Time to Listen

"At Cape York Institute, we are constantly asking 'why'. Why are Indigenous youth incarceration rates double the national average. Why haven't we closed the gap in the past ten years. Why do issues in Indigenous affairs seem to be getting worse form time to time. So [we at CYI] ask the questions why, and have a deep passion for reform in Indigenous affairs."

In this episode of Time to Listen, we are joined by Prue Briggs, Cape York Institute's Head of Policy. The Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (CYI) is an Indigenous lead think tank, founded by Noel Pearson in 2004, which dedicates itself wholeheartedly to reform in Indigenous Affairs at the national, state and local levels of government.
Prue has worked in the public policy space for over 15 years, and is currently overseeing a policy ideas agenda that has the potential to radically and positively transform socioeconomic outcomes for Indigenous communities.
In our discussion, Prue outlines this agenda for 2021, which includes the First Nations Voice to Parliament, a National Jobs Guarantee, furthering education, and matters pertaining to child safety.
Prue also provides an overview of how CYI remains in close consultation with Indigenous communities, particularly those in Cape York, to ensure that their policy agenda is co-designed and absolutely in the best interests of the people whom CYI is concerned with.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.
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To find out more about CYI, visit the website: Cape York Institute - Cape York Partnership

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"We've constructed a policy reform agenda for our own children. The people who [our policy agenda] concerns are our own relatives ... the people who we love in the world.
"That's one of the strengths of the Cape York Institute; it's an institute that is driven for our people."

In this episode of Time to Listen, we are joined by Noel Pearson, whose voice is widely recognised and sought after in Indigenous Affairs.
Noel has founded many organisations focused on the empowerment of Indigenous Australians, notably the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership (CYI). We use our time with him to discuss his initial aspirations for CYI, and the role it plays in modern Australian society.
Noel also addresses the topic of consultation with Indigenous communities, and why this value is paramount for CYI's operations.
We conclude this discussion by opening the space to Noel's policy opinion on a national Jobs Guarantee, and why he believes this to be the priority solution to the socioeconomic woes that have tormented Cape York for generations.
In Noel's answers, he elucidates upon the modern history of Cape York and uses this to outline why he believes the entrenchment of passive welfare reliance to be such a destructive function within First Nations communities.

Thank you for taking the Time to Listen.

Episode host and producer: Isaac McCarthy

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To find out more about CYI, visit the website: Cape York Institute - Cape York Partnership

To read more about Noel Pearson's thoughts on a national Jobs Guarantee, read his op-ed in the Australian: The case for a government jobs guarantee (theaustralian.com.au)

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"There are so many capable First Nations women. A barrier we have is that organisations – be they corporate, government or philanthropic – are defining us by our gender and culture. Those organisations need to be clear that First Nations women can have opinions and experience on a broad range of public policy."

Fiona Jose is the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape York Partnership (CYP). Fiona has held multiple management positions in her journey to executive leadership. These have included roles and responsibilities both internal and external to CYP. Notably, prior to her current role, Fiona has the CEO of the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership. 

In our conversation we spoke about Fiona's unique journey into executive leadership, and the barriers he faced by virtue of her gender and ethnicity as an Indigenous woman. She speaks to the broader issue of gender equality in leadership positions, and exactly how Indigenous women strengthen the collective knowledge and skillsets of organisations once they finally gain access to those roles. 

We also spoke about the importance of female Indigenous role models, the vision of CYP, CYP's emphasis on youth and the values of leadership education and co-design.
Finally, Fiona shares her perspective on how particular socioeconomic factors in Cape York are either improving or still posing a challenge. 

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

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"We're all Australians, so we can't have second-class citizens in our own country - the First Nations People ... we're lucky as Australians, we live in the best country in the world, but we just have to get our backyard cleaned up. Politicians have to make some bold decisions for us to move forward as a nation."

Richie Ah Mat, a Yupungathi man, is the Co-Chair of the Cape York Partnership, and the Chairperson of the Cape York Land Council.  For three decades, Richie has been active in Cape York reform and the founding of several organisations, including the Cape York Partnership. He has also been instrumental in securing Native Title determinations across Cape York.

During our conversation, Richie spoke to us about the history of socioeconomic issues in Cape York communities, the economic potential of Cape York, and the social benefits awaiting greater access and participation in the real economy. We also discussed the decisions behind the founding of the Cape York Partnership, and the realities of working with State and Federal Government with regard to Indigenous affairs. Finally, we took time to understand his perspective on native title and the Native Title Act.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

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There is a multitude of commentary and debate  circulating in Australian politics and media  concerning Indigenous Australians. Yet how much airtime is actually given to Indigenous Australians themselves?

This is Time to Listen, a podcast that gives a space and a platform to Indigenous voices. You will hear from prominent leaders, such as Noel Pearson and Richie Ah Mat. We will bring forward the voices of traditional owners and custodians of culture, and ensure a diversity of perspective between leaders experienced and emerging.

Through the work of the Cape York Partnership and its associated entities, we will explore Indigenous solutions to the issues that acutely afflict our First Nations People, particularly with regard to education, employment, empowerment, policy and culture.

The first official episode of the Time to Listen podcast will air Tuesday, the 20th of April.

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 International Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to celebrate the unique qualities and capabilities of women, as well as commemorate their efforts and struggle for the sake of equality. Women offer particular strengths in leadership, whether that be leadership in their workplace, their communities, their homes, or all of the above. But at Cape York Partnership, we are taking an extra step in this opportunity for commemoration and collaboration. We are not only ensuring women are at the forefront of the conversation around equality, but are also choosing to acknowledge and promote the capabilities and efforts on Indigenous Australian Women. Women of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island ethnicity have had, and continue, to endure a broad and deep range of inequalities. They face barriers to education, employment and empowerment that the remainder of society finds ease in bypassing. They have been patient in their campaign for equality, and resilient in the face of struggle. Because of this, they are emerging as some of our strongest characters in society.

In this podcast, we speak to a group of women, emerging and established, who embody this reality. They are students, advocates, mothers, peers, dreamers and leaders. In listening to our conversation with them, you will come to learn about how the Indigenous women of Cape York are bettering the communities around them; and, therefore, why their voices need to be front and centre, especially in the conversation around Indigenous issues and rights.

We speak with students and an Indigenous educator/principal from the Cape York Girl Academy, an alumna of Djarragun College and the Cape York Leaders Program, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Cape York Partnership. We discuss their backgrounds, the challenges in their respective journeys, and what they care most for.

Thank you for taking the time to listen.

If you would like to know more about our podcast guests, please take a little more time to visit the Our Sisters Raisely page, at: https://our-sisters.raisely.com 

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