Speaking equally: who is listening to whom?

Racism is an ongoing problem in Australia that directly affects a significant number of Australians.

The late activist, author, and Nobel prize recipient, Toni Morris, suggests the persistence of racism is constructed around the concept of ‘other’ and it is the fear of ‘other’ that continues to fuel intolerance.

Those who are the targets of explicit or casual racism must also explain the implications of being perceived as ‘other’ which perpetuates the problems of group-based differences or ‘othering’.  

How do those who have never been subject to racism begin to understand the experiences of those who have? How do we work toward a common ground and overcome prejudices through an inclusive non ‘other’ approach?

Join our panel as they share their experiences and stories in a nuanced exploration of contemporary racism.

Facilitator:

Elizabeth Lang

Elizabeth Lang is the founding CEO and Lead Consultant at Diversity Focus. Diversity Focus helps align company policies, procedures, and practices with global diversity, equity, and inclusion benchmarks. She leads a team of practitioners committed to a research-led approach to DEI that creates measurable and sustainable change in workplace culture. Diversity Focus delivers a range of workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion, focusing on gender and race.

Speakers:

Fadzi Whande

Fadzi Whande is a Global Diversity and Inclusion Strategist and is considered an expert in her field, specialising in the areas of racial equity, social justice and inclusive leadership. She has worked in Australia, Africa, UK and the USA. A board member of the Museum of Freedom and Tolerance (MFT) and the Senior Diversity and Inclusion Advisor at the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Fadzi has worked with Boola Bardip to curate a fascinating series of discussions that explore human rights and examine ways in which to redress injustices.

Sender Dovchin

Associate Professor Sender Dovchin is a Director of Research and Principal Research Fellow and at the School of Education, Curtin University. Her research focuses on empowering CALD population through combatting linguistic racism. Dr Dovchin is an Editor-in-Chief of the Australian Review of Applied Linguistics. She was identified as “Top Researcher in the field of Language & Linguistics” under The Humanities, Arts & Literature of The Australian's 2021 Research Magazine and Top 250 Researchers in Australia in 2021.

Bobbi Henry

Bobbi Henry recently finished her Masters in Performing Arts with a strong focus on the matriarch and Indigenous women in the theatre, primarily in WA. She is currently Associate Artist at the Perth Festival and an Associate Producer at the Yiraa Yaakin Theatre Company.

In Conversation: Human Rights

In Conversation is a monthly series of thought-provoking topics exploring big questions, ideas and human narratives. Curated in collaboration with The Museum of Freedom and Tolerance (MFT), this series brings human rights stories to the foreground.

The eight-part discussion explores a range of contemporary human rights issues through stories of resilience and action, shining a spotlight on overcoming prejudices in the face of persistent challenges and slow progress. It asks the question, how do human rights affect us in our daily lives, and how can we better acknowledge our responsibilities in balancing any given right with the rights of others?

Explore the series here.