After an absence of seven years, the QTU Land Language Culture Conference was held at the Spirits of the Red Sands, Beenleigh on 19 and 20 September.  
The conference was well attended, with more than 100 people taking part on the first day. 

The conference opened with a moving Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, and featured a number of inspiring speakers, including Thomas Mayor (National Indigenous Officer – Maritime Union), Eddie Buli (QSuper), and Shane Sturgiss (CEO, BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation). Cassandra Diamond, Manager – Governance Capability at the CSIRO, presented this year’s Dr Evelyn Scott Memorial Lecture, which she titled Weaponised.

The theme of carrying the flame back to workplaces, and the sense of urgency around the forthcoming referendum on the Voice to Parliament was weaved through all the presentations.  

The conference culminated in a stunning dinner and show provided by the Spirits of the Red Sands.

The QTU proudly launched its new reconciliation action plan (RAP) at the conference, with RAP Committee Chairperson Tom McCartney and Gandu Jarjum Chair Amanda Power officially handing the document to General Secretary Kate Ruttiman. The RAP reaffirms the QTU’s commitment to reconciliation.

The second day of the conference was a full-day workshop for First Nations members lead by Lara Watson, the ACTU’s First Nations Officer.  Lara spoke about national issues impacting upon educators and worked with the activists on the Voice Treaty Truth campaign.

Thank you to all the passionate QTU members who took part in the very well attended two day conference, and to our fantastic line-up of speakers for their support and insights. 

Rachel Bos

First Nations Officer