The Culture Exchange An Amnesty International & Western Bulldogs Community Foundation initiative Words by Narelle Mulrooney and Macaylah Johnson
Allies can play a key role in tackling racism, as well as advocating for inclusion of people from marginalised or under represented groups, using their position to counter inequality.”
Loreto College Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Outreach Officer, Macaylah Johnson, is a panellist for The Culture Exchange, a program designed to build culturally inclusive workplaces and communities, and to tackle racism through allyship. A partnership between Amnesty International and the Western Bulldogs will see the joint delivery and facilitation of The Culture Exchange program across the Bulldogs’ heartland in the west of Melbourne and Victoria. Macaylah helped launch the program at an event hosted at VU Whitten Oval, Melbourne on 10 December, 2021. The panellists involved at the launch event included: 1. Monica Forson (Footscray), Senior Adviser - Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission 2. Macaylah Johnson (Ballarat), Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Education and Outreach, Loreto College 3. Lunorphare Folly (Ballarat), Youth Commissioner Victorian Multicultural Commission The trio shared lived experiences, answered questions and gave insights to an audience of a range of community members from across the west of Melbourne.
Above: Macaylah Johnson
18
Allies can play a key role in tackling racism, as well as advocating for inclusion of people from marginalised or underrepresented groups, using their position to counter inequality. But what does good allyship look like in the community, in our schools and workplaces? How can allies use their privilege to amplify the voices of others to achieve real change as we step towards a world without racism? The program aims to address these questions and more. Hosted by VMC Commissioner and Amnesty International campaigner, Shankar Kasynathan, the program will explore successful allyship for groups such as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Insights will include: • Acknowledging privilege • Listening to lived experiences • Calling out inequality • Amplifying diverse voices • Understanding cultural load and identity strain • Workplace diversity ‘The partnership will create important conversations,’ Shankar Kasynathan said. ‘We want to create an Australian society that upholds everyone’s fundamental human rights and ensures every single person has the same opportunities irrespective of race.’ ‘We look forward to working with the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation to facilitate safe spaces across the west of
