“ “The Uluru Statement is a hand outstretched, a moving show of faith in Australian decency and Australian fairness from people who have been given every reason to forsake their hope in both.” ”— PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE

“I am determined, as a government, as a country, that we grasp that hand of healing, we repay that faith, we rise to the moment.”

Those are some of the powerful words from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as he addressed the 2022 Garma festival, revealing the question he intends to pose in a referendum to embed an Indigenous Voice to Parliament in Australia’s constitution.

The Uluru Statement from the Heart is the largest consensus of First Nations people on a proposal for substantive recognition in Australian history, asking Australians to walk together to build a better future by establishing a First Nations Voice to Parliament enshrined in the Constitution.

The Uluru Statement was also the inspiration for one of Creating Communities most meaningful collaborations, the This is Our Dream Cultural Compact.

We worked with Nyiyaparli and Martu elders and leaders in Newman to co-design the Cultural Compact back in June 2020. The agreement calls for Aboriginal culture and traditions to be upheld and for Nyiyaparli and Martu to be central in local decision-making.

Local businesses, organisations, sporting groups and individuals are encouraged to sign the compact and in so doing commit to more culturally responsive approaches to ultimately, make Newman a better place for all.

From what we know, the Cultural Compact is a unique agreement, that not only formalises a commitment to recognising culture in Newman, it acts as a tool of behaviour and attitude change, educating the wider community of the importance of recognising culture for a positive future. We have been deeply

Creating Communities managing director Donna Shepherd said creating positive outcomes for communities cannot happen without including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the planning, development and implementation of community development projects.

“First Nations voices and involvement in determining the future of what happens on their lands and in their communities is not just a right, it’s a responsibility we all need to be part of ensuring happens,” she said.

“Step by step this is what we seek to ensure on all our projects.”