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Yolanda Saiz, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW CEO, explains how the First Nations Voice to Parliament can be a transformative moment for Australia.
Opinion Piece originally published in The Daily Telegraph (10/10/23)

This can be a testament to the enduring power of kinship

In the cacophony of public discourse, there is often a plea to keep compassion apolitical.
However, the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW staunchly believes that every act of charity is an answer to the societal conditions necessitating compassion and advocacy. It is a resounding call for social justice, an acknowledgment that prevailing structures must be challenged to pave the way for a more equitable society.
The looming referendum for a First Nations Voice to Parliament is, in this context, a moral imperative.
It is a response to the relentless struggles faced by First Nations people daily. Around 25 per cent of the individuals assisted by our members are First Nations and one-in-five people experiencing homelessness nationally belong to the same community.
These statistics, disproportionate to the population, are emblematic of a deep-seated lack of agency and self-determination. The sceptics may question but the stark reality remains First Nations communities confront disproportionately poorer outcomes across health, education, employment and inclusion.
Engaging in this process is not an option; it is a necessity. The referendum is an opportunity, a chance to break the chains of the status quo and strive for a more just and compassionate society.
First Nations people have extended a hand of reconciliation, one that a kind, compassionate and mature Australia would accept in good faith.
At the Society, we understand that the surge in demand for assistance is not solely due to the cost-of-living pressures but is also a fundamental need to be heard and seen.
We can quantify the work of our members and frontline services, yet it is in the moments where we take the time to hear the voices of the people we assist and understand and recognise their concerns that lasting change can occur.
This sense of recognition reminds me of a moment earlier this year where our Vinnies Shops displayed the Aboriginal flag and other First Nations designs during National Reconciliation Week. These acts may seem unremarkable but for a First Nations woman who saw the display at one of our shops it was a heartfelt moment of embracement of her culture by wider society.
She took the time to call her family and ask them to come to the Shop to see the support displayed. We should never underestimate the power of being seen and acknowledged.
This is a shift from benevolence to genuine kinship, a recognition that those at the forefront of the struggle should shape the decisions that affect them.
Father Greg Boyle, an American Jesuit who has dedicated his life to working with gang members in Los Angeles, emphasises this interconnectedness, saying: "Kinship is what happens to us. We can decide to enter into it, embrace it, and fall in love with it or we can resist it, avoid it and resent it."
The parallels drawn between the Society's vision of a more just and compassionate society and the potential impact of a First Nations Voice to Parliament are compelling.
Just as providing support coupled with a deep understanding can transform lives, so too can an enshrined Voice transform the destiny of communities descended from the oldest living culture.
As the referendum looms, the choice is not just about constitutional change: it is about affirming the shared humanity that binds us all.
The First Nations Voice to Parliament is not just an instrument for change. It is a promise of transformation, a testament to the enduring power of kinship in the pursuit of justice.
Yolanda Saiz is the Chief Executive Officer of the St Vincent de Paul Society

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