Indigenous Strategy and Services portfolio supports the Voice
The release of the statement was overwhelmingly supported by the portfolio after considered consultation with staff.
The portfolio’s position follows last week’s statement from the University Senate that acknowledged the pivotal importance of the national referendum to recognise the First Nations peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice in the Australian Constitution. The Senate committed the University to supporting democratic processes by promoting free speech and civic discourse – providing the community with access to reliable information, analysis, and the expertise of our academics and other diverse perspectives.
The University’s Chancellor Belinda Hutchinson and Vice-Chancellor Professor Mark Scott also released a statement describing their personal support for constitutional change and the Voice.
Other areas of the University are consulting with their individual communities, and some including the Sydney Law School and the Faculty of Medicine and Health have also expressed their endorsement and support.
Full statement from the leadership of Indigenous Strategy and Services
“The Indigenous Strategy and Services portfolio of the University of Sydney emphatically endorses the Uluru Statement from the Heart and supports the constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through a Voice to Parliament.
“The Indigenous Strategy and Services portfolio affirm our position with a resounding "Yes".
“We remain resolute in our commitment to cultivating understanding and awareness across our University to ensure that our diverse communities, encompassing staff, students, and our broader community, are well-informed about the implications of constitutional recognition through a Voice to Parliament.
“We believe that the success of the referendum will support the work of the University as it continues to work in partnership with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of the University and other communities with whom we have connections. We believe this is an important moment for our University and for our nation.
“We support the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full and we categorically support the Yes vote for constitutional change.
“This pivotal moment underscores the significance for our work, reinforcing the imperative of acknowledging and upholding the rights and voices of Indigenous people.”