Join us on 15 June for Conversations from the Heart – Hearing First Nations Voices

In partnership with AIS and RMIT

EEON is proud to present Conversations from the Heart a panel discussion with Karen Milward, Taryn Lee and Uncle Shane Charles. This year the event will focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.

We invite you to join us and:

• learn what’s important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria ahead of Treaty and nationally ahead of the referendum
• think about what information you need to make an informed choice
• consider what you can do to act and be involved.

This event will be both in person in Melbourne and streamed live online.

Speakers

Taryn Lee

Taryn is a Yawuru woman from Broome who has lived in Melbourne for the past 20 years. She is currently employed by the Collinwood Football Club as General Manager, Social Impact and Policy and is working on organisational change to address racism. Taryn is also the Chairperson, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and Board Director, Parks Victoria.

Prior to this, Taryn held senior executive roles at PWC and the Victorian Government and has been responsible for designing and delivering policy reform in health, justice and Aboriginal affairs.

Taryn has been awarded an MA in Human Rights Law (University of London), Global Executive MBA (University of Sydney), Bachelor of Laws, and has published articles on Indigenous rights. Taryn is passionate about ensuring Aboriginal self-determination is central to any policies that affect Aboriginal communities.

Uncle Stephen Walsh

Stephen Walsh has done work and consultancy in the Community and public service for over 40 years as a respected community person and elder in the Wathaurong, Taungurong and Gunai/Kurnai communities.

Stephen is a Gunai & Taungurung man, born in Gippsland Victoria, growing up and living in Gippsland with his parents and 10 other siblings as a family, and part of the traditional life of Aboriginal people living in a regional town and attending government schools.

Since childhood Stephen has been with the Aboriginal communities in Gippsland and other parts of Victoria. For his working life he started in construction, public service and Aboriginal community employment that enabled Stephen to become more involved and a confident. School wasn’t a big part of his early life until he became employed as an Aboriginal Educator in working in the Latrobe Valley area, when he also took up some small studies with the Gippsland Tafe and university that would provide more awareness for Stephen of Aboriginal culture and his family history.

He is a person who believes that, never take small steps if you have an opportunity to grab your future and what you want to do in your life – do it.  

 “Now as a grandfather and elder of my communities here in Victoria, I hope to see our voices and strengths be recognised with greater power for Aboriginal People”.  

Uncle Shane Charles

Uncle Shane Charles was born in Shepparton; a strong Yorta Yorta, Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung man. He is a highly experienced and inspirational Aboriginal leader with a strong track record across a range of sectors including education and training, justice, and cultural heritage within both Aboriginal and mainstream organisations.

He is the Co-chair on the board of Reconciliation Victoria and Co-Chair Aboriginal Studies and Indigenous Strategies Committee at La Trobe University

Uncle Shane is “a passionate advocate for reconciliation who enjoys sharing cultural knowledge to make a difference”.

Karen Milward, providing a pre recorded introduction.

Karen owns and operates Karen Milward Consultancy Services with extensive consulting experience and networks across Australia. A Yorta Yorta woman who was born and raised in Melbourne, Karen is a strong advocate for developing culturally appropriate solutions to the issues confronting Indigenous people that empower individuals and communities so they can confidently and effectively move forward.