Information, resources, and supports in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament Referendum

Summary

This article has been created by the Better Chances Forum to support members in their work with children, young people their families and communities. Information has been gathered through various sources.

Services and supports

WellMob hosts online resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander frontline health and wellbeing workers.

The Australian National University – National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research released factsheets supporting social and emotional wellbeing in the lead up to the Voice to Parliament Referendum:

• Factsheet for non-Indigenous people Link
• Factsheet for organisations Link
• Factsheet for service providers supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples Link
• Factsheet for mob Link

The Human Rights Commission has resources available including:

• Minimising harm in voice conversations Factsheet
• How we got here: The history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples advocating for the right to be heard Factsheet
• Free service to investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination and breaches of human rights here

Call 13YARN on 13 92 76 (24 hours/7 days) to talk with an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Support worker. This crisis line is a free and confidential service or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

headspace are the National Youth Mental Health Foundation. The Yarn Safe program provide a safe space to yarn and hosts stories from young people about the voice.

The Stronger Together webpage by R U OK hosts stories and practical tips to empower First Nations workers to support others.

The Healing Foundation has outlined some tips for looking after yourself and keeping your family and community strong, along with some additional resources around having challenging conversations, dealing with misinformation and disinformation and racial stress and trauma.

Access eSafety resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to hear stories from mob in language and find tips to help you be deadly online.

Information about the Referendum and the process of voting

The Referendum resources page on the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website has a number of resources with factual information about the Referendum and FAQs.

• Factsheet on how to vote in a referendum
• Factsheet about disinformation and checking the source of information

The Voice website includes information about the Referendum

The ABC has produced a 13-minute video explaining “Everything you need to know about the Indigenous Voice Referendum”.

Responding to racism

Racism. It Stops With Me is a national campaign that provides tools and resources to help people and organisations learn about racism and take action to create change. The website includes reporting mechanisms, if you witness or experience racism, and you want to report it.

See the Ending Racism video and Check Up resources from the Australian National University.