Aboriginal humour the focus of Cultural Diversity lecture

One of Australia’s leading Aboriginal educators, Lillian Holt, will be the guest speaker at Southern Cross University’s Annual Cultural Diversity public lecture on Thursday, August 10.

Lillian was born on Cherboug Aboriginal Settlement in Queensland and was among the first wave of Aboriginal graduates. In 2004 she was awarded a Gandhi/King/Ikeda Peace Prize by Morehouse College in the United States for her work in peace and reconciliation.

She has more than 30 years experience in Indigenous education and holds the position of Vice-Chancellor’s Fellow at the University of Melbourne. She was previously the director of the University’s Centre for Indigenous Education.

She will be speaking on Aboriginal humour – the subject of her PhD.

The Annual Cultural Diversity Lecture, which was started in 2004, is hosted by the Centre for Cultural Diversity and Social Justice and the School of Arts and Social Sciences.

Associate Professor Baden Offord, Director of the Centre for Cultural Diversity and Social Justice, said Southern Cross University was committed to cultural diversity and a harmonious society.

“The annual lecture provides an opportunity to learn from an eminent Australian about how to negotiate a diverse Australia,” Professor Offord said.

The lecture is free and open to all members of the community. It is being held in the Whitebrook Theatre from 1pm to 2pm on Thursday, August 10.

Ms Holt will also participate in the second Southern Cross University Whiteness Workshop to be held on Friday, August 11, at Invercauld House. The series of workshops, with the third planned for September 8, provide a space for extended discussions about colour, race and citizenship in Australia, by using ‘whiteness’ as a frame for engagement and enquiry.