Helen Milroy: Will Australia ever be ready to face up to its own history?

It has been just over a year since the Voice to Parliament referendum was decided. For some, it was straightforward to move on following the No vote, but for many it was a bewildering period followed by the deafening silence of inaction. In research, we know that prolonged silence is never beneficial in recovery from trauma. Of course, people need time to process and think about the way forward as peoples, as a nation. Yet even after a year, there is still no discussion, no action. The Federal Government’s election commitment to implement the Uluru Statement in full had raised hope and goodwill, but this was quickly overwhelmed by a tsunami of misinformation, mistrust and divisiveness in the lead up to the referendum. It was a similar story before the National Apology in 2008. None of the outlandish claims being touted then were ever realised and the apology was a meaningful and important step towards healing from the past. On reflection, I wonder what would have happened if this action had also been put to a vote. Will Australia ever be ready to face up to its own history? Recently, I went on talkback radio to discuss healing post-referendum. Early in the interview, the interviewer received a text message. It read: “It got voted out, we don’t want to hear about it.” I don’t disagree with this texter’s sentiment, the referendum was defeated but nothing was actually resolved through this process. The No vote did not wipe out the historical legacy of genocide, it did not “fix” practical reconciliation, and it most certainly has not assisted in closing the gap in life expectancy, disadvantage, and inequity. If anything, it has set us back in the process of healing as a nation. Whenever there has been a significant event that has caused distress, it is important to understand what is required in the healing journey that follows. Healing journeys are never straightforward. There is no single template, no formula that can apply to all. It requires nuances and different paths throughout life. But the referendum was both a collective and individual event in its impact and has contributed to trauma experienced historically. So where to from here? It is important to bring people together, to share, to yarn, to experience healing together and in doing so support our individual and collective sense of wellbeing. Collective experiences can increase trust, social connection and cohesion, safety and hope as well as nurture compassion. It gives everyone a sense of belonging and a shared future. On December 5, The Kids Research Institute Australia Embrace team is hosting a free event at Kings Park based on culture, compassion, and connection. Culture is important in reminding us what kept us strong in the past and will do so in the future. Recovering our sense of compassion allows us to heal individually, but also helps others to heal in the knowledge their story is understood. And connection is something that we all need to share both the joys and burdens in life. As we approach the end of the year, it is often helpful to reflect on the year that was. As the weather warms and the festive season nears, we can think about what we’ve done, where we’ve been, who we’ve spoken to and what our journey has looked like to this point. Then, we take time to rest and be ready for the new year. For our mobs, we are always guided by our cultural ways of knowing, being and doing. Our ways of knowing allow us to reflect on what we learnt and recognise the guiding influence of our ancestors. Thinking about the workplace, our ways of being relate to how we are as peoples together in this remarkable country, how we relate to our colleagues, and to the world around us. Our ways of doing are the lens by which we think about how we went about our work — whether we were kind, respectful of others, whether we maintained our personal integrity and supported our colleagues. We can all think about the ways we can make next year better for ourselves and those around us. Collectively, and individually, we can all make a difference and make Boorloo, Perth, and the rest of WA, the best place to raise our children. Professor Helen Milroy AM is a Palyku woman and co-director of The Kids Research Institute Australia Embrace team