An exhibition at the Academy Gallery, University of Tasmania, shows the work of Queechy High School and St Brendan-Shaw College students in their endeavors to progress reconciliation.
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Reconciliation Tasmania co-chair Fiona Hughes said school students’ understanding of different cultures had increased dramatically since her own childhood.
“I had a talk with some kids at Queechy, and I asked, ‘who’s been discriminated against?’” she said.
“Hands raised, they weren’t afraid to say it, or talk about the impact that it does have, and the fact that you need to defend people who are being discriminated against, whether it’s race, colour, weight, whatever it is.
“They’re really starting to get it and understand it.”
In fact, Ms Hughes believes children are actually further advanced when it comes to understanding reconciliation than older people.
“We live in a country with lots of ethnicities these days,” she said.
“We’re not just two types: English and Aboriginal. We have lots of different community members, and I think the youth are up to date, more than anyone else, which is great.
“The youth are actually leading the way here, as far as reconciliation.”
The reconciliation program is called Youth Speakout, and asked students the question, ““How can we achieve better reconciliation outcomes for Tasmania?”
This was its first year running, and a significant expansion is planned for next year with more schools participating and more time for the students to create art.
“There’s some beautiful speeches and some beautiful works, they worked really, really hard,” Ms Hughes said.
“And this is the first time we’ve launched it. I know next year’s going to be huge.”
Students aged 12 to 17 created artworks, speeches, and films for Youth Speakout, and will present their ideas to Tasmanian Governor Kate Warner in Hobart on October 17. The works will be showing at the Academy Gallery until Friday, September 21.
They will then be on display in Hobart.