Exchanging Ideas Conferences

The Judicial Commission has organised four “Exchanging Ideas Conferences”: in 2009, a follow up “Exchanging Ideas II Conference” in 2011; a symposium in June 2019 and a symposium in February 2023.

The aim of the 2009 and 2011 conferences was to bring together judicial officers from all levels of the courts and Aboriginal community members from across NSW to discuss a diverse range of matters relating to Aboriginal cultural, social and legal issues. The aim of the 2019 and 2023 symposia was to facilitate communication between the legal profession and First Nations people about key issues relating to constitutional reform, nation building and treaty-making processes.

The Ngara Yura Committee organised the 2009 and 2011 conferences with the generous support of the National Judicial College of Australia.

The 2019 and 2023 symposia were presented in partnership with the NSW Bar Association, the Law Society of NSW and the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The 2019 symposium discussed the processes that led to the 2017 Uluru Statement from the Heart as well as the processes of nation building and treaty making underway in 2019. The 2023 symposium discussed the practicalities of Voice, Treaty, Truth and the involvement of the legal profession in this process. The focus of discussion was on constitutional reform, and the importance of treaty and truth telling as a means to move on from Australia’s colonial legacy.

Reports on the conferences and symposia published in the Judicial Officers’ Bulletin

• Exchanging ideas about Aboriginal contact with the criminal justice system (Exchanging Ideas Conference II, September 2011) (PDF 3MB): The conference was structured around two interwoven themes: contemporary social issues which impact on Aboriginal communities, and contemporary legal matters arising from these issues.
• Lighting the way forward: respect, responsibility, engagement, diversity, local solutions (Exchanging Ideas Conference, May 2009) (PDF 5MB): The conference provided the context for Aboriginal incarceration, discussed problems in custody for Aboriginal prisoners, and canvassed strategies for effective post-custody supervision, rehabilitation, mentoring or diversion.
• First Nations consensus in constitutional reform, nation building and treaty making processes (Exchanging Ideas Symposium, June 2019) (PDF 767 KB)

Papers available from the 2023 Symposium: Exchanging Ideas: constitutional reform, nation building and treaty-making processes

• The Honourable Robert French AC, The Voice — A Step Forward for Australian Nationhood
• The Honourable Mark Dreyfus KC MP, Attorney-General of Australia, First Nations ‘Exchanging Ideas’ Symposium
• Exchanging Ideas: constitutional reform, nation building and treaty
  making processes (2023) 35 JOB 5