About This Event
Multicultural Australia in partnership with QPAC is excited to be hosting Changing the Conversation: Who Are We?: Identity in a Multicultural Australia, the third in our 2024 series of thought-provoking discussions exploring key issues in our increasingly multicultural society.
What does it mean to be Australian today? Engage in a conversation with our panel about our national identity as we explore the reality of our present-day cultural diversity and unravel ideas of belonging, heritage and collective identity. How do we come to terms with an ever-changing idea of what it means to be ‘Australian’ that is moving away from the traditionally accepted stereotypes of a Euro-centric, monolingual population to a much more diverse face of Australia? Explore the dimensions of historical roots, multicultural influences and contemporary values that are shaping our understanding of Australia’s national identity.
Who Are We? – Identity in a Multicultural Australia is supported by the Department of Multicultural Affairs as part of Multicultural Queensland Month.
Click on ‘Book Now’ to be directed to QPAC ticket sales – it’s essential that tickets are pre-booked.
About Changing the Conversation
Bringing together thought leaders from academia, government, business, and the community to engage in robust discussions about multiculturalism in the Australian context, the Changing the Conversation series – presented by Multicultural Australia in partnership with QPAC – explores issues of who and where we are as a nation and what we need to do to create a society that better reflects and cares for all its people. Who Are We?: Identity in a Multicultural Australia is the third of four events in this series to be held in 2024.
We look forward to you engaging with this conversation.
About Yumi Stynes
Yumi Stynes is a broadcaster and author. She has been working in Australian media for more than two decades, first as a music reporter, arts reporter and pop culture interviewer to working now as a writer and authority on sex education, consent, women’s issues, race issues, food and art. She is the face and voice of the hugely popular ABC podcast, ‘Ladies, We Need to Talk’, ‘I Heart Trivia’ on I Heart Radio, the podcast ‘SEEN’ on SBS, and the popular food podcast ‘5 Minute Food Fix’.
Yumi is the co-author of the acclaimed ‘Welcome To’ book series which shot to fame (and best-seller lists) in 2023 when right-wing fascists tried to have ‘Welcome to Sex’ withdrawn from sale.
She also released a spin-off book from her food podcast in 2023, called The Food Fix.
An accomplished MC, facilitator and speaker; Yumi hosted recent events including the 2023 Sydney Writers Festival Great Debate, the Newcastle ‘New Annual’ multicultural arts and music festival in 2023, She Leads Conferences, Art After Hours at AGNSW, Rural Sexual Health Conference, Women in Leadership Symposium and NSW Western Region Primary Principals Association. This year (2024) you will continue to hear Yumi on her podcasts while she works on her next two books.
About Dinesh Palipana
Dinesh is a doctor, lawyer, disability advocate, and researcher. While in medical school, he was involved in a car accident that caused a spinal cord injury. He was Queensland’s first quadriplegic medical intern.
An award-winning individual both professionally and personally, Dinesh was the Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service’s Junior Doctor of the Year in 2018. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 2019. He was the third Australian to be awarded a Henry Viscardi Achievement Award. He was the 2021 Griffith University Young Alumnus of the Year. Dinesh was the Queensland Australian of the Year for 2021. In 2022, Dinesh was listed as number 33 in the Courier Mail’s top 100 power list for Queensland’s most influential in health and wellbeing. His autobiography, Stronger, was published by Pan Macmillan in 2022.
He is a strong advocate and leader for human rights and inclusion, serving in many capacities to build the understanding and capability of the Queensland community regarding people with disabilities.
About Courtney Stewart
Courtney Stewart is an acclaimed director, dramaturg, actor and teaching artist with a deep passion for intercultural works and multicultural dramaturgies. She is the current Artistic Director and CEO of La Boite Theatre.
A proud Queenslander, Courtney started her professional career as an actor before honing her talents as a director, dramaturg, diversity advocate, and change maker for some of the country’s most prolific companies and organisations, including Sydney Theatre Company (as Directing Associate and Richard Wherrett Fellow), Belvoir, and Contemporary Asian Australian Performance (as Artistic Associate).
Courtney was previously Chair of the Equity Diversity Committee, a delegate to the National Performers Committee, and a former board member for Contemporary Asian Australian Performance.
About Indigo Willing
Dr Indigo Willing is the creator and co-founder of award-winning community projects focused on diversity and inclusion.
Her activities span social worlds that reflect her diverse background and lived experiences as a Vietnam War orphan and adoptee, an Asian Australian, academic and skateboarder.
She is a co-founder of the women and Queer-led networks – Consent is Rad, and We Skate QLD – and is a part of the Skating/Sustainability/Health Research/Environmental Design (SSHRED) team. She is also the Co-Chair of the International Advisory Board for Skateistan. Reflecting her other community connections, she is also the founder of the Adopted Vietnamese International (AVI) network, and convenes the Asian Australian Films, Forum, and News Network.
About Murray Benton
Murray Benton is an Aboriginal Barkindji Koori man from Central West New South Wales. He is a valued part of the leadership team with Q Shelter, a peak body working to influence solutions to housing need and homelessness in Queensland.
He is a member of the Child Death Review Board with the Queensland Family and Child Commission, a Board Director of Bendigo Bank Gympie Branch, and a Community Partner with White Ribbon Australia.
Murray holds an impressive record of working closely with government departments and non-government agencies to deliver specialist homelessness and dignity services. His experience spans crisis response and accommodation programs, case management and risk, state and federal emergency relief, primary sexual and reproductive health and antenatal care, natural disaster response, domestic family and sexual violence supports including refuge, multicultural migrant services, community housing organisations, and more. He is also a fierce advocate in first nations space and achieved international exposure through his advocacy in youth mental health and suicide prevention. He has overcome many adverse childhood experience shaping the person he is today.
See why previous attendees love the Changing the Conversation Series:
“An amazing night where I heard inspiring speakers and listened to a future that filled me with hope for a new direction.”
“…extremely worthwhile. Some extremely interesting speakers from across the age range. I am looking forward to the next event.”
“…the Multicultural Australia panelists were brilliant.”
