Federation University Australia vice-chancellor and president Professor Duncan Bentley has pledged the university’s commitment to leading the way in Aboriginal reconciliation matters despite the ‘No’ referendum result on Saturday 14 October.
Nationally, 60.68 per cent of Australian voters voted ‘No’ in the referendum on whether an Indigenous Voice to Parliament should be recognised in the Constitution, with Victorian voters slightly more balanced with a 54.96 per cent ‘No’ vote.
In 2023, Federation University endorsed the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
Created in May 2017 at the First Nations Constitutional Convention at Uluru, the Uluru Statement from the Heart’s first element was creating a Voice to Parliament.
Professor Bentley said the university was still committed to continuing to lead the way in reconciliation matters.
“Federation University Australia has been a strong advocate for the Yes campaign,” he said.
“The referendum result will not change our commitment to reconciliation, truth, and justice; this is a long journey and one that we are dedicated to, and we will work collaboratively and inclusively, to advance reconciliation in this country.”
Professor Bentley said they would also continue to collaborate with the First Peoples Assembly of Victoria and the Yoorrook Justice Commission to support their work across Victoria.
“Our University’s core values are transforming lives and enhancing communities, and we will continue to actively support the commitments to Voice, Treaty and Truth as outlined in the Uluru Statement from the Heart,” he said.
Federation University founded its National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice earlier this year, engaging with industry, community, academia, and government to become an international, national, and regional leader in transformational change.
For more information on the National Centre for Reconciliation, Truth and Justice, visit federation.edu.au/about-us/our-university/reconciliation/national-centre-for-reconciliation-truth-and-justice.
