In Conversation: Katie Kiss

Katie Kiss, the new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for the past 25 years.

Australian Human Rights Commissioners Katie Kiss and Giri Sivaraman at Garma 2024. Photo: Australian Human Rights Commission

She spoke to Reconciliation News about the necessity of a human rights-based approach and her commitment to working with communities to develop positive solutions and outcomes.

What led you here to the Human Rights Commission?

Human rights and the fight for social justice has always been in my blood. My grandfather, who is my inspiration, was a staunch rights advocate and played a big role in the establishment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, education, housing and legal services in Rockhampton.

As a mother, aunt and grandmother, I have a commitment to ensuring the world in which my families live, respects who they are and that they are safe culturally, physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, and where they are free to pursue their goals and dreams with confidence.

I’ve been involved in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs at local, community, state, national and international levels, for the past 25 years, working across issues affecting First Nations Peoples; community development, constitutional reform, social justice, governance, native title and land management, and education and employment.

I spent a formative eight years at the Commission from 2006, including as the Director of the Social Justice Team during both Tom Calma and Mick Gooda’s terms as the Social Justice Commissioner.

I then held senior advisory positions in the Queensland Government, and before this role, I was the Executive Director of the Interim Truth and Treaty Body supporting Queensland’s Path to Treaty.

It is a real honour to follow the legacy left by the Commissioners before me. There is so much work to do and conversations to continue having. We need to elevate and empower our people, and this must be done together.

How does the position of Social Justice Commissioner fit into the political, cultural landscape in Australia?

A human rights-based approach requires that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are able to live their lives with dignity; and that our children are nurtured and developed in a culturally affirming, and discrimination free society, rather than punished for circumstances out of their control.

As part of my role, I monitor the exercise and enjoyment of human rights by our people, and I provide advice to governments and others about ensuring the policy and legislation enables and realises our rights.

Ongoing national crises in cost of living, housing, domestic and family violence, mental health, child safety and youth justice, amplify the need for system reform that ensures the rights of all communities. Systemic racism and structural disadvantage exacerbate these system failures for our people, so transforming government, and consequently ‘the system’ is critical to closing the gap and achieving better outcomes for our people.

Since the Voice Referendum, our people have experienced a significant rise in racism and discrimination.

My role can help to move the debate from one where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples are considered to be a problem, to one that highlights our capacity to lead the response.

We need to move beyond building up ever greater piles of inquiries, reports, and recommendations into a space of greater accountability and evidence based policy and action.

What’s your assessment of the state of human rights in Australia?

There’s far more work that needs to be done, the rights of First Nations Peoples are not being upheld.

I strongly believe Australia needs to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and this will be a key focus of my work. It has been 15 years since Australia endorsed the UN Declaration, having initially voted against it.

We’re dying younger, being incarcerated more often, our kids are being removed from their homes more often. Racism is widely embedded in structures which, in many cases, work against our people.

Australia can do much better.

The Declaration and a national Human Rights Act, which the Commission has set out and provided to government, will help this, but we need the political will and commitment to bring these human rights protections to life in Australia.

How are you approaching this work post referendum?

The Voice Referendum debate reinforced the experience of First Nations Peoples, that the hurtful and harmful impacts of colonisation are intergenerational, ongoing and entrenched in the social fabric of the Australian nation.

It also highlighted the need for a reframed, respectful and reconciled relationship that is grounded in truth, justice and healing, for First Nations People and the Australian nation. This is even more important since the referendum outcome, which has seen a marked rise in the experience of racism by First Nations People.

We need all governments to be promoting this reframed relationship if we are to progress improved outcomes for First Nations Peoples.

What inspires-enables you to continue with this work?

I am inspired by the strength and courage of our peoples, our families, our communities.

First Nations Peoples globally carry with them a sense of pride that is not solely a reflection of our histories but also embodies the resilience, strength and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities to a diverse and inclusive society.

Our long and vibrant histories showcase innovation and cultural richness, from traditional knowledges that contribute to science, ecology, environmental and biodiversity management, and traditional healing and medicine, to our cultural ceremonies and our practices in art, music and storytelling, to significant achievements in environmental stewardship over generations and community leadership.

However, our people and our communities live with the legacy of colonisation daily, through systems that perpetrate ongoing injustices in all aspects of our lives.

There is so much work to do, and I feel the full weight of the responsibility this role carries with it. When I see and hear about the injustices faced by our people, I am inspired to engage in processes that help to start rectifying all the wrongs that have been endured.

I am passionate about hearing from our communities and understanding their unique perspectives and nuanced needs and priorities. Whether it be about Closing the Gap, youth justice reform, native title and land justice, truth-telling and treaty, or combatting racism and other structural barriers.

Learn more about the work of the Australian Human Right Commission Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Team via humanrights.gov.au/our-work/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-social-justice

This article is from Reconciliation News #52. Read the rest of the issue.

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Paul House with gum leaves and smoke
Paul Girrawah House

Paul Girrawah House has multiple First Nation ancestries from the South-East Canberra region, including the Ngambri-Ngurmal (Walgalu), Pajong (Gundungurra), Wallabollooa (Ngunnawal) and Erambie/Brungle (Wiradyuri) family groups.

Paul acknowledges his diverse First Nation history, he particularly identifies as a descendant of Onyong aka Jindoomang from Weereewaa (Lake George) and Henry ‘Black Harry’ Williams from Namadgi who were both multilingual, essentially Walgalu-Ngunnawal-Wiradjuri speaking warriors and Ngunnawal–Wallaballooa man William Lane aka ‘Billy the Bull’ - Murrjinille.

Paul was born at the old Canberra hospital in the centre of his ancestral country and strongly acknowledges his First Nation matriarch ancestors, in particular his mother Dr Aunty Matilda House-Williams and grandmother, Ms Pearl Simpson-Wedge.

Paul completed a Bachelor of Community Management from Macquarie University, and Graduate Certificate in Wiradjuri Language, Culture and Heritage and Management from CSU.

Paul provided the Welcome to Country for the 47th Opening of Federal Parliament in 2022. Paul is Board Director, Ngambri Local Aboriginal Land Council, Member Indigenous Reference Group, National Museum of Australia and Australian Government Voice Referendum Engagement Group.  

Paul works on country with the ANU, First Nations Portfolio as a Senior Community Engagement Officer

Acknowledgement of Country

Reconciliation Australia acknowledges Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing  connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures; and to Elders past and present. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.

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