what I’m about to share will not surprise our nation’s most prominent
surprise our nation’s most prominent
surprise our nation’s most prominent Aboriginal leaders or advocates and
Aboriginal leaders or advocates and
Aboriginal leaders or advocates and today I simply invite you to pay close
today I simply invite you to pay close
today I simply invite you to pay close attention to your own reaction when you
attention to your own reaction when you
attention to your own reaction when you learn of the following Australia has
learn of the following Australia has
learn of the following Australia has created a multi-billion dollar industry
created a multi-billion dollar industry
created a multi-billion dollar industry also back of Aboriginal disadvantaged
also back of Aboriginal disadvantaged
also back of Aboriginal disadvantaged and if that sounds alarmist I ask you to
and if that sounds alarmist I ask you to
and if that sounds alarmist I ask you to pay attention to your reaction when I
pay attention to your reaction when I
pay attention to your reaction when I share this in just one year 5.9 billion
share this in just one year 5.9 billion
share this in just one year 5.9 billion dollars of our money was spent in the
dollars of our money was spent in the
dollars of our money was spent in the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs I say
portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs I say
portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs I say the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs
the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs
the portfolio of Aboriginal Affairs because it’s important to remember that
because it’s important to remember that
because it’s important to remember that this money was not directed into
this money was not directed into
this money was not directed into communities and the people who have the
communities and the people who have the
communities and the people who have the most need as a taxpayer I ask you this
most need as a taxpayer I ask you this
most need as a taxpayer I ask you this do you have confidence knowing that this
do you have confidence knowing that this
do you have confidence knowing that this multi-billion dollar industry is using
multi-billion dollar industry is using
multi-billion dollar industry is using money in a way that is misdirected do
money in a way that is misdirected do
money in a way that is misdirected do you feel like this 5.9 billion dollar
you feel like this 5.9 billion dollar
you feel like this 5.9 billion dollar industry should be held accountable for
industry should be held accountable for
industry should be held accountable for not delivering the outcomes that are
not delivering the outcomes that are
not delivering the outcomes that are required would you be surprised to learn
required would you be surprised to learn
required would you be surprised to learn that very few of their schemes are
that very few of their schemes are
that very few of their schemes are evaluated properly take for example the
evaluated properly take for example the
evaluated properly take for example the federal government’s initiative on
federal government’s initiative on
federal government’s initiative on indigenous homeownership
indigenous homeownership
indigenous homeownership it’s designed to increase homeownership
it’s designed to increase homeownership
it’s designed to increase homeownership amongst indigenous population what if I
amongst indigenous population what if I
amongst indigenous population what if I told you that in one year 75 loans were
told you that in one year 75 loans were
told you that in one year 75 loans were administered could you guess how many
administered could you guess how many
administered could you guess how many people were employed to administer those
people were employed to administer those
people were employed to administer those 75 loans 75 incredible right so when we
75 loans 75 incredible right so when we
75 loans 75 incredible right so when we ask ourselves the question how is this
ask ourselves the question how is this
ask ourselves the question how is this model effective what answers are we left
model effective what answers are we left
model effective what answers are we left to consider would your answer change if
to consider would your answer change if
to consider would your answer change if you knew that half of those loans that
you knew that half of those loans that
you knew that half of those loans that were approved could actually be
were approved could actually be
were approved could actually be delivered by US mainstream mortgage
delivered by US mainstream mortgage
delivered by US mainstream mortgage lender so when we think about the
lender so when we think about the
lender so when we think about the numbers all of a sudden seventy-five
numbers all of a sudden seventy-five
numbers all of a sudden seventy-five people employed to administer
people employed to administer
people employed to administer seventy-five loans becomes 75 people
seventy-five loans becomes 75 people
seventy-five loans becomes 75 people employed to administer about 36 lanes
employed to administer about 36 lanes
employed to administer about 36 lanes there are thousands of programs designed
there are thousands of programs designed
there are thousands of programs designed in Australia under the purpose and with
in Australia under the purpose and with
in Australia under the purpose and with the intention of addressing some form of
the intention of addressing some form of
the intention of addressing some form of Aboriginal disadvantaged unfortunately
Aboriginal disadvantaged unfortunately
Aboriginal disadvantaged unfortunately just one hundred out of every 1000
just one hundred out of every 1000
just one hundred out of every 1000 programs are actually evaluated against
programs are actually evaluated against
programs are actually evaluated against those stated purposes if that’s the case
those stated purposes if that’s the case
those stated purposes if that’s the case how can we be sure that they’re working
how can we be sure that they’re working
how can we be sure that they’re working and what can we do as Australians to
and what can we do as Australians to
and what can we do as Australians to make sure that the decision-makers who
make sure that the decision-makers who
make sure that the decision-makers who are directing this money and let’s face
are directing this money and let’s face
are directing this money and let’s face it paternalistic policies how can we
it paternalistic policies how can we
it paternalistic policies how can we make them accountable
make them accountable
make them accountable why are we so compliant and so ok with
why are we so compliant and so ok with
why are we so compliant and so ok with maintaining the status quo of a
maintaining the status quo of a
maintaining the status quo of a multi-billion dollar industry that
multi-billion dollar industry that
multi-billion dollar industry that continues to benefit on the back of
continues to benefit on the back of
continues to benefit on the back of Aboriginal disadvantaged I’m going to
Aboriginal disadvantaged I’m going to
Aboriginal disadvantaged I’m going to suggest that the mistake we made is also
suggest that the mistake we made is also
suggest that the mistake we made is also one that I’ve made in my speech so far
one that I’ve made in my speech so far
one that I’ve made in my speech so far we have seen the issue from a very
we have seen the issue from a very
we have seen the issue from a very top-down perspective some may call this
top-down perspective some may call this
top-down perspective some may call this paternalistic when we do this what we
paternalistic when we do this what we
paternalistic when we do this what we fail to remember is that we also ignore
fail to remember is that we also ignore
fail to remember is that we also ignore people’s stories and in failing to
people’s stories and in failing to
people’s stories and in failing to acknowledge people’s stories we also
acknowledge people’s stories we also
acknowledge people’s stories we also fail to acknowledge their needs
fail to acknowledge their needs
fail to acknowledge their needs my name is Kia Dell and I’m a passionate
my name is Kia Dell and I’m a passionate
my name is Kia Dell and I’m a passionate advocate for addressing issues that
advocate for addressing issues that
advocate for addressing issues that negatively impact indigenous communities
negatively impact indigenous communities
negatively impact indigenous communities we do this in our work by looking at the
we do this in our work by looking at the
we do this in our work by looking at the complex business and social challenges
complex business and social challenges
complex business and social challenges that face our communities every day we
that face our communities every day we
that face our communities every day we work with top business leaders from ASX
work with top business leaders from ASX
work with top business leaders from ASX listed companies to NGOs
listed companies to NGOs
listed companies to NGOs and we work to partner with indigenous
and we work to partner with indigenous
and we work to partner with indigenous communities to co-create locally
communities to co-create locally
communities to co-create locally relevant solutions that meet their needs
relevant solutions that meet their needs
relevant solutions that meet their needs and the challenges that they face every
and the challenges that they face every
and the challenges that they face every day now I feel like I also need to
day now I feel like I also need to
day now I feel like I also need to clarify that I identify as an Australian
clarify that I identify as an Australian
clarify that I identify as an Australian and as a woman who is also Aboriginal
and as a woman who is also Aboriginal
and as a woman who is also Aboriginal from the gidget people of what one
from the gidget people of what one
from the gidget people of what one community in the East Kimberley region
community in the East Kimberley region
community in the East Kimberley region of Western Australia I’m also equally
of Western Australia I’m also equally
of Western Australia I’m also equally proud of my father’s heritage from
proud of my father’s heritage from
proud of my father’s heritage from Scotland and England
Scotland and England
Scotland and England if you’re wondering why I felt it was
if you’re wondering why I felt it was
if you’re wondering why I felt it was necessary to clarify that it’s probably
necessary to clarify that it’s probably
necessary to clarify that it’s probably got something to do with people saying
got something to do with people saying
got something to do with people saying things like you don’t look like a real
things like you don’t look like a real
things like you don’t look like a real original person or you’re not black
original person or you’re not black
original person or you’re not black enough to be a real Aboriginal person
enough to be a real Aboriginal person
enough to be a real Aboriginal person and my favorite or you’re one of the
and my favorite or you’re one of the
and my favorite or you’re one of the good ones whatever that means
good ones whatever that means
good ones whatever that means you see those statements are symptoms of
you see those statements are symptoms of
you see those statements are symptoms of a much larger economic issue not a race
a much larger economic issue not a race
a much larger economic issue not a race issue and when you reflect on what they
issue and when you reflect on what they
issue and when you reflect on what they contribute to for starters they actually
contribute to for starters they actually
contribute to for starters they actually focus on our deficit they focus on the
focus on our deficit they focus on the
focus on our deficit they focus on the deficit of people and communities we
deficit of people and communities we
deficit of people and communities we also see other symptoms image
also see other symptoms image
also see other symptoms image symptoms such as generations of
symptoms such as generations of
symptoms such as generations of individuals who fail to recognize how
individuals who fail to recognize how
individuals who fail to recognize how wonderfully incredible they are
wonderfully incredible they are
wonderfully incredible they are resilient individuals notice that I’m
resilient individuals notice that I’m
resilient individuals notice that I’m using individuals as opposed to labels
using individuals as opposed to labels
using individuals as opposed to labels I’ve had the privilege of working with
I’ve had the privilege of working with
I’ve had the privilege of working with over 500 incredible human beings most
over 500 incredible human beings most
over 500 incredible human beings most who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait
who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait
who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people these individuals not
Islander people these individuals not
Islander people these individuals not only want to lead positive social change
only want to lead positive social change
only want to lead positive social change in their communities and our country but
in their communities and our country but
in their communities and our country but they want to be part of implementing it
they want to be part of implementing it
they want to be part of implementing it unfortunately we do consistently see an
unfortunately we do consistently see an
unfortunately we do consistently see an epidemic of deeply embedded destructive
epidemic of deeply embedded destructive
epidemic of deeply embedded destructive beliefs when you think about the average
beliefs when you think about the average
beliefs when you think about the average age of participants in our programs
age of participants in our programs
age of participants in our programs we’re talking about 18 year olds now if
we’re talking about 18 year olds now if
we’re talking about 18 year olds now if you were to take your mind back to when
you were to take your mind back to when
you were to take your mind back to when you were 18 and all the experiences that
you were 18 and all the experiences that
you were 18 and all the experiences that created and shaped who you are today I
created and shaped who you are today I
created and shaped who you are today I want you to consider just for a moment
want you to consider just for a moment
want you to consider just for a moment the life of the 18 year olds we work
the life of the 18 year olds we work
the life of the 18 year olds we work with and the past that they have bought
with and the past that they have bought
with and the past that they have bought a number of these young people our
a number of these young people our
a number of these young people our children and grandchildren of members of
children and grandchildren of members of
children and grandchildren of members of the stolen generation and yes I know
the stolen generation and yes I know
the stolen generation and yes I know there’s many people in Australia if you
there’s many people in Australia if you
there’s many people in Australia if you want us to get over it
want us to get over it
want us to get over it believe me no one wants that more than
believe me no one wants that more than
believe me no one wants that more than we do no one wants to be born into a
we do no one wants to be born into a
we do no one wants to be born into a cycle of welfare dependency no child is
cycle of welfare dependency no child is
cycle of welfare dependency no child is born saying hey pick me so that I can
born saying hey pick me so that I can
born saying hey pick me so that I can you know have issues my whole life no we
you know have issues my whole life no we
you know have issues my whole life no we want to resolve in
want to resolve in
want to resolve in to generational drama but we need to be
to generational drama but we need to be
to generational drama but we need to be able to do it as a collective a number
able to do it as a collective a number
able to do it as a collective a number of these young people are also reminders
of these young people are also reminders
of these young people are also reminders of the potential that we can become the
of the potential that we can become the
of the potential that we can become the wonderful thing about this story with
wonderful thing about this story with
wonderful thing about this story with these young people is at the end of the
these young people is at the end of the
these young people is at the end of the program image this incredible question
program image this incredible question
program image this incredible question our question I believe is very relevant
our question I believe is very relevant
our question I believe is very relevant for us today one that I want each and
for us today one that I want each and
for us today one that I want each and every one of you to reflect on in
every one of you to reflect on in
every one of you to reflect on in denying parts of who you are
denying parts of who you are
denying parts of who you are are you also denying parts of your
are you also denying parts of your
are you also denying parts of your parents grandparents and ancestors who
parents grandparents and ancestors who
parents grandparents and ancestors who paved this very privileged path for you
paved this very privileged path for you
paved this very privileged path for you to be in this room today this is a
to be in this room today this is a
to be in this room today this is a question that I believe resonates with
question that I believe resonates with
question that I believe resonates with all of us not just as human beings but
all of us not just as human beings but
all of us not just as human beings but as a collective group of people who are
as a collective group of people who are
as a collective group of people who are capable of creating the change that we
capable of creating the change that we
capable of creating the change that we need to happen now and I want you to
need to happen now and I want you to
need to happen now and I want you to consider your role in contributing to
consider your role in contributing to
consider your role in contributing to Australia’s very public discomfort with
Australia’s very public discomfort with
Australia’s very public discomfort with investing directly in Aboriginal people
investing directly in Aboriginal people
investing directly in Aboriginal people rather than policies we must reframe how
rather than policies we must reframe how
rather than policies we must reframe how we invest in people and we must tip the
we invest in people and we must tip the
we invest in people and we must tip the model of investment in Aboriginal
model of investment in Aboriginal
model of investment in Aboriginal Affairs on its head but this is where
Affairs on its head but this is where
Affairs on its head but this is where the issue begins and I can’t help but
the issue begins and I can’t help but
the issue begins and I can’t help but wonder if this system is why this six
wonder if this system is why this six
wonder if this system is why this six billion dollar a year industry continues
billion dollar a year industry continues
billion dollar a year industry continues to flourish is there any reason why you
to flourish is there any reason why you
to flourish is there any reason why you wouldn’t want to resolve this economic
wouldn’t want to resolve this economic
wouldn’t want to resolve this economic issue how much more effective could we
issue how much more effective could we
issue how much more effective could we be if we were just to take a moment and
be if we were just to take a moment and
be if we were just to take a moment and say the solutions lay with the people
say the solutions lay with the people
say the solutions lay with the people after working with over 70 organizations
after working with over 70 organizations
after working with over 70 organizations all around Australia every role that’s
all around Australia every role that’s
all around Australia every role that’s funded to help Aboriginal people comes
funded to help Aboriginal people comes
funded to help Aboriginal people comes with a long long list of reasons why
with a long long list of reasons why
with a long long list of reasons why communities are at fault when results
communities are at fault when results
communities are at fault when results are not achieved shifting the blame
are not achieved shifting the blame
are not achieved shifting the blame disempowers everyone and when decisions
disempowers everyone and when decisions
disempowers everyone and when decisions are based on assumptions about the
are based on assumptions about the
are based on assumptions about the capability of communities rather than
capability of communities rather than
capability of communities rather than the decision-maker themselves then we’re
the decision-maker themselves then we’re
the decision-maker themselves then we’re heading into very very deep waters with
heading into very very deep waters with
heading into very very deep waters with nothing left to hold on to what I have
nothing left to hold on to what I have
nothing left to hold on to what I have found is that the results that are
found is that the results that are
found is that the results that are achieved when Aboriginal people and
achieved when Aboriginal people and
achieved when Aboriginal people and communities are at the table as partners
communities are at the table as partners
communities are at the table as partners rather than recipients fast track
rather than recipients fast track
rather than recipients fast track outcomes more than ever
outcomes more than ever
outcomes more than ever if you’re sitting here wondering what
if you’re sitting here wondering what
if you’re sitting here wondering what you can do to get answers and results
you can do to get answers and results
you can do to get answers and results out of this multi-billion dollar
out of this multi-billion dollar
out of this multi-billion dollar industry I want you to consider some of
industry I want you to consider some of
industry I want you to consider some of these questions if you’re a leader or
these questions if you’re a leader or
these questions if you’re a leader or decision maker in government NGO or
decision maker in government NGO or
decision maker in government NGO or corporate circles I want you to ask
corporate circles I want you to ask
corporate circles I want you to ask yourself how capable your team really is
yourself how capable your team really is
yourself how capable your team really is when it comes to creating solutions with
when it comes to creating solutions with
when it comes to creating solutions with communities rather than for them and if
communities rather than for them and if
communities rather than for them and if you’re an Aboriginal person I want you
you’re an Aboriginal person I want you
you’re an Aboriginal person I want you to ask yourself what role you’re playing
to ask yourself what role you’re playing
to ask yourself what role you’re playing to demonstrate that our capability is
to demonstrate that our capability is
to demonstrate that our capability is the key to our success rather than what
the key to our success rather than what
the key to our success rather than what we’re seeing now which is a sense of
we’re seeing now which is a sense of
we’re seeing now which is a sense of entitlement as human beings we must stop
entitlement as human beings we must stop
entitlement as human beings we must stop and hold a mirror up to ourselves and
and hold a mirror up to ourselves and
and hold a mirror up to ourselves and ask what kind of future we’re creating
ask what kind of future we’re creating
ask what kind of future we’re creating for our children and grandchildren do we
for our children and grandchildren do we
for our children and grandchildren do we want a country that’s known for its
want a country that’s known for its
want a country that’s known for its ignorance and intolerance or do we want
ignorance and intolerance or do we want
ignorance and intolerance or do we want to create innovative intelligent and
to create innovative intelligent and
to create innovative intelligent and practical solutions do we want to lead
practical solutions do we want to lead
practical solutions do we want to lead and impact our children based on our own
and impact our children based on our own
and impact our children based on our own personal biases or do we want them to
personal biases or do we want them to
personal biases or do we want them to celebrate knowing the wonderful benefits
celebrate knowing the wonderful benefits
celebrate knowing the wonderful benefits of diversity I leave you with this
of diversity I leave you with this
of diversity I leave you with this question as leaders today and decision
question as leaders today and decision
question as leaders today and decision makers today what purpose does it serve
makers today what purpose does it serve
makers today what purpose does it serve to continue benefiting from Aboriginal
to continue benefiting from Aboriginal
to continue benefiting from Aboriginal disadvantaged and who will change begin
disadvantaged and who will change begin
disadvantaged and who will change begin with if not for us thank you
with if not for us thank you
with if not for us thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
”
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