NATIONAL TALK BLACK – 16/04/2025
On todays National Talk Black via NIRS – National Indigenous Radio Service we have:
Phillip Musumeci, The Australian Greens Candidate for Leichhardt, talking to Trendy Trev about the lead up to the elections and his run for Leichhardt. Phillip was born in Babinda and grew up on a local family farm. He went to school locally before completing an engineering education in Townsville and Canberra, Now living in Cairns with his wife and son, who attends a nearby state school. As an academic adviser at JCU Cairns, Phillip found that students needing too many part-time jobs to try and pay their bills was a major cause of failure. With job changes now standard across our working lives, Phillip believes we need to support young students to get an education and older Australians who increasingly need to retrain. He believes Now is the time for free, lifelong public education and training, from school, through TAFE and university so that our people enjoy more rewarding lives and become an even more valuable and productive resource in our nation. Phillip says The Greens will ensure public schools are funded to meet every student’s needs, support teachers, and upgrade and maintain critical infrastructure that’s sustainable and accessible. And that They’ll introduce “back to school” payments for parents to ensure that public schools are truly free. Trendy Trev will be asking him how his campaign trail is going and if elected, what Phillip can do for the people.
https://greens.org.au/qld/person/phillip-musumeci
Hayley Geyle, Charles Darwin University (CDU) Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods and Study Lead Researcher, talking about Stronger together: Bilby conservation efforts enhanced by Indigenous knowledge. One of the nation’s most iconic and at-risk critters could benefit by combining Indigenous knowledge with western survey methods, according to a new study led by Charles Darwin University (CDU) in collaboration with the North Tanami Rangers and Traditional Owners from the community of Lajamanu. The study used two different methods to collect bilby scat for genetic analysis – standardised scientific surveys and tracking techniques based on Indigenous knowledge. This approach provided new insights into bilby population numbers. Bilbies once occupied much of arid and semi-arid Australia but have disappeared from about three quarters of their historic range. Today they are found only in parts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and Queensland. Surveying remote habitats is crucial for conversation efforts, but it can be expensive and challenging. Hayley said engagement with Indigenous groups could help overcome these challenges while ensuring research is collaborative and inclusive. And that conservation was not just about counting animals – it’s about relationships, between people, species, and landscapes. Lead Ranger for the North Tanami Rangers Helen Wilson said Elders played a critical role in teaching the next generation how to track the elusive animals. Ms Geyle said the results showed combining the two methods more accurately estimated bilby abundance than using either technique individually, meaning an integrated approach was not just more inclusive, but also more precise. Although the study’s monitoring approach is best suited to species that leave identifiable tracks and landscapes with soft, sandy substrates, Ms Geyle said the principles of collaboration could and should be used when studying any species. You can find out more via the link below!
https://www.cdu.edu.au/…/stronger-together-bilby…
Dr. Luke Martin, Beyond Blue Clinical Spokesperon and Psychologist, talking about Beyond Blue and AMES Australia join forces to improve mental health support for diverse communities. Migrant and refugee communities will have better access to culturally appropriate mental health support thanks to a new partnership between Beyond Blue and settlement agency AMES Australia. The two organisations have joined together to make it easier and more efficient for people to find the support that best suits them, when they need it. Together, AMES Australia and Beyond Blue support thousands of people each year with information, advice, resources and referrals. The partnership will improve access to mental health resources and information on supports/services for many marginalised communities; including refugees and migrants, and those who face additional barriers to accessing help. With one third of people in Australia born overseas, an increase in people finding refuge and safety in Australia, the continued impact of racism and discrimination, and current global conflicts, the need for more inclusive approaches to mental health is greater than ever. This important work is also a critical step in informing better policy, research, and service development for diverse communities. You can find out more via the link below!
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/…/beyond-blue-and-ames…
Have something happening in your community, and you want to talk about it, give us a call on 1800 422 416. Or Give us a text on 0457 140 550!
We would also like to thank the Community Broadcasting Foundation and National Indigenous Australians Agency for their support here at BBM 98.7FM.
Make sure to tune in Monday-Friday 11am-12pm QLD Time to stay up to date with the latest national events.
