Inner West holds civic training ahead of First Nations referendum

By LINA NAFIE

The Inner West Council is recruiting members for a civic training program ahead of the upcoming referendum to enshrine a First Nations Voice into the Australian constitution.

The council is partnering with community coalition group Sydney Alliance, to recruit and provide training to 1000 volunteers to build awareness about the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

Proposed by Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne and supported by the council, the idea is to provide training through workshops to the volunteers in order for them to better understand the three pillars of the Uluru Statement from the Heart. The program will be geared at furthering community education about what a ‘yes’ vote in the referendum will mean.

The Inner West Council explains the program as “the idea… that people can talk to their friends, neighbours, relatives about the positive impact the Voice of Parliament can have”.

“This Referendum is only months away and there isn’t a moment to lose in building public awareness about this historic opportunity,” Cr Byrne said.

The Inner West’s movement on eduction comes after Council held a public forum in June attended by more than 600 people, where Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney received a standing ovation.

“Everyone there knew this was an important moment in time and that this chance, for a just settlement with Aboriginal people, will not come again” Cr Byrne said.

Inner West first council to propose civic program

The Inner West Council also expressed their hope to be a model for other councils around Australia as the first ones in the country to provide training aiming for Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to work together and for Indigenous to have a voice in the Executive Government.

The Sydney Alliance showed enthusiasm to be working together with the Council for this program. David Barrow, lead organiser from the Sydney Alliance told City Hub how powerful this program will be for people from diverse backgrounds.

“The Sydney Alliance is really excited to be supporting the Inner West Council” Barrow said.

Barrow explained that Sydney Alliance’s contribution to the project involves encouraging and supporting their members to participate in the workshops. The workshops will encourage First Nations and non First-Nations people to work together.

“Our work is about Indigenous and non-Indigenous working together towards a joint future.”

“Anyone in the Inner West can join the training” Barrow said.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a campaign that aims to promote the Voice of Parliament referendum which is about voting for the right of First Nations Australians to be represented in Parliament.  The program implemented by the Inner West Council will be offering further support to the Uluru Statement and the referendum.