As prominent citizens and thought leaders within the wider Australian community, QUT and the university sector more broadly is uniquely placed to facilitate conversations about the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. QUT has an important responsibility in educating students, staff and the university community to help them understand and be informed about the choices they will ultimately be asked to make on this matter of national significance.
As an institution, the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) supports the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Australian Constitution. We pledge our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart, and its call to enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Constitution to give effect to that recognition. We are convinced that this Voice will give Indigenous Australians the opportunity to participate in matters that affect them by informing and advising on decisions that impact their lives.
Our Connections: QUT Strategy commits to building, sustaining and celebrating a culture of excellence in Indigenous Australian education, research and engagement at QUT. Indigenous Australians make substantial contributions to QUT as leaders, researchers, innovators, educators, learners, collaborators and creators. As the oldest continuing culture in the world, Indigenous Australians bring a unique wealth of knowledge, skills, expertise, perspectives and insights to our university and we recognise that QUT is better and stronger for it.
We see our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart as an extension of our commitment to being guided by Indigenous Australians in core policy and programs; and by embedding Indigenous knowledges and perspectives into all university curricula.
Our support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart is an institutional position and it is not intended to reflect the views of nor speak on behalf of every QUT individual, because we appreciate not everyone will support this institutional position and we fully respect that. As a university, we are committed to the protection of academic freedom and freedom of expression as central values of an open, modern, curiosity-driven, evidence-based educational and research institution.
Notwithstanding this, the Council and the Executive of the Queensland University of Technology affirm QUT Institutional support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart and the ‘Yes’ position in the upcoming national referendum.
Ann Sherry AO, Chancellor
Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Vice-Chancellor
The Uluru Statement from the Heart is a 2017 petition by Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders to change the constitution of Australia improve the representation of Indigenous Australians. The statement was released on 26 May 2017 by delegates to the First Nations National Constitutional Convention.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice will be an independent advisory body made up of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, chosen by local communities. It will make representations to the Australian Parliament and Executive Government on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Voice referendum will be held between October and December 2023.
In her opening keynote address at the Universities Australia Conference 2023, Professor Megan Davis says universities are uniquely placed to educate our communities in relation to important social and political issues.
Former Shadow Attorney-General and Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians Julian Leeser addresses the National Press Club on 'The Voice and the Road Ahead'.
