Only 30 days left: Geelong One Fire Reconciliation Group (GOFRG) Inc. takes up a once in a lifetime opportunity

You Me Unity is the national conversation about updating our constitution to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture for the benefit of all Australians. There are only 30 days left for people in Geelong to join in. Today GORFG joined in by making an online submission to You Me Unity about the changes it would like to see to the constitution.

Everyone in Geelong can have a say in this once in a lifetime opportunity. It’s simple. With just a click of the button people in Geelong can have a say.

Visit the You Me Unity website (www.youmeunity.org.au) to learn more. Fill in a single question survey, write an essay or just a few words. There are lots of options. We’d like to encourage people to read GOFRG’s submission to help them think about what they’d like to say. You can also read submissions from across the country at the You Me Unity website.

Constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can right past wrongs and challenge the harmful effects of racism in the present. Research shows that racism is a threat to public health in Australia, especially for Indigenous Australians where its effects have reached crisis proportions. Health problems from the lack of respect and recognition that underpins racism include high blood pressure, heart disease, depression and anxiety (refer: http://www.antar.org.au/racism).

Recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our constitution can be a point of pride for all Australians. We are out of step with many other countries (New Zealand, Canada, Norway, Finland, South Africa, Bolivia, Eucudor, Mexico and the USA) by not doing so.