How to have informed and respectful conversations about Indigenous issues like the Voice

• Debates with wide-ranging opinions have the potential to distract from the real issues at hand, becoming divisive and harmful.
• The referendum is a national event, which requires conversations with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Australia.
• These conversations should bear in mind Indigenous people will be impacted the most by the referendum and the debate around it.

What our research found

• The students we teach are a diverse group across ages, ethnicities, social backgrounds, and genders.
• The findings from our research can easily be applied to discussion around the Voice.
• This made most students feel eager and confident to follow these approaches in their future careers.
• Many students found they learned a great deal and better understood the depth of ongoing pain from Australia’s racist history.
• Read more:
  What can we learn from the marriage equality vote about supporting First Nations people during the Voice debate?

So what could the wider public learn from this?

• So the support of the broader community is vital on Indigenous affairs such as the Voice.
• Non-Indigenous people need the opportunity to understand the political journey for Indigenous people in the lead up to the referendum, including the Uluru Statement.
• We can turn to the words of the many Indigenous voices who have made their thoughts a matter of public record.
• They should allow all people in Australia the opportunity to consider the part they will play in the future of our nation.