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 28/01/2021)

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