MEDIA RELEASE: Philanthropy responds to Uluru Statement

July 11th, 2019

Australia’s philanthropic community has joined together to sign a collective response to the Uluru Statement From the Heart.

Released in May 2017, the Uluru Statement From the Heart is a national Indigenous consensus position on Indigenous constitutional reform, which was drafted at the end of a three-day constitutional convention of 250 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates. The Statement was the culmination of 13 Regional Dialogues held around the country during a year-long consultation.

The Statement From the Heart is a message to all Australians, calling for the establishment of a ‘First Nations Voice’ in the Australian Constitution and a ‘Makarrata Commission’ to supervise a process of ‘agreement-making’ and ‘truth-telling’ between governments and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

To view the Uluru Statement of the Heart, click here.

In an ‘open letter from philanthropy’ published in the Australian Financial Review on Friday 12 July 2019, 62 individual philanthropists and philanthropic foundations have supported the call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and for a Makarrata Commission.

Philanthropy Australia Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Davies, said the open letter was driven by the sector’s desire to help make a difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

“Philanthropy has a responsibility to take a stand on social issues where it can to make a difference and many of our members felt this was an ideal opportunity to respond collectively. That’s because at its very core, philanthropy is about working with communities to achieve positive social, environmental and cultural change,” Ms Davies said.

Download a copy of philanthropy's response to the Uluru Statement here.

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Open letter from philanthropy to the First Nations of Australia

We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart

Thank you for your Uluru Statement from the Heart, an invitation to Australia and the Australian people.

We make this response as members of the philanthropic community in Australia, committed to a reconciled Australia and one that is respectful of the spirit of self-determination.

We share your vision for Australia’s First Nations to take their rightful place in Australia and fully embrace your vision for your children to walk in two worlds. We thank you for and embrace this gift of your culture, which will give us all a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.

We recognise the Uluru Statement as a historic mandate for change and understand that all Australians have a great responsibility to walk alongside our first Australians in the call for constitutional reform and in the need for truth-telling about the history and impact of colonisation.

We hear and support your call for the establishment of a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution and for a referendum to achieve this as a national priority.

We hear and support your call for a Makarrata Commission to supervise a process of agreement-making between governments and First Nations, and truth-telling about our history.

We commit to working with you and standing by you and all Australia to achieve the aims of the Uluru Statement from the Heart.

SIGNED BY (last updated 11/9/2019)

1. Alison Otieno
2. Anna Beaumont
3. Annamila Foundation
4. Arnie Bax
5. Australian Communities Foundation
6. Australian Executor Trustees Ltd
7. Australian Social Investment Trust
8. Australian Women Donors Network
9. Barbara Charan
10. Besen Family Foundation
11. Black Dog Institute
12. Broadley Trust
13. Cathy Scalzo
14. Craig Winkler
15. Diane Balnaves
16. Dominique Jones
17. Dr Pete Gill, Blue Whale Study Inc.
18. Dusseldorp Forum
19. English Family Foundation
20. Equity Trustees
21. Euan Murdoch
22. Fay Fuller Foundation
23. Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal
24. Fouress Foundation
25. Fremantle Foundation
26. Genevieve Fitzgerald
27. Genevieve Timmons
28. Gillian Hund
29. Give Where You Live Foundation
30. Helen Macpherson Smith Trust
31. Impact Generation Partners
32. James N Kirby Foundation
33. Julie Rosenberg
34. Julie Sanders
35. Kilfinan AUSTRALIA
36. Koda Capital
37. Kristin Stegley OAM
38. Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation
39. Maple-Brown Family Foundation
40. Matana Foundation for Young People
41. Melbourne Welsh Church Foundation
42. Michal Fagan, Trusts and Foundations Manager Prince of Wales Hospital Foundation
43. Ninti One Limited
44. Paul Metcalfe, Cape York Partnership
45. Paul Salteri AM, Chairman of CAGES Foundation
46. Perpetual
47. Reichstein Foundation
48. Ross Coller
49. Ruffin Falkiner Foundation
50. Sharon Landy
51. Simone Clancy
52. Sue Westwood
53. ten20 Foundation
54. Tessa English
55. The Aesop Foundation
56. The Balnaves Foundation
57. The Caledonia Foundation
58. The Funding Network
59. The Kimberley Foundation
60. The Myer Foundation
61. The R E Ross Trust
62. The Skrzynski Family Sky Foundation
63. The Smith Family
64. The Snow Foundation
65. The Wyatt Trust
66. Thea Kleiber
67. Trawalla Foundation
68. Wendy & Rod Brooks
69. Wheelton Philanthropy
70. Wilson Foundation
71. Woor-Dungin
72. Yarraville Community Centre

-ENDS-

As the peak body for giving, Philanthropy Australia uses the collective voice of the hundreds of funders, social investors, for-purpose organisations and change agents that comprise its membership community to advocate for policy and regulatory environments that enable more philanthropy with impact in Australia.

Media contact:
Megan Hannan
Marketing Manager
Philanthropy Australia
M: 0438 859 825
T: 03 9665 9112
E: mhannan@philanthropy.org.au