On Saturday, Queensland will be waking up to one of its most contentious and important election day. With issues like cost of living, housing, crime, health and women’s abortion rights under contention, one can expect that the outcome of this election will determine the immediate future of the Sunshine State. Election days, regardless of their scale and importance, tend to have a distinct atmosphere. It is tense yet exciting, there is a sense of communities coming together to uphold a sense of mateship, friendship and communal camaraderie. Perhaps, no other activity on election captures these emotions that food stalls – particularly, the democracy sausage stalls.
Even though not extensive, there has been some historical writings that investigate the foundations of this socio- cultural practice, inherently characteristic of Australian public life. However, on election day the snag stalls take special significance – it distinctly performs a kind of democracy – where one is rewarded with a sizzling hot sausage with bread, grilled onions and a plethora of sauces.
Historian Professor Brett’s work on how Australia embraced compulsory voting titled: From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia Got Compulsory Voting, explains the election snags process of taking centre stage over time. Recently, democracysausage.org has taken the role of collating the locations, marking all the stalls set to crop up on election day. On its interactive map, there’s icons denoting sausages, cake, coffee, bacon and egg burgers, with halal and vegetarian options, too.
A real-time crowd-sourced map of democracy sausages and cake availability at Australian elections
Elections in any country are one of the primary signifiers of democracy and often it is incumbent upon public activities, like eating a democracy sausage, to capture the social and political fabric of a nation. The ways in which democracy sausage stalls operate, not only socio-culturally and but also geographically, become emblematic of who are considered the ‘model’ citizens of Australian democratic emotions and who still remain on the margin. The spectacle of a ‘snag sizzle’ on Election Day speaks to a number of emotions with undercurrents of nationhood and pride. The coming together of the of food, volunteers and wider general community speaks to a sense of mateship, collegiality and camaraderie – these are all in essence feelings and emotions that as citizens we tend to highlight and celebrate on election day in Australia.
Often, social media posts and national news coverage on election day present the sausage sizzle counter as an activity that one is rewarded with after they have exercised their democratic rights. However, contrary to the emotions of mateship, social responsibility and ethical dimensions of democracy that this activity strives to put forward to in popular culture, one cannot help but wonder some glaring absences and silences at the sausage sizzle stalls. For example, these spaces of camaraderie and community building – perceived to be pillars of Australian national identity, often come across as heavily masculine and predominantly white. Often facilitated through processes of volunteering, these stalls represent a coming together of the many ‘publics’ that weaves in a sense of solidarity, democratic duties and citizenship.
One may wonder, but so what? Why must every activity be scrutinised through the incisive lens of identity politics and representation? Influenced by multiculturalism and burdened by diversity or not, the democracy sausage sizzle still remains relevant and in fact an endearing on election day. However, as Australia’s democratic nature and needs change, so must the activities that celebrate it. Cupcake stalls and democracy sausage stalls continue to provide an atmosphere of the democratic essence of the nation.
However, the question remains what of the changing socio-cultural fabric of the nation? I began this piece with the major issues hinged upon which the upcoming election will be fought on. However, each of these issues, be it the housing crisis, the cost of living, or issues of women’s right to health and abortion, are often threaded in with the gendered, racialised and class-based understanding of how the Australian democracy unfolds in current times. It is in purview of this, one cannot help but wonder how do these everyday socio-cultural community activities that have been historically identified with a unique sense of nationhood for Australia, must also reflect the changing fabric of the nation.
Observing sites such as the Amazon basin from space has underscored the capability of satellites to better detect signs of drought, according to a new study.
Led by Military University of Technology Poland and Griffith University, the researchers combined two advance satellite-based methods to improve monitoring of hydrological droughts.
Advance satellite-based methods, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), have been invaluable in tracking changes in global freshwater, including groundwater.
“GRACE provides reliable data at large and regional scales but struggles at local levels, while GPS data can be affected by technical and environmental factors including, monument instability, thermal expansion of ground, the errors due to tidal aliases, and measuring real changes in the hydrosphere can sometimes be difficult, among several other issues,” Dr Ndehedehe said.
“Both techniques also face challenges in capturing short-term extreme hydrological events like sudden droughts and could under- or overestimate the occurrence and severity of such events.”
To circumvent this challenge, the research team developed the new approach by combining the strengths of GPS and GRACE-based vertical displacement data to monitor hydrological droughts more effectively.
This new method was tested in the Amazon basin and California Central Valley where hydrological changes were profound and could provide crucial insights for water management.
“By combining GPS and GRACE data, the novel drought indicator enhances our ability to track short-term drought events more accurately, offering timely and actionable information for decision-makers,” Dr Ndehedehe said.
“Adaptation plans to mitigate the impacts of climate change must incorporate both prudent water resource management and the development of suitable indicators and metrics to assess drought impacts on freshwater.”
Dr Christopher Ndehedehe
While each technique (GPS and GRACE) individually showed good spatial and temporal agreement with traditional drought indices (e.g., standardised precipitation index), some extreme events were missed.
To overcome this, the team introduced a novel multivariate drought indicator (Multivariate Drought Severity Index) by combining the GPS and GRACE dataset, using advanced statistical methods known as Frank copulas, to merge data from the two satellite missions.
This allowed the researchers to detect previously unidentified drought events and the cascading impacts on freshwater systems.
According to Dr Artur Lenczuk, an Assistant Professor and lead author from the Military University of Technology in Poland: “droughts are complex, and their impacts can be devastating, particularly in regions with highly variable climatic conditions. Monitoring the onset and progression of droughts is essential for water resource management.
“The multivariate drought indicator showed strong temporal consistency with drought indicators based on in-situ river discharge data and satellite-based agricultural indices like the Enhanced Vegetation Index, further validating its accuracy and providing a more comprehensive picture of drought conditions.
This new approach provided a more holistic view of drought conditions, to support better resource management and represented a significant step forward in the quest for more effective drought monitoring, with broad implications for global water management strategies.
As climate change accelerated, regions across the globe faced more frequent and severe droughts, significantly affecting ecosystems, communities, and water resources.
Monitoring these shifts in climate and water storage was critical for informed water management.
Sexual harassment is all too common in hospitality and tourism. One Australian survey found almost half of the respondents had been sexually harassed, compared to about one in three in workplaces more generally.
Hospitality and tourism are marked by intense and close interpersonal interactions and dismissive treatment by some customers, including verbal and physical aggression, bullying and sexual suggestions.
Workers who are young, female, low-paid and casual are especially vulnerable.
The widely held view that “the customer is always right” gives customers power. The power imbalance is magnified where tipping makes up a substantial part of workers’ earnings.
What newspapers report
To examine how sexual harassment is reported, we identified about 2,000 newspaper articles across a number of countries published between 2017 and 2022 dealing with the treatment of hotel room attendants, airline cabin crew and massage therapists. We zeroed in on 273 for closer analysis.
This was a period in which the public awareness of sexual harassment climbed with the rise of the #MeToo movement and media coverage probably peaked.
Media coverage matters because of its effect on public opinion.
Computer-assisted thematic analysis showed four different types of coverage, some overlapping, relating to legal matters, celebrities, power dynamics, and calls to action.
The language used varied according to the countries in which the newspapers were located.
In the United States and the United Kingdom, the accused were often described by their social or economic status, with cases involving famous people getting a lot of attention. In Asia and Africa, the reports focused on basic details such as the offender’s age and where they lived.
Women infantilised
But universally we found the terms used to describe victims were highly gendered and dated in ways that suggested subservience and undermined their professional skills. Cabin crew were called “air hostesses”. Room attendants were called “maids”.
Framing these professionals as modern-day servants has the potential to foster and perpetuate an expectation that sexual harassment is to be expected.
Reports involving celebrity harassers highlighted victims’ narratives with emotionally charged quotes using words such as “awful” and “terrible”. These words were perhaps intended to evoke empathy for the victims but also serve to further victimise them.
Female aggression under-reported
In all cases, women were heavily featured as victims but never as aggressors. It is a gender bias that does not match the established statistics, which show that almost one-quarter of aggressors are women.
This misrepresentation creates a skewed understanding of who commits and suffers from sexual harassment. It has the potential to discourage victims of harassment by women from coming forward.
It’s important for the tourism industry to foster secure and dignified working conditions. But it is also important that the media reflect the actual behaviour of aggressors and victims.
Done better, reporting could help
The media could play a crucial role in bringing about better policies and practices in these industries by emphasising the severe consequences of ignoring the problem and the benefits of taking proactive steps.
More respectful and accurate reporting might be able to help drive lasting change, making a positive difference in the lives of the skilled workers on whom so many of us depend.
Dr Helen Berents, Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow and Hub Lead, Governance and Diplomacy Hub, Griffith Asia Institute.
Griffith Asia Institute’s Dr Helen Berents has been awarded a prestigious research grant by the Folke Bernadotte Academy (FBA) to explore the crucial role of intergenerational engagement in peacebuilding. The project, titled Intergenerational Engagement for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda, will run from July 2024 to June 2025.
This research team will examine how intergenerational collaboration—between youth, civil society, and government—can contribute to the successful implementation of the Youth, Peace, and Security (YPS) agenda. Since its inception by the UN Security Council in 2015, the YPS agenda has recognised the need to involve youth in shaping global peace and security strategies. While intergenerational dialogue has been acknowledged as important, this project is the first to investigate how such engagement is practically applied within the YPS field.
Focusing on key actors in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Finland, Nigeria, and the Philippines, the project will conduct literature reviews, surveys, and interviews to identify what can be learned from ongoing intergenerational advocacy efforts. The research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how youth and older generations can work together effectively in peacebuilding efforts.
The project seeks to:
Understand how intergenerational engagement has been practiced in YPS coalitions and National Action Plans (NAPs) on YPS.
Identify the successes and challenges of intergenerational engagement.
Determine factors that predict success or failure in establishing meaningful intergenerational partnerships.
Develop strategies to foster effective intergenerational engagement based on the gathered evidence.
This international research is co-led by Dr Helen Berents, Diplomacy and Governance Hub Lead at the Griffith Asia Institute, alongside colleagues, Yulia Nesterova and Ingrid Valladares. The project is also supported by a Youth Expert Advisory Team comprised of youth advocates who were involved in establishing YPS action plans in their national contexts, ensuring that the voices and experiences of young people are central to the research.
Dr Berents expressed her enthusiasm about the project, stating,
“This research is not just about understanding intergenerational dynamics, but about creating practical pathways for youth and older generations to collaborate in meaningful and impactful ways for peace and security.”
The project will focus on stakeholders from the first four countries to adopt YPS National Action Plans: Finland, Nigeria, the Philippines, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Through rigorous analysis, the research team aims to conceptualise intergenerational engagement as a key tool for peacebuilding, with findings that could influence YPS policies globally.
The Intergenerational Engagement for the Youth, Peace and Security Agenda project underscores Griffith Asia Institute’s commitment to leading research that addresses real-world challenges in the Asia-Pacific and beyond. By enhancing the understanding of intergenerational cooperation in peacebuilding, the project aims to inspire more inclusive and sustainable solutions to global security issues.
Since the passing of Professor Emeritus Alan Mackay-Sim AM in 2023, his ground-breaking legacy research is about to be realised with a Phase I human clinical trial commencing to test the efficacy and safety of the transplantation of olfactory cell nerve bridges to treat chronic spinal cord injury.
Professor James St John
Griffith University researcher, Professor James St John, said olfactory ensheathing cells are the specialised cells within the olfactory (sense of smell) nerve within the nose that have numerous therapeutic properties for repairing and regenerating nerves.
“With more than 20,000 Australians living with spinal cord injury, and another 300 or more people having spinal cord injury each year, now is the time to translate this therapy into the clinic,” Professor St John said.
“We have designed the trial in close consultation with the spinal injury community, clinicians and industry partners to ensure the trial meets the needs and expectations of the trial participants, and has the best chance of success.”
The trial is a blinded and randomised control study which will test the olfactory nerve bridge transplantation combined with long-term intensive rehabilitation.
Cells for the transplantation will be harvested from the patient’s own nose, purified, and prepared into specialised nerve bridges which are then transplanted into the injury site within the spinal cord.
To encourage and reinforce regeneration, participants will undergo intensive rehabilitation for up to one year.
“These cells have been previously tested for treating spinal cord injury in a human clinical trial in 2002 in Queensland by the late Professor Emeritus Mackay-Sim, the 2017 Australian of the Year,” Professor St John said.
“Since then, other trials around the world have also tested the cells but while there were some encouraging results, technical difficulties in preparing and transplanting the cells have been limiting factors.”
Nerve bridges made from olfactory ensheathing cells which replicate a nerve obtained from a chicken
Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation (PCSRF) Executive President Perry Cross said: “30 years ago, I injured my spinal cord, and I am paralysed from the neck down, unable to move, unable to feel, unable to breathe.”
“It is incredible that we are now on the cusp of developing a treatment, which may allow us to repair the damage to the spinal cord and regain function,” Mr Cross said.
“It would be life changing for any of the participants in this trial to regain the ability to stand and hug a loved one again, to feel again.
“I am excited to see the trial commence and to see this brilliant research help people with a spinal cord injury.
“I am grateful to all of our generous donors who have supported this work for many years.”
The Spinal Injury Project team within the Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research used a translational research strategy to create a new therapeutic approach to overcome the previous limitations.
The critical improvements include an enhanced cell purification procedure, an award-winning innovative cellular nerve bridge, and a dedicated long-term intensive rehabilitation program.
Ensheathing cells under a microscope
Professor St John, Head of Griffith’s Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research, said the high purity cells and innovative nerve bridges are the critical components of the therapy.
“Despite decades of worldwide research to find a treatment for spinal cord injury, there is still no clinically available treatment,” he said.
“Our innovative nerve bridges, combined with the high purity olfactory cells, offer what we think is the best hope for treating spinal cord injury.
“The preclinical research has clearly demonstrated the olfactory nerve bridges are effective in repairing spinal cord injury in animal models.
“We have also successfully tested the intensive rehab in two separate clinical trials funded by the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation which showed people with spinal cord injury enjoyed the program.”
The trial is seeking volunteers who are living with chronic acquired spinal cord injury who have had their injury for at least four months, although the trial will start with people whose injuries are at least 12 months.
Participants will be from South East Queensland, northern New South Wales, Sydney or Melbourne and will undergo the rehab program at a rehabilitation partner in those areas.
CEO of the Clem Jones Foundation, Peter Johnstone, said the latest phase of the project illustrated the benefits of philanthropic support for long-term research.
“The Clem Jones Foundation has been pleased to be involved with others from the philanthropic sector in funding this world-class research,” Mr Johnstone said.
“It is proof of the progress that can be made through long-term funding commitments for highly specialised work with the potential for changing lives around the world.”
Spinal Life Australia CEO Mark Townend welcomed the start of the trial and the potential life-changing impacts the research could have for people with acquired spinal cord injuries.
“We have been closely following the progress of this research for many years and it is exciting to see all the hard work come to fruition with this clinical trial,” Mr Townend said.
“I know many of our members will be interested in participating and we look forward to hearing about the outcomes, and what this will mean for the future of spinal cord injury treatment and rehabilitation.”
Professor St John said: “To have a cell transplantation therapy progressing to clinical trial after only eight years is testament to the benefits of the strategic translational research program the team has used.”
“To be able to develop the therapy in Queensland is thanks to the incredible support from our funding partners, in particular the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC) as the major funder, along with the Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation, the Clem Jones Foundation, NHMRC, MRFF, and the dedicated spinal injury community which has been the inspiration and driving force behind the therapy development,” Professor St John said.
The trial is funded by the Medical Research Future Fund, Perry Cross Spinal Research Foundation, The Clem Jones Foundation, Queensland Government, Nicola and Andrew Forrest, Brazil Family Foundation, Terry and Rhonda White, and Griffith University.
If you are interested in the trial, more information can be sought by emailing [email protected].
In a new study published in Nature Communications Biology, wildlife rangers from the Uganda Wildlife Authority have demonstrated their ability to generate precise and reliable data on lion populations in Uganda’s Nile Delta, a critical stronghold for African lions.
The study, led by Griffith University’s Dr Alexander Braczkowski, reveals wildlife rangers – a critical component of global conservation efforts but often underutilised in scientific research – can play a pivotal role in the conservation science surrounding the world’s most beloved big cat.
Dr Alexander Braczkowski.
The study showed rangers trained in search-encounter surveys (the scientific gold standard for lion monitoring) provided robust and cost-effective data on lion populations.
With 102 detections over 76 days, the lion density in the Murchison Falls Nile Delta was estimated at 13.91 lions per 100 km², highlighting this area as a significant stronghold for lion conservation.
While rangers were often on the front lines of wildlife protection, they were rarely included in scientific research efforts. This study represented one of the first to demonstrate that rangers could effectively lead and contribute to data collection and population monitoring of threatened wildlife.
“Their intimate knowledge of the landscapes and behaviour of target species make them invaluable champions for conservation,” Dr Braczkowski said.
“Rangers are the unsung heroes of wildlife conservation; our co-authors, Lilian Namukose and Silva Musobozi, have worked for the Uganda Wildlife Authority for over a decade and their deeply intimate knowledge for where lions were in the Murchison landscape allowed us to get a good idea of the status of lions in this critical area.
“Our study shows bringing rangers into wildlife monitoring and census efforts could be immensely powerful for lions across Africa.”
The cost of the rangers’ effort was also 50% lower than using remote infrared camera traps, another popular method used for surveying big cats, showing that ranger-led initiatives could be a more sustainable and cost-effective method for monitoring lions in Africa.
Despite deploying 64 infrared camera traps, the cameras yielded only two usable detections for individual identification, suggesting that camera traps, in their current form, were not yet suitable for lion population monitoring.
Silva Musobozi and Lilian Namukose from the Uganda Wildlife Authority.
“This was the first scientific study of wildlife where I directly participated and my first entry point into science,” said Mrs Lilian Namukose, Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and co-author on the study.
“Through rigorous training in three workshops across three national parks, we quickly learnt to incorporate lion data collection alongside our daily field duties.
“We are grateful to the Uganda Wildlife Authority for the opportunity to be involved in this work.”
The study also identified the Nile Delta within Murchison Falls National Park (Uganda’s largest protected area) as a vital area for lion conservation.
The region supported high lion densities, despite significant pressures from poaching and oil exploration, making it a critical priority conservation area in the country.
By empowering rangers and focusing on protecting critical habitats such as the Nile Delta, the authors say the future for Uganda’s lions would be more secure.
This study offered a useful case study for scaling up lion monitoring efforts across Africa, using the invaluable skills of rangers to safeguard these iconic predators.
“Rangers are arguably the closest group to wildlife on the ground and have good knowledge of animal behaviour. Through capacity building and training, rangers can be better incorporated into the scientific and management process.”
Mr Silva Musobozi, Uganda Wildlife Authority ranger and co-author on the study
The authors advocated for a broader adoption of incorporating the field skills of wildlife rangers to survey lions across Africa to ensure more consistent and reliable wildlife data, which was critical for adaptive conservation management.
A school-based initiative for First Nations students has shown promising results in reducing suicidal ideation through connection to culture.
Piloted by Indigenous owned and managed youth mental health organisation Youth2Knowledge in conjunction with Griffith University’s Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, Project Yarn Circle delivered five weekly sessions to 276 students across nine schools in southern Queensland.
The program was centred around the traditional concept of yarn circles, a model that has facilitated exchanges of knowledge by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities for thousands of years.
Students were engaged in cultural knowledge and practices including storytelling, painting, learning about bush tucker, dance and Indigenous languages with Elders, artists and local cultural knowledge facilitators.
Lead researcher Mandy Gibson said First Nations young people have been found to experience markedly higher suicidality than non-Indigenous youth in Australia, yet there have been very few effective programs to address or reduce this issue.
“We need to be more preventative and proactive in this space,” Ms Gibson said.
Mandy Gibson
“We know First Nations young people who die by suicide are less likely to have ever had any support within the classic mental health support systems, so we need to actually reduce risk and increase protective factors in community, not just wait and hope we catch those who need help before it’s too late.
Ms Gibson said discrimination is one of the stronger risk factors for Indigenous suicide, which is why building on connection to culture, identity and hope for the future are key to improving outcomes.
“Often these young people don’t see their own future very clearly, but bringing Elders and cultural knowledge holders in to work with them helps them know they are part of a proud heritage that connects hundreds and thousands of years of the past to centuries into the future.”
It’s hoped the program can continue to reach and help more young people, and possibly even be expanded to run camps where participants can be taken out on Country, or integrating past attendees as leaders or facilitators in subsequent years to further build the sense of community and cultural continuity.
“What we’ve seen so far shows us we can try new and different things, and it does work,” Ms Gibson said.
“We’ve had decades of Elders saying we need to promote connection to culture to reduce suicide risk and we’ve got evidence that after participating in the cultural program, suicidal ideation among participants significantly reduced.
“They had higher self-esteem, higher reasons for living and were looking forward to the future.
“Even our facilitators have benefited from the experience.
“While they all have their own busy lives and competing priorities, they’ve appreciated the chance to come together and share their knowledge and to see how much value they’re adding to others’ lives.
“It’s been wonderful seeing young peoples’ confidence and pride grow.”
In the aftermath of the unsuccessful Voice referendum, Australia faces a pivotal moment in its relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. As an Aboriginal academic advocating for a rights-based approach to education, I believe this juncture demands renewed commitment and decisive action, particularly from non-Indigenous educators and leaders within our education system.
The referendum’s outcome does not diminish Indigenous Australians’ fundamental rights to quality education that respects our cultures, languages, and traditions. These rights, enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), remain intact and more pressing than ever. Recognising that the responsibility for upholding these rights and improving Indigenous educational outcomes is not solely on Indigenous shoulders is crucial. Non-Indigenous educators and leaders have a vital role to play in this work.
The imperative for non-Indigenous engagement
Non-Indigenous educators and leaders occupy positions of influence within our education system. They have the power to shape curricula, policies, and institutional cultures. With this power comes a profound responsibility to advocate for and implement changes that support Indigenous rights and student success.
The journey towards a truly inclusive and rights-respecting education system requires more than just the efforts of Indigenous educators and communities. It necessitates active ally-ship, commitment, and concrete actions from non-Indigenous educators at all levels—from classroom teachers to university chancellors.
Critical actions for non-Indigenous educators
Educate Yourself
The first step for any non-Indigenous educator is to commit to ongoing learning about Indigenous histories, cultures, and contemporary issues. This means engaging with Indigenous scholarship, participating in cultural competency training, and critically examining one’s biases and assumptions.
Amplify Indigenous voices
Non-Indigenous educators must create platforms for Indigenous colleagues to share their expertise. This involves advocating for increased Indigenous representation in decision-making bodies and supporting Indigenous-led initiatives within educational institutions.
Critically examine curriculum and pedagogy
Review teaching materials for bias and work to incorporate Indigenous knowledges across all subject areas. Adopt culturally responsive teaching practices that respect and value Indigenous ways of learning, being, and knowing.
Build genuine partnerships
Reach out to local Indigenous communities to understand their educational priorities. Involve them in curriculum development and decision-making processes. Remember that meaningful partnerships are reciprocal, built on trust and respect.
Advocate for systemic change
Use your position to push for policy changes that support Indigenous rights and student success. Challenge practices that undermine Indigenous rights, even when it’s uncomfortable or meets resistance.
Support Indigenous languages
Advocate for Indigenous language programs and support initiatives that integrate Indigenous languages into the broader curriculum. Recognise the crucial role language plays in cultural identity and knowledge transmission.
Create safe learning spaces
Make your classroom, learning environment, or office welcoming not only for Indigenous students and colleagues, but also a safe space for everyone to engage in conversations around Indigenous topics. Be proactive in addressing racism and discrimination and foster an environment where Indigenous perspectives are valued and respected.
Overcoming Challenges
This work has its challenges. Non-Indigenous educators may feel discomfort or fear making mistakes. It’s important to remember that this discomfort is often a sign of growth. The fear of making mistakes should not paralyse action; instead, it should encourage careful reflection and consultation.
You may encounter resistance to change from colleagues or institutions. Use your position of privilege to persistently advocate for Indigenous rights. Be prepared to have difficult conversations and challenge long-held assumptions about education.
Another challenge is maintaining momentum and commitment in the face of setbacks or slow progress. The referendum result might have been disappointing for many, but it should serve as a catalyst for renewed determination rather than resignation.
The Path Forward
The unsuccessful Voice referendum has sparked crucial conversations about Indigenous rights and recognition. Now is the time for non-Indigenous educators to translate these conversations into meaningful action within our education systems.
I encourage all non-Indigenous educators – from early childhood teachers to university professors – to commit to concrete actions:
Advocate for curriculum reform in your institutions.
Push for increased Indigenous representation in leadership roles.
Engage with local Indigenous communities and integrate their perspectives into your teaching.
Demand and participate in robust cultural safety training.
Support and promote Indigenous language programs.
As we move forward, let’s remember that this work isn’t about charity or guilt – it’s about recognising and upholding fundamental human rights. It’s about creating an education system that truly serves all Australians and benefits from the rich knowledge and perspectives that Indigenous peoples bring.
The referendum may not have delivered constitutional change, but it has highlighted the ongoing need for meaningful action. Non-Indigenous educators have a unique opportunity and responsibility to lead the way in recognising, respecting, and realising the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples within our education system.
Your role is crucial. Your actions matter. The time for leadership is now. By embracing a rights-based approach and taking concrete steps to support Indigenous education rights, non-Indigenous educators can play a pivotal role in shaping a more just and inclusive future for all Australians.
An annual climate action survey has highlighted concern for the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), a desire for renewables over nuclear power, however, Australians impacted by the cost-of-living crisis seem less enthusiastic on taking climate change actions, despite being strongly supportive of the need to address this global challenge.
Griffith University’s Climate Action Beacon conducted the third of five planned Climate Action Surveys, asking what Australians thought, felt and did about climate change. Most Australians believe in the reality of climate change with some respondents noting local impacts:
“Change in the seasons cycle, that is, seasons starting or finishing earlier than normal. For example, warm weather starting earlier than normal has resulted in fruit and vegetables maturing earlier. So, as a gardener, I’ve had to change planting and harvesting routines.”
The survey found several important and interesting highlights:
Australians rated clean energy sources more favourable than nuclear or high emissions energy sources.
The reasons most commonly cited by 2023 new respondents for not engaging in pro-environmental behaviours included insufficient time and/or money, entrenched routines/habits, doubts regarding the efficacy of these behaviours, and lack of knowledge of actions to take. Similar barriers to climate action were noted in 2021 and 2022, suggesting that not enough is being done at individual and institutional levels to motivate action.
Australians exhibited temporal and spatial distancing of climate changes, underplaying the proximity of impacts to themselves and the time at hand to act.
“We don’t need to convince Australian’s that climate change is real anymore – that work has been done,” Dr Karlien Paas said.
“The immediate task at hand is to communicate that climate change requires urgent action now – and critically, that any action individuals – and the governments they vote for – take now, is consequential.
“Australians can make a huge difference to the future.”
The survey gathered data from two Australian populations: 1,184 participants from the 2021 and/or 2022 survey (‘repeat’ respondents) and 2,874 previously unsurveyed people (‘new’ respondents) – the total 2023 sample comprised 4,058 Australian adults, a larger sample than used in most other national surveys.
The survey acknowledged that some respondents’ answers may have been influenced by external factors that happened in the previous 12 months, including increased cost of living pressures. Only 1% of Australians indicated they are not at all concerned about cost of living, and a large majority (84%) indicated they are moderately, greatly, or extremely concerned about cost of living.
Importantly, the survey found that most respondents were concerned about both the cost of living and the pace of climate change – it was not as if concerns for the former had replaced concerns over the latter.
The sample of new respondents was recruited to ensure it was demographically representative of the Australian population in terms of age, gender, and geographic state or territory of residence.
In 2023, Griffith University worked with CSIRO to explore Australian’s attitudes to climate change and the much-loved Great Barrier Reef. The survey found that half of Australians strongly agreed that the GBR was part of their Australian identity.
Most Australians (71%) believed climate change posed an immediate threat to the GBR, necessitating prompt action; only 30% of Australians were optimistic about the future of the GBR, and 26% were afraid when hearing about climate-related damage to the GBR.
“Growing up in Qld, the Great Barrier Reef was stunning. I used to go out every few months… How I’ve seen a big difference in over 20 years. It’s bleaching & decreasing, quite sad. Also, I am just watching the Antarctic melt away, leaving a lot of animals that depend on icebergs stranded.”
Associate Professor Graham Bradley said it was no surprise that survey questions around climate change and the Great Barrier Reef were met with responses that favoured greater action to care for the Reef, as well as a strong sense of pride and duty for its future.
“A significant majority, almost 8 out of 10, expressed a strong sense of pride in the GBR being a World Heritage area, with 6 out of 10 believing that the GBR should be on the World Heritage Danger list – an interesting result given efforts by governments and industry to keep the GBR off the list,” Associate Professor Graham Bradley said.
“Seven out of 10 Australians see protecting the GBR as a responsibility that all Australians share, fostering a sense of collective duty and unity.”
The survey consistently found that individuals with firsthand experience with natural disasters or adverse climatic events demonstrated a greater understanding of climate change, heightened awareness, concern, and distress regarding its impacts.
They also exhibited more pro-environmental behaviours and greater efficacy in addressing climate change.
“Recent thunderstorms, thunder and lightning like I have never experienced. The sky sounds angry! Then, we experience heat waves in the following days. I cannot remember the past having such extreme changes so quickly.”
While the increase in climate change awareness following disasters was heartening, Associate Professor Sameer Deshpande cautioned that “waiting for widespread disaster events to occur and spur action is not feasible nor responsible”.
“It is reasonable for Australians to perceive climate change as disaster events and miss the significance of everyday actions like recycling and repurposing, reducing consumption, considering diet changes, walking or using public transport, planting trees and so on,” he said.
“There is time between and away from disasters where Australians can act locally – literally in their own backyards. Alongside important government and industry discussions around energy transitions, changes in individual and household behaviour matter enormously to climate action and a better future.”
The survey found many were making changes and that there was room for more Australians to join the fray. Read more on the Climate Action Survey 2023 here.
Griffith University Art Museum has been recognised at the 2024 Queensland Gallery and Museum Achievement Awards (GAMAA) this week, winning ‘Best Project – Organisation with Paid Staff’ for their exhibition Taring Padi: Tanah Tumpah Darah (29 February – 25 May 2024).
The annual awards, hosted by Museums and Galleries QLD, celebrate the achievements of organisations and individuals in the arts and cultural heritage sectors.
The Best Project Award recognises the high artistic quality of the exhibition as well as its outcomes for the artists, staff, and local community.
Tanah Tumpah Darah had strong competition from several finalists so it’s fantastic that this important artist-led project has been recognised.
Image: Taring Padi: Tanah Tumpah Darah installation view, Griffith University Art Museum, March 2024. Courtesy of the artists. Photo: Louis Lim
Tanah Tumpah Darah began with an invitation from local Aboriginal artist collective proppaNOW to Indonesian artsworker collective Taring Padi, to come to Meeanjin/Magandjin (Brisbane) to collaborate during a month-long residency on a large-scale banner Ngaliya Budjong Djarra (Our Mother Earth) (2023-24), which was displayed on the western façade of Griffith University Art Museum at South Bank.
Supported by GUAM, Creative Australia, and an anonymous donor, Taring Padi and proppaNOW shared a six-week residency at The Paint Factory, Yeronga, which included opportunities for engagement with First Nations and artist communities.
Alongside the residency, GUAM mounted Tanah Tumpah Darah which surveyed Taring Padi’s almost three-decade long history. The exhibition included over 120 painted banners, woodcut prints, and cardboard puppets from Taring Padi’s beginnings in the turbulent post-Suharto period of the 1990s through to current issues concerning environmental destruction, violence, unemployment and marginalised communities.
Image: Taring Padi and proppaNOW, Ngaliya Budjong Djarra (Our Mother Earth) (2023-24), oil on canvas, 900 x 650cm. Taring Padi: Tanah Tumpah Darah installation view, Griffith University Art Museum, March 2024. Courtesy of the artists. Photo: Louis Lim
Over the course of the exhibition GUAM hosted almost 50 public programs and tours, involving local school, artist, and First Nations communities, including an artist-led symposium and numerous workshops with Taring Padi and students from local schools, the Queensland College of Art and Design’s Contemporary Australian Indigenous Art (CAIA) program, the Griffith University Printmaking Club, and the Indonesian Student Association of Griffith University (ISAGU).
Image: Taring Padi workshop with ISAGU, Griffith University Art Museum, March 2024
In addition, GUAM co-facilitated the Arts, Education and Law Summer Scholarship with Griffith University Law Futures and the Creative Arts Research Institute (CARI), which enabled six students from QCAD, CAIA and Griffith Law School to work alongside Taring Padi and proppaNOW and develop their cross-disciplinary research skills.
Taring Padi: Tanah Tumpah Darah was made possible by members of Taring Padi and proppaNOW as well as project supporters Sarazin; Creative Australia; Framer Framed, Amsterdam; Milani Gallery, Brisbane; The Paint Factory, Yeronga; and the Simon Lee Foundation, Institute of Contemporary Art, Art Gallery of Western Australia.
