Young Aussies unite to talk over how to convert grandparents over Indigenous voice to parliament

In loungerooms and at kitchen islands across Australia in the next six weeks, young supporters of the Indigenous voice to parliament will start conversations with their grandparents on the referendum.

Uluru Touth leaders Allira Davis, left, and Bridget Cama. Picture: Toby Zerna

In loungerooms and at kitchen islands across Australia in the next six weeks, young supporters of the Indigenous voice to parliament will start conversations with their grandparents on the referendum. And some will have their work cut out. This month, an exclusive Newspoll found retirees were among those most likely to be opposed to recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution through an Indigenous advisory body.

That is one reason why young Australians are workshopping strategies this weekend at the Hands on Heart Youth Voice National Conference in Sydney.

Uluru Youth was established by the Uluru Dialogue campaign to help build the people’s movement for a voice, and its young leaders, Bridget Cama and Allira Davis, are working with non-Indigenous youth for the first time as a group of 100 from organisations including the Fred Hollows Foundation, 80 of them non-Indigenous, prepare to discuss the work ahead.

“We always wanted to hold a combined conference with non-Indigenous youth and some of our Indigenous ambassadors,” said Ms Davis, a Cobble Cobble woman from Queensland. “Hopefully they will have dinner table conversations and kitchen talks with their grandparents, family, acquaintances, friends … We know those genuine connections and genuine conversations will help us win this referendum.”