The Traditional Owners of this land are those who identify as
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

Sovereignty was never ceded.

ANTAR pays respect to Elders past, present, and emerging through our dedicated advocacy for First Nations Peoples’ justice and rights.

ANTAR acknowledges the responsibility of committing to a truth-telling process that promotes an honest and respectful path forward for future generations to build upon.

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Civics education, engagement & participation

ANTAR National Australian Lawyers Alliance (ALA)
Last edited: June 3, 2024

ANTAR and the ALA provide commentary and recommendations on the matters of civics education, engagement and participation in Australia to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters.

When considering the issues of civics education, engagement and participation in Australia, ANTAR and the ALA submit that it is critical to first recognise that, for tens of thousands of years prior to colonisation and Federation, the continent now known as Australia was made up of many hundreds of distinct geo-cultural First nations, each with their own unique governance and legal systems, customary protocols, conceptions of citizenship and education systems around civic duty and engagement. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conventions and conceptualisations of civics and citizenship are still very much alive and active to this day, despite continual attempts to erase them.