IEBA extends a huge thank you to those who were able to attend our 2021 Symposium in Cairns or online. We know that there were still some late cancellations due to the pandemic and many others who were not able to travel or participate at this time.
However as a hybrid event there are plenty of sessions that have been recorded and we will keep you informed on how these can be accessed. Be sure to be signed up to our E-News, The GAP, to be kept up to date.
The Symposium program is below for your reference.
The Next 10 Years: Are We Ready?
The 4th national Symposium was held during National Reconciliation Week in Cairns from 2-4 June 2021. It was a hybrid event that allowed participation in person, or from work, home or anywhere online.
The theme of The Next 10 Years: Are We Ready? focused on the need for all schools with Indigenous students to understand the ambitions of Indigenous voices in the Closing the Gap targets, and the need to plan and act to achieve these goals.
The three streams of exploration at the Symposium were:
- Indigenous Voices – beyond the Uluru Statement from the Heart providing a way for Indigenous Australians to have input on matters that are important to improve their lives.
- Closing the Gap – the new target seeks 96 per cent of students attaining year 12 by 2031.
- Reconciliation – promoting relationships, respect and trust between the wider Australian community and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
ISSUE PAPERS
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap
Symposium Program Selected sessions were live-streamed. They included two free sessions and four sessions that required a purchased ticket.
| TIME | ACTIVITY | ONLINE SESSION |
| Day One – WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE 12.00pm to 5.00pm | ||
| 10.00-12.00pm | Registration | |
| 12.00-1.00pm | Welcome Lunch | |
| 12.50-1.10pm | Welcome to Country | |
| 1.15-2.30pm | Opening Address – The Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP IEBA Chairperson’s Welcome AddressWatch video | FREE |
| 2.30-3.00pm | Afternoon Tea | |
| 3.00-3.40pm | Keynote address – INDIGENOUS VOICES – Thomas Mayor, Torres Strait Islander, author, activist and unionist | ONE |
| 3.45-4.40pm | Q&A Panel – Hearing Indigenous Voices in Education | |
| 4.40-4.50pm | Close | |
| 5.00-7.00pm | Welcome Reception, Lockhart Room Cultural Performance by Minjil | |
| Day Two – THURSDAY 3 JUNE 8.50am to 5.00pm | ||
| 9.00am-9.10am | Day 2 Welcome | |
| 9.10-10.00am | Keynote address – CLOSING THE GAP Donnella Mills, Chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Hypothetical – Panel | TWO |
| 10.00-10.30am | STUDENT VOICE – Nathaniel Tamwoy Watch video | |
| 10.30-11.00am | Morning Tea | |
| 11.00-11.40am | Keynote – THE WAY FORWARD – Richard Stewart, Manager –Transition Support Service, Queensland Department of Education | THREE |
| 11.40-12.30pm | Q&A – Panel – How are we going to Close the Gap? | |
| 12.30-1.15pm | Lunch | |
| 1.15-1.45pm | 2021-22 Budget Support for Indigenous students – Paul Denny, National Indigenous Australians Agency Watch video | |
| 1.45-5.00pm | Concurrent Workshops (incl Afternoon Tea) Indigenous Voice, Closing the Gap and Cultural Competency | |
| 6.30-9.30pm | Symposium Dinner, Cairns Waterfront | |
| Day 3 – FRIDAY 4 JUNE 9.00am to 1.30pm | ||
| 9.00-9.10am | Day 3 Welcome | |
| 9.10-10.00am | Keynote address – RECONCILIATION IN EDUCATION – Zoe Cassim, Reconciliation Australia | FOUR |
| 10.00-10.45am | Q&A – Panel – Reconciliation in Education | |
| 10.45-11.15am | Morning Tea | |
| 11.15-12.00pm | Workshops 3- Reconciliation in Education – Discussion | |
| 12.00-12.15pm | Group reporting | |
| 12.15-12.30pm | Closing session – Three perspectives | |
| 12.30-1.30pm | Lunch | |
| 1.30-4.30pm | WORKSHOP – Cultural Standard |
All delegates will have access to the recordings after the event and the access links to tune-in live or later will be distributed via email after the event. The free sessions will be publicly available after the event also.
