We, the Uluru Youth Dialogue, gathered in Meanjin, Brisbane on 21-23 July 2023.

We are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander – First Nations – people aged 18-35 years, who come from communities across the country, from many different walks of life. We were joined by our senior leaders, Co-Chairs of the Uluru Dialogue, Professor Megan Davis and Pat Anderson AO.

Formed in 2019, we have been fierce advocates for the Uluru Statement from the Heart to be implemented in full and in sequence, starting with a constitutionally enshrined First Nations Voice. We are the only youth-led campaign working for youth towards a successful referendum. A key part of our work is engaging with our communities and informing the Australian public about what the Voice is, and what it will mean for First Nations youth.

83% of First Nations people across the country support this reform. 73% of all young Australians support the Voice.

These statistics are important. They paint a picture of a media debate that has shut out young people and their voices. Especially the voices of First Nations young people. It is our future. Young people are crucial to this movement. We stand on the shoulders of our ancestors, carrying forward the spirit and legacies of warriors before us. We bring fresh perspectives and ways of doing things. We have seen some change in our lifetime, but we have also seen the status quo mostly upheld and even steps backwards. We now have an opportunity worth seizing. We ask that our voices be heard; we want to inherit mechanisms that will work, and that means we need change.

Together, we declare our ongoing support for and commitment to a First Nations Voice, as called for by the Uluru Statement.

A successful referendum will allow us to take our rightful place in our country. We believe the Voice will make a practical difference to our futures and generations to come. By having a say on the issues that affect us, we can build our future.

We urge all Australians to get educated on the facts between now and referendum day. We want them to know:

1. the Voice is a call to action from a historical consensus of First Nations peoples, a grassroots people’s movement.

2. a vote for no, is a vote for more of the same; and

3. the no campaign offers no solutions and no vision for our young people’s futures, or our families and communities.

We make this declaration and call out to other young Australians – please join us in creating a truly unifying moment in our country.

And to all Australians, let the referendum legacy be a courageous and optimistic one. Walk with us.

HistoryIsCalling

#StayTrue2Uluru #UluruStatement