This month has seen the announcement of two significant national landmarks, the release of the 2023 Intergenerational Report and the announcement of the date of the referendum (October 14) to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Deakin University has released a statement supporting a Yes position in the referendum for the Voice to Parliament as an extension of the support for the Uluru Statement from the Heart. It encourages all members of the Deakin community to fully participate in the process, while recognising that not everyone in our community will adopt the same position. As I have previously stated, I feel privileged to have received this invitation to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to progress the Uluru Statement from the Heart, particularly as an important and evidence informed step towards greater health equity.
In the Treasurer’s speech on the 2023 Intergenerational Report he refers to “five big shifts” in the economy: globalisation to fragmentation, hydrocarbons to renewables, IT to artificial intelligence, a transition from a younger to an older population, and a shift in the industrial base to a care economy. This is a useful frame as we work with our partners to build research to tackle the current and emerging challenges in health.
We continue to contribute our expertise to national consultations, including submissions to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Diabetes, and the National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing. Congratulations also to Natalie Winter who was invited to speak to the national Inquiry into the recognition of unpaid carers off the back of her Issues Brief with the Deeble Institute.
For those of you who have not yet seen it I encourage you to visit the Mapping Stigma exhibition. This is an excellent example of the diverse impact outcomes of our partnership research. The Disability and Inclusion team at Deakin and the Burwood Library hosted the opening of an exhibition of body maps produced by Victorian women who have faced stigma and discrimination due to their experiences of mental distress, disability, or a refugee background. There are more details later in the newsletter, and it runs until September 24.
And finally, a shout out to our EMCR committee for putting on a great EMCR grant development session. I found the organisation, ideas presented, and discussion that ensued all excellent. I would strongly encourage those EMCRs who did not make it to attend future sessions as a way to both support your peers and learn about grant development.
Welcome to our latest IHT members
Associate Members
- Tanita Botha, DoH, Senior Research Fellow Biostatistics
- Michelle Lim, GLOBE, Research Assistant
- Annie Tan, QPS, PhD Student
- Megan Dennis, DoH, PhD Student
