Thu, 11 Jul 2019Australia’s philanthropic community has joined together to sign a collective response to the Uluru Statement From the Heart.
Released in May 2017, the Uluru Statement From the Heart is a national Indigenous consensus position on Indigenous constitutional reform, which was drafted at the end of a three-day constitutional convention of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. The Statement was the culmination of 13 Regional Dialogues held around the country during a year-long consultation.
The Statement From the Heart is a message to all Australians, calling for the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution and a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise a process of ‘agreement-making’ and ‘truth-telling’ between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
To view the Uluru Statement of the Heart, click here.
In an ‘open letter from philanthropy’ published in the Australian Financial Review on Friday 12 July 2019, 62 individual philanthropists and philanthropic foundations have supported the call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and for a Makarrata Commission.
Philanthropy Australia Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Davies, said the open letter was driven by the sector’s desire to help make a difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
“Philanthropy has a responsibility to take a stand on social issues where it can to make a difference and many of our members felt this was an ideal opportunity to respond collectively. That’s because at its very core, philanthropy is about working with communities to achieve positive social, environmental and cultural change,” Ms Davies said.
Open letter from philanthropy to the First Nations of Australia
We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart
Thank you for your Uluru Statement from the Heart, an invitation to Australia and the Australian people.
We make this response as members of the philanthropic community in Australia, committed to a reconciled Australia and one that is respectful of the spirit of self-determination.
We share your vision for Australia’s First Nations to take their rightful place in Australia and fully embrace your vision for your children to walk in two worlds. We thank you for and embrace this gift of your culture, which will give us all a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.
We recognise the Uluru Statement as a historic mandate for change and understand that all Australians have a great responsibility to walk alongside our first Australians in the call for constitutional reform and in the need for truth-telling about the history and impact of colonisation.
We hear and support your call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and for a referendum to achieve this as a national priority.
We hear and support your call for a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations, and truth-telling about our history.
We commit to working with you and standing by you and all Australia to achieve the aims of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.
SIGNED BY (last updated 16 February 2023)
- Alison Otieno
- Anna Beaumont
- Annamila Foundation
- Arnie Bax
- Australian Communities Foundation
- Australian Environmental Grantmakers Network
- Australian Executor Trustees Ltd
- Australian Social Investment Trust
- Australian Women Donors Network
- Barbara Charan
- Bass Coast Community Foundation
- Besen Family Foundation
- Black Dog Institute
- Broadley Trust
- Cathy Scalzo
- Capricorn Foundation
- Craig Winkler
- Diane Balnaves
- Dominique Jones
- Dr Pete Gill, Blue Whale Study Inc.
- Dusseldorp Forum
- English Family Foundation
- Equity Trustees
- Euan Murdoch
- Fay Fuller Foundation
- Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal
- Fouress Foundation
- Fremantle Foundation
- Genevieve Fitzgerald
- Genevieve Timmons
- Gillian Hund
- Give Where You Live Foundation
- Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
- Impact Generation Partners
- James N Kirby Foundation
- Julie Rosenberg
- Julie Sanders
- Kilfinan AUSTRALIA
- Koda Capital
- Kristin Stegley OAM
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
- Maple-Brown Family Foundation
- Matana Foundation for Young People
- Melbourne Welsh Church Foundation
- Michal Fagan, Trusts and Foundations Manager Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation
- Ninti One Limited
- Norman Family
- Paul Metcalfe, Cape York Partnership
- Paul Salteri AM, Chairman of CAGES Foundation
- Perpetual
- Reichstein Foundation
- Ross Coller
- Ruffin Falkiner Foundation
- Sharon Landy
- Simone Clancy
- Sir David Martin Foundation
- Sue Westwood
- ten20 Foundation
- Tessa English
- The Aesop Foundation
- The Balnaves Foundation
- The Caledonia Foundation
- The Funding Network
- The Kimberley Foundation
- The Myer Foundation
- The R E Ross Trust
- The Skrzynski Family Sky Foundation
- The Smith Family
- The Snow Foundation
- The Tony Foundation
- The Wyatt Trust
- Thea Kleiber
- Trawalla Foundation
- Wendy & Rod Brooks
- Wheelton Philanthropy
- Wilson Foundation
- Woor-Dungin
- Yarraville Community Centre
As the peak body for giving, Philanthropy Australia uses the collective voice of the hundreds of funders, social investors, for-purpose organisations and change agents that comprise its membership community to advocate for policy and regulatory environments that enable more philanthropy with impact in Australia.
General contact:
Vicki Norton
Director, Strategic Projects
Philanthropy Australia
E: [email protected]
Media contact:
Sophie Marcard
Director, Marketing and Communications
Philanthropy Australia
E: [email protected]
Subject
First Nations people, Policy and advocacy
