laws are determined by parliaments elected by the people, those laws being paramount and overriding any other inconsistent religious or secular “laws" - equality of opportunity for all people, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, or national or ethnic origin a 'fair go' for all that embraces: - mutual respect - tolerance -compassion for those in need - equality of opportunity for all - recognising the English language as the national language, and as an important unifying element of Australian society. Adir Shiffman Paul Sakkal Patrick Durkin Paul Guerra Colleen Harkin Suzan Delibasic Sherryn Groch Natasha Bita Peta Credlin AO Ryan Batchelor MP

It was such an honour to interview Paul Francis Jr and Sage Laliberte to learn more about the important work that they and the entire N’doo’owe Binesi team (the Indigenous Health division at St. Joseph's Care Group in Thunder Bay) are doing. This team and organization is really demonstrating how health and long-term care organizations can take concrete steps in advancing Truth and Reconciliation, by dedicating resources, engaging with Indigenous Peoples and communities, and being thoughtful and humble throughout the journey. I am inspired by Paul and Sage’s passion, and I am so deeply appreciative of the time they spent with us. Indigenous People have a right to practice their rituals and ceremonies, and as healthcare providers, we have a duty to support those practices. At St Joseph’s, an Indigenous person living in their LTC care homes can engage in a smudging ritual in ANY space in the buildings. Indigenous ceremonies and rituals occur regularly. Indigenous Navigators support the transitions, ceremony and ritual coordination, and work from a trauma-informed lens. A Council of Elders provides guidance and wisdom to the N’doo’owe Binesi. Indigenous People are in the roles guiding and doing the work within their organization - including at the senior leadership table. Check out the article to learn more about their important work. We must question, disrupt and address the systemic racism that exists throughout our systems and establishments to support the health and well-being of the First Peoples of this Land. There is so much more that can and must be done to support cultural safety in long-term care, and healthcare more broadly. I do hope that by sharing the journey of St Joseph’s Care Group, that other organizations will be inspired, and reflect on opportunities to take action. Learn more below ⬇️⬇️

This week, 27 May - 3 June, is National Reconciliation Week (NRW). NRW is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. Carers Victoria acknowledges that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are more likely to have a caring role than non-Aboriginal Victorians. We are committed to reconciliation, supporting and working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities through our core business. While we have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and businesses over many years, our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) 'Reflect' launched in 2021, was our first coordinated, whole-of-organisation approach to reconciliation. It shows our commitment to concrete, measurable actions. We are currently in the consultation stage of our next RAP 'Innovate'. The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will—and must—continue. #CarersVictoria #NationalReconciliationWeek #NowMoreThanEver

There is a ‘golden rule’ that still remains as relevant as ever ‘treat others as you would want others to treat you’. This ethic of reciprocity has deep roots in the civil societies that we take for granted including Australia. We in Australia take pride in the idea that we are the country of the ‘fair go’. Yet when it comes to undocumented arrivals by boat we are far from living up to this ideal. It is always easy to treat people harshly in the interest of sovereign borders when your borders are in fact not threatened or where you face little likelihood of being displaced yourself. Yet many countries who do face porous borders and internal and external conflicts demonstrate more compassion and willingness to vulnerable people from other countries fleeing civil strife, war or other reasons that have made it untenable to stay. Our country who has the benefit of distance and a maritime border at every point of the vast continental island state we inhabit has for over three decades not lived up to the golden rule. What is often forgotten is the self interest that lies at the heart of the golden rule. If we were to face a different future where Australians found themselves needing to find refuge and safety - how would we want to be treated. That is why at the Edmund Rice Centre we’re calling for compassionate sovereign borders and a policy reframing that is true to the ethics of reciprocity.