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National emergency will not end abuse, education will, church says
Wahroonga, New South Wales
Melody Tan
In response to the recent news regarding Prime Minister John Howard declaring a national emergency and seizing control of Aboriginal land, the Seventh-day Adventist Church believes it will have very little impact on solving the far-reaching problems of abuse and addiction.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific is organising the first ever national convention for indigenous women in an attempt to address issues such as alcohol fuelled sexual abuse.
“The national emergency is going to be seen as a solution that has been forced onto the indigenous community and will therefore only have limited success,” says Mrs Delphine Writer, chairperson of the planning committee. “What we need is the opportunity to be part of the process in which we can come up with a solution and claim ownership of it.”
Close to 300 indigenous women from all over Australia will meet to address issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, nutrition education and mental health problems for the first time in August.
The Adventist Church World Headquarters’ first female vice-president, Dr Ella Simmons, is a special guest speaker for the convention, themed Women at the Centre.
Women at the Centre, to be held at the Voyagers Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru, will feature workshops and discussion sessions that will establish a network to help indigenous women in the country.
Wahroonga, New South Wales
Melody Tan
In response to the recent news regarding Prime Minister John Howard declaring a national emergency and seizing control of Aboriginal land, the Seventh-day Adventist Church believes it will have very little impact on solving the far-reaching problems of abuse and addiction.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific is organising the first ever national convention for indigenous women in an attempt to address issues such as alcohol fuelled sexual abuse.
“The national emergency is going to be seen as a solution that has been forced onto the indigenous community and will therefore only have limited success,” says Mrs Delphine Writer, chairperson of the planning committee. “What we need is the opportunity to be part of the process in which we can come up with a solution and claim ownership of it.”
Close to 300 indigenous women from all over Australia will meet to address issues such as domestic violence, substance abuse, nutrition education and mental health problems for the first time in August.
The Adventist Church World Headquarters’ first female vice-president, Dr Ella Simmons, is a special guest speaker for the convention, themed Women at the Centre.
Women at the Centre, to be held at the Voyagers Ayers Rock Resort in Uluru, will feature workshops and discussion sessions that will establish a network to help indigenous women in the country.
Find out more about Women at the Centre.
