We use cookies to improve your experience on our site and to show you personalised advertising. To find out more, read our privacy policy and cookie policy

Skip to Content
University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo. University of Wollongong Australia. Logo.
  • Search
  • Give
  • Library
  • Current Students
  • Staff
  • UOW Global
    • Our global presence
    • UOW in Dubai
    • UOW in Hong Kong
    • UOW in Malaysia
  • Menu
  • Study at UOW

    • Courses
    • Apply
    • Scholarships & grants
    • Accommodation
    • High-school students
    • Non-school leavers
    • Postgraduate students
    • International students
    • Moving to Wollongong
    • Study abroad & exchange
    • Global sport programs
    • Campuses
    Study at UOW
  • Engage

    • Future student
    • Alumni
    • Visit UOW
    • Woolyungah Indigenous Centre
    • Volunteer
    • The Stand Magazine
    • Community Members
    • Grants and funding
    • Give to UOW
    • Visit the Library
    • Key contacts
    • Educators & school teachers
    Engage with us
  • About UOW

    • Welcome
    • Our people
    • Services
    • Contacts
    • What's on
    • Global presence
    • Media Centre
    • Faculties & schools
    • Our vision & strategy
    • Our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Strategy
    • Our reputation & experience
    • Locations, campuses & partners
    See more about UOW
  • Research

    • Our research
    • Researcher support
    • Research impact
    • Partnership & collaboration
    • Graduate Research School
    • Commercial research
    • Global Challenges
    • Media, news & events
    • Find an expert
    • Our people
    See more about research
  • Industry

    • Generator Lab
    • Advantage SME
    • Success stories
    • Industry research engagement
    • Equipment & Labs
    • Funding opportunities
    • Intellectual property
    • Collaboration for business
    • Collaboration for researchers
    • Careers and employability
    See more about Industry
  • Alumni

    • Benefits
    • Outlook Magazine
    • Events & webinars
    • Volunteer
    • Awards
    • Honorary alumni
    • Testamurs & transcripts
    • Update your details
    • Your career journey
    • Contact us & FAQ
    See more about alumni
  • Quick links

    • Contact directory
    • Staff Intranet
    • Campus maps
    • Transport & parking
    • Key dates
    • Events
    • Password management
    • Jobs
    • Accommodation
    • Policy directory
  • Library
You are here More Pages
  • Home
  • About UOW
  • Media Centre
  • 2020
  • UOW lecturer reflects on 20-year anniversary of reconciliation bridge walk

Media Quick Links

  • Contact UOW Media
  • Visiting campus
  • Image library
  • UOW key facts
  • Find an expert
  • News Corp subscription
  • Sign up for the latest news from UOW Media

May 28, 2020


  • Story By
  • Kate Mayhew
Share
Type
General News
Category
Community
Tags
CommunityIndigenous healthSocial Sciences
Related Posts
Fast action needed to protect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communitiesFriday essay: this grandmother tree connects me to Country. I cried when I saw her burned

UOW in the News

UOW lecturer reflects on 20-year anniversary of reconciliation bridge walk

Summer May Finlay joins Ken Wyatt, Linda Burney and Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine to reflect on the bridge walks of 2000


It’s been 20 years since around 250,000 people walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of reconciliation. It was the largest political demonstration in Australia’s history.

And while progress has been made since that historic day in 2000, University of Wollongong (UOW) lecturer Summer May Finlay says much more needs to be done.

“Reconciliation is an ongoing process. Over the past 20 years there has been progress, however there is a long way to go,” she said.

It was this progress that Ms Finlay discussed on Thursday 28 May as part of a Reconciliation Australia panel discussion to reflect on the bridge walks of 2000 and the role of reconciliation since then.

Ms Finlay was joined on the panel by the Hon Ken Wyatt AM MP, the Hon Linda Burney MP and Reconciliation Australia CEO Karen Mundine. The discussion was hosted by Larissa Behrendt on ABC Radio National program Speaking Out.

Ms Finlay says the disregard many politicians and some Australians have had towards the Uluru Statement show Australia isn’t ready for the changes she believes it needs.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are only three per cent of the population. We need the other 97 percent to have a hard look at themselves to consider how to contribute to eliminating the ongoing oppression and discrimination of our mob,” she said.

“If the 97 percent did the heavy lifting regarding reconciliation, we’d see significant progress.”

Ms Finlay is a Yorta Yorta woman, lecturer in the UOW School of Health and Society, writer and public health consultant. She has worked in a number of different areas relating to Aboriginal health and social justice.

Media Contacts for this article

UOW Media Office

You may also be interested in

UOW to change names of some domestic campus locations
Australia Day awards and honours for alumni and community members
New scholarship aims to grow Indigenous education pathways
Services & Help
  • Current students
  • Library
  • Information technology
  • Accommodation
  • Security & safety
  • Pool, gym & retail
News, Media & Events
  • Media Centre
  • The Stand
  • Alumni Magazine
  • Research news
  • Events
  • Find an expert
Faculties
  • Arts, Social Sciences & Humanities
  • Business & Law
  • Engineering & Information Sciences
  • Science, Medicine & Health
Administration
  • Graduation
  • Environment
  • Policy directory
  • Learning and teaching
  • Financial Services
  • Access to information
  • Jobs
UOW Entities
  • Innovation Campus
  • UOW College Australia
  • UOW College Hong Kong
  • UOW in Dubai
  • UOW Global Enterprises
  • UOW Malaysia KDU
  • UOW Pulse
Connect with us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Conversation
  • Contact us
  • Feedback
  • Give to UOW

Northfields Ave Wollongong,  NSW 2522  Australia 
Phone: 1300 367 869 
International: +61 2 4221 3218 
Switchboard: +61 2 4221 3555

  • NUW Alliance: Smarter Solutions for NSW
  • University Global Partnership Network (UGPN)
  • Reconciliation Australia
  • AWEI LGBTQ inclusion awards logo

Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

On the lands that we study, we walk, and we live, we acknowledge and respect the traditional custodians and cultural knowledge holders of these lands.

Copyright © 2023 University of Wollongong
CRICOS Provider No: 00102E | TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12062 | ABN: 61 060 567 686
Copyright & disclaimer | Privacy & cookie usage | Web Accessibility Statement

Close