Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss' tour of the Northern Territory this week has seen her hear from many Indigenous people on the issues that are important to them.
Commissioner Kiss began the series of public meetings on Monday, meeting directly with communities in Tenant Creek on day one, with a three-hour meeting at Venue Civic Hall.
The Commissioner told National Indigenous Times "it was great to kickstart the NT part of my Informing the Agenda tour in Tennant Creek".
"I thank everyone who attended, including Northern Territory Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Steven Edgington," she said.
"I've been looking forward to coming to the Northern Territory to meet with First Nations communities and hear directly from them about the priorities and challenges in their communities and ensure their voices are elevated in national conversations relevant to the fulfilment of their human rights.
"Ongoing national crises in cost of living, housing, domestic and family violence, mental health, child safety and youth justice, amplify the need for system reform that ensures the rights of all communities."
Commissioner Kiss said there was much work to be done to fundamentally address the factors behind disadvantage.
"Systemic racism and structural disadvantage exacerbate these system failures for our people, so transforming government, and consequently 'the system' is critical to closing the gap and achieving better outcomes for our people," she said.
"These consultations will form the basis of a discussion paper, contributing to the Social Justice Report in 2025, and will shape the next steps in the collective efforts toward reconciliation and equality."
On Tuesday the Commissioner met with people at the Business & Innovation Centre in Mparntwe/Alice Springs for similar talks at a three-hour meeting.
On Thursday, April 10, the Commissioner will hold a meeting from 10am to 1pm at 138 Tuffin Road, Yirrkala, in Nhulunbuy.
And on Friday, April 11, at the Darwin Innovation Hub - Level 1/48-50 Smith Street, Commissioner Kiss will be speaking with members of the community.
Commissioner Kiss' landmark listening tour will inform her agenda for her five-year term.
The initiative is part of "the ongoing commitment to ensuring that First Nations voices guide the journey forward, following the outcome of the 2023 Voice Referendum", the Human Rights Commission said.
More information is available online.
