Celebrating Strong Women Making Change
A group of strong and committed Change Agents gathered weekly to make a safe, inviting and academic space for one of Australia’s strongest female speakers. The group of thirteen students worked together to ensure everyone was aware of the privilege and responsibility of having such a high-profile woman with a long list of academic accomplishments speak to all our Year 9 students in the last week of Term 3. Many Indigenous leaders from our wider community gathered with us to hear Professor Langton speak.
Professor Marcia Langton AO is an anthropologist and geographer, and since 2000 has held the Foundation Chair of Australian Indigenous Studies at the University of Melbourne. She has produced a large body of knowledge in the areas of political and legal anthropology, Indigenous agreements and engagement with the minerals industry, and Indigenous culture and art. Her role in the Empowered Communities project under contract to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and as a member of the Expert Panel on Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians are evidence of Professor Langton's academic reputation, policy commitment and impact, alongside her role as a prominent public intellectual.
Her 2012 Boyer lecture series titled The Quiet Revolution: Indigenous People and the Resources Boom is one of her recent contributions to public debate, and added to her influence and reputation in government and private sector circles. In 1993 she was made a member of the Order of Australia in recognition of her work in anthropology and the advocacy of Aboriginal rights.
Professor Langton is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, a Fellow of Trinity College, Melbourne and an Honorary Fellow of Emmanuel College at the University of Queensland. In 2016 Professor Langton was honoured as a University of Melbourne Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor. In further recognition as one of Australia’s most respected Indigenous Academics Professor Langton has in 2017 been appointed as the first Associate Provost at the University of Melbourne.
In addition to sharing her life experiences, Professor Langton explained the issues behind the failure of The Voice referendum as she was part of the catalyst for change from the Uluru Statement of the Heart to its fulfilment in having a formal voice in our parliamentary processes. As an academic from the University of Melbourne, she recommended a long list of readings for our library to acquire to ensure there is an opportunity for all our learners to educate themselves on Australian issues, especially the difficulties of post colonisation. Once the Year 9 presentation was concluded, Professor Langton and the Indigenous leaders met with our Change Agents to answer questions and explain how to make good and effective change in society. The panel was run by students for students, and it was a great opportunity for our students to meet like minded people and leaders in our wider community with the knowledge and skills to change our society for the better.
Thank you to the Library, Humanities and English Domains who worked together to fund the opportunity for our students. A special thank you Ms. Cordingley and Ms. Bate who worked endlessly to make the event run smoothly. However, the biggest thank you goes to Harshitha M, Lyshana Y, Shriya S, Tivona D, Ellie G, Kaia McN, Navya C, Lumina R, Raga B, Catherine W, Bhavya J, Dheera P and Vandana R who showed incredible leadership skills and determination by working with each other, teachers, school leadership and the wider community to make this event successful and life changing. As Mac.Rob ambassadors, they were outstanding.