Cath Bartolo AM
During my 30 years working in Logan I have been privileged to work alongside many First Nations people, including my students 30 years ago at Centre Education, my colleagues at YFS and the Community Elders who shared their knowledge so generously.
All of these people have taught me about genuine relationships, respect and spirituality. They have shown me the impacts of long-term trauma but also the power of recognition, forgiveness and healing.
Many of my mentors and friends have been strong First Nations women. As community leaders, mothers, grandmothers and workers they have struggled with the injustices, powerlessness and exclusion of our systems.
They are the First Peoples of Australia and custodians of our nation for over 60,000 years and yet they are excluded from our Constitution. They bring loving hearts, bright intellects and optimistic visions for a positive future and yet they are prevented from putting forward solutions to reduce their communities’ disproportionate rates of unemployment, detention and children being removed from their families.
Voting YES redresses both these wrongs. It enables recognition and provides an avenue to hear Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island voices in the development of government policy, solutions, and strong First nations organisations so their children and communities can have a better future.
As an Australian citizen, voting yes is my moral responsibility. As a friend and colleague, the referendum is an opportunity for me to support the women I have worked with, and the many others like them, to be heard, respected and recognised.