Our annual national meeting of Delegates NC13 was held in Cairns over a busy productive three days, 19-21 July.

The full program, key speeches and videos are on the NC13 page on our website. More content is being added as it comes in and a full report from the meeting is being finalised.

Delegates worked through priorities for Congress as well as being updated on Congress issues and policy work.

Many local mob attended the Saturday public events which included the deadly welcome from the Gimuy Walubara Yidinji and Yirrganydji Peoples and a local information and art expo. There were also presentations on Sovereignty and Self Determination and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as from the Ethics Council and the Youth Lobbying Committee among others.

Check out more speeches from NC13 here. See pics from the event here.

Top Row (L-R): Co-Chairs Les Malezer & Kirstie Parker, Directors Rod Little & Venessa Curnow.
Second Row: (L-R) Directors Daphne Yarram, Gerry Moore, Tammy Solonec, Mark McMillan

The new Congress Co-Chairs and Directors were announced at NC13 after election results were finalised.

Les Malezer was elected as male Co-Chair and Kirstie Parker as female Co-Chair. Gerry Moore and Mark McMillan will join Rod Little, Daphne Yarram, Tammy Solonec and Venessa Curnow (who was re-elected) as Directors on the National Board.

The new Board takes office on Friday 16 August.

Co-Chair Jody Broun and Directors Dennis Eggington and Brian Butler will finish their terms on the Board then.

Congress is honoured and privileged to have had such energetic and committed leaders such as Dennis, Brian and Jody in these past two years.

We thank them for their contributions and commitment to the organisation and to our Peoples and we look forward to working with them as members of the Congressmob.

The federal election campaign is off and running and Congress has called on all parties to take the chance to start a new, more genuine relationship with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

As everyone starts thinking about voting we ask them to do so with a better understanding of our fundamental rights and to insist upon a government that will protect and promote those rights

See more info on our expectations of Australia’s political leadership in the 2013 federal election in areas such as justice, health and education here.

A new national plan for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples has been released.

The plan places culture and community at the heart of the plan and its vision of the Australian health system being free of racism is a landmark in Australian public policy.

These outcomes are a direct result of Congress members and organisations telling us what is important to their health.

Congress and the National Health Leadership Forum were involved in this plan all the way and we thank all of our members who participated in the national consultations for the plan.

Congress will continue to play an active role in the implementation and monitoring of the plan in partnership with Government and our members.

See full info on National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan here

In her term as Congress Co-Chair, Jody Broun was also Co-Chair of the National Health Leadership Forum (NHLF) with Justin Mohamed, and Co-Chair of the Close the Gap Campaign Coalition with Mick Gooda.

She played a major role in bringing the health plan to fruition and both Mick and Justin have paid tribute to her leadership and skills.

"Jody has built relationships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative organisations through the National Health Leadership Forum and is highly respected by our peoples' health leadership and the bureaucracy and politicians alike."
Justin Mohamed, NHLF Co-Chair and Chair of the National Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO).

"Jody has brought people with her as Congress has evolved. She is a unifier, focusing on real and practical outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Jody ensures that everyone around the table gets a say and feels included, whilst also ensuring that meetings deliver results."
Mick Gooda, Close the Gap Co-Chair and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

Read Jody Broun's Speech to National Congress 2013 here.

Check out the info on these meetings and workshops Congress is hosting at Perth, Townsville and Thursday Island in the next few weeks.

They are a great chance to yarn up and find out about the UN Declaration and the work of the Congress Ethics Council.

Click on the images for more info and how to register or go to our events page: nationalcongress.com.au/congress-events.

More info: Freecall 1800 266 477       Email: info@nationalcongress.com.au