A while back I retired as the State Coordinator of Aboriginal Education from 1999 to 2012 for a major education system. During my tenure Indigenous students enjoyed their highest an continually growing outcomes both educationally and socially. There were two reasons for that.

Firstly, targeted IESIP funding where I could hold accountable schools using ever growing targets as well as controlling the uses of Indigenous funding.

Secondly and most importantly there were large numbers of Aboriginal Education Workers in all schools.

12^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus’ calming the storm is the first nature miracle in Mark. Writing about a storm, Parker Palmer says: ‘It swirls around us as economic injustice, ecological ruin, physical and spiritual violence, and their inevitable outcome, war. It swirls within us as fear and frenzy, greed and deceit, and indifference to the suffering of others’ (A Hidden Wholeness). We do not need Jesus to ‘command the wind and the waves’ but who can speak ‘Peace be still’ to the struggle for justice today; to our economic crisis alongside the poor; to our ecological crisis and our threatened existence on planet Earth; to the struggle for equality for women and men; to challenge homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia that threatens to capsize the lives of many young people wondering if anyone cares that they are perishing. 

Join us for an Inspiring Webinar with Senator Fatima Payman on Refugee Week 2024.

Date: 19th June 2024

Time: 6:30PM (AEST)

As we commemorate Refugee Week 2024, Senator Payman will share her personal journey, reflecting on her father's arrival as a refugee in Australia. She will highlight the challenges she faced and the triumphs she achieved as a young woman of color and the first hijab-wearing member of the Australian parliament. This discussion promises to offer valuable insights into her experiences, the obstacles she overcame, and the continued advocacy.

Registration is essential - please CLICK HERE to RSVP. The Zoom link for the webinar will be sent to your email address after you register.