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Key takeaways from the 3rd National Indigenous Empowerment Summit

Menchie Khairuddin October 10, 2023

2 min read

Despite the significant progress in empowering Indigenous communities in Australia, Third Sector’s 3rd National Indigenous Empowerment Summit reveals that there is still a lot of work to be done to address Indigenous education, economic development, and workforce empowerment.

With over 55+ speakers, the 3-day summit gathered leaders, professionals, and advocates with the shared goal of bolstering Indigenous communities and fostering a fairer, more sustainable society.

Through open conversations, case studies and workshops, attendees were provided with the right tools and strategies to take action in their communities and work towards a brighter future for Indigenous peoples across the country.

Lucy Powell, Program Coordinator at the University of Melbourne, highlighted the event’s versatility.

“I really enjoyed this event. The three breakout streams allowed for more intentional learning about your specific professional industry.”

Jeremy Bean, Associate Director at the Office of the Auditor General for Western Australia, described the summit as “eye-opening and immensely rewarding,” emphasising the unique depth of engagement it offered.

“It was a terrific summit, entitled appropriately, empowering of First Nation people through education, economics, and employment,” added Deputy Head of School at St. Andrew’s Cathedral School, Rhonda Ann Robson.

Brady Jones, from the Wadamba Aboriginal Prison to Work Program/Wan-Yaari Employment Broker, lauded the summit’s impact on his work, stating, “The 3rd Indigenous Empowerment Summit was an excellent event that provided fresh ideas and insight on matters that I have already adapted into my workplace and role.”

“The Indigenous Empowerment Summit offers something for everyone,” Director of NT Education-Transition Support Unit Greg Franks enthused, highlighting the summit’s inclusivity.

Grier Williamson, Senior Economic Development Officer at Mackay Regional Council, highlighted the summit’s potential to drive collaboration and cultural awareness, emphasising the importance of Indigenous Australians’ involvement in shaping the nation’s future.

“We’re here with great potential and opportunity in our hands to come together and work together to continue to close the gap, collaborate better, and provide a more culturally aware and safe future for all Australians, emphasising the importance of Indigenous Australian’s involvement as we move forward,” said Williamson.

The 3rd National Indigenous Empowerment Summit left a lasting impact, inspiring attendees with its diverse insights and actionable strategies for positive change in Indigenous communities. As these quotes reflect, the summit was a dynamic platform for dialogue and collaboration, with attendees eager to apply their newfound knowledge in their respective fields.

To learn more about 4th National Indigenous Empowerment Summit, click here.

Menchie Khairuddin

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Menchie Khairuddin is a writer Deputy Content Manager at Akolade and content producer for Third Sector News. She is passionate about social affairs specifically in mixed, multicultural heritage and not-for-profit organisations.