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Yoorrook Justice Commission
Issue No.8, July 2023
Find out more about making a submission, a new way to learn about Yoorrook and a recap of NAIDOC 2023 celebrations.
What does it feel like to make a submission to Yoorrook?
Lots of people are making submissions to Yoorrrook. One person who worked with a Yoorrook Truth Receiver to tell her story is Aunty Sheza Lyle, proud Darumbal, Murri, Yorta Yorta and Irish woman.
In this article, Aunty Sheza reflects on the submission process and what it felt like to tell truth through Yoorrook.
All Victorians can now get involved in truth telling.
This might include giving Yoorrook information about the relationship between Aboriginal people and settlers, knowledge of early stories and beliefs, or information about the impact of colonisation on the Traditional Owners of a particular area.
But you don't have to be limited to those things. Submissions can be made about any past or ongoing systemic injustice experienced by First Peoples, as well as stories of First Peoples strength and survival.
Submissions can be made in any form and can include artwork, songs or performances.
Assistance is available for all First Peoples who want to make a submission, including free, independent legal advice and wellbeing support.
A new way to learn about Yoorrook
Yoorrook has launched a News and Stories section on our website where you’ll find posts about Yoorrook’s work, stories from First Peoples, opinion pieces from Commissioners, videos and other information all in the one place.
You can take a look at the News and Stories page by clicking here or you can find it on the navigation bar at the top of the Yoorrook homepage.
Wellbeing
Supporting your wellbeing is a really important part of the Yoorrook process. Yoorrook provides confidential wellbeing support to First Peoples who want to tell their truth.
Yoorrook encourages truth telling during NAIDOC week
Chair Eleanor Bourke and Yoorrook staff at the 2023 NAIDOC march in Melbourne
The Yoorrook team was busy throughout NAIDOC Week, which ran from July 2 to 9. This year’s theme ‘For Our Elders’ was particularly significant for Yoorrook, which would not exist if it wasn’t for the tireless advocacy of Elders, as well as other Aboriginal leaders and community members, over several decades. Elders have also played a crucial role in guiding the Commission’s work.
Across the week, Yoorrook staff attended more than a dozen events to talk about truth telling and welcomed Community to its Collingwood office for a yarn, lunch and panel discussion with Uncle Kevin Coombs and Aunty Eleanor Bourke, Chair of Yoorrook.
Click here to read the full story, watch the event video and check out photos of all the action.
Keep up to date
Follow Yoorrook on social media for all the latest on our work.
You can also watch past hearings, read up on truth telling news and stories and learn more about Australia’s first formal truth telling inquiry on the Yoorrook website.
It is time to tell your truth
We want to hear your truth about the impacts of colonisation on the First Peoples in Victoria.
We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and pay our respect to them, their culture and their Elders past and present.
