Brisbane Free University

Refugee policy is a fiercely contested field of Australian political discourse. The major parties use politicised, dehumanised language to talk about some of the most marginalised and vulnerable people in the world – those who are seeking asylum.

On Wednesday 21 May, BFU presents a panel discussion and community Q&A on all matters of refugee policy: ethics, law, community sentiment, culture and politics.

Panelists:
Dr. Peter Billings is a Senior Lecturer at TC Beirne School of Law at UQ. His research interests are public law, immigration and refugee law, Indigenous Australian law and policy and administrative law.

Dr Gerhard Hoffstaedter is an academic at UQ. He has worked with refugees and asylum seekers in Malaysia since 2010, and he’s about to take up a Discovery Early Career Research Award to produce an in-depth ethnography of the refugee experience in Malaysia.

The discussion and Q&A will be facilitated by Brisbane-based activist, writer and lawyer, Marissa Dooris.

When?  Wednesday 21 May,  6.30pm – 8.30pm

Where?  Carpark under Westpac Bank, 89-91 Boundary Street, West End.

ALL WELCOME!

BFU is pleased to present a panel discussion and interactive workshop on alternatives to violence.  Violence against women is a complex and far-reaching issue.  Impacts are felt across the community.  These speakers tackle the issues of preventing, confronting and responding to violence against women.

POSSIBLE TRIGGER WARNING: There is no graphic content, but the discussions will include conversation around violence against women.

The panel:

Aurora Murphy, Shannon Spriggs, Michelle Dang

Aurora is an applied theatre artist who uses performance as a vehicle of social transformation. She has recently completed a Ph.D. on using performance to prevent sexual violence. Aurora has created performances with many different organisations and community groups, mostly around the themes of love, sex, violence, and ethics.

Description
The prevention of violence can seem like an impossible task, appearing depressing at best, and retraumatising at worst. However, what if the prevention of violence was pursued through the arts and performance? What would these performances look like and how could art actually stop violence from occurring? And what about sexual violence – can performance work against that?

If you are interested in innovative responses to violence, are curious about the way drama can be a vehicle for social change, or work with community groups toward transformation this session will be valuable to you. After an introduction to this work Aurora will invite you to get out of your comfort zone and have a go at some of the techniques she describes. No experience is necessary! This session will value trying over talent and look for courage rather than competency.

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Dr. Shannon Spriggs has spent the last ten years with Mentors in Violence Prevention promoting the prevention of men’s violence against women using the bystander approach. Shannon has facilitated more than 700 training sessions with various groups, including high school and university students and staff, professional athletes, businessmen and women, educators, social service providers and military service members.

Description
Whose business is it?
We need to be concerned about the epidemic of violence against women in Australia and around the world. Intimate partner violence is the leading cause of death, disability and illness for women between 15 – 44, while one in five women report having experienced sexual violence. This does not even scratch the surface when you think about verbal and emotional abuse or sexual harassment. Violence against women also has significant effects in the workplace.

We need to think about the ways we are all accountable, as bystanders, for the prevention of violence against women. It is crucial for every person to take responsibility for being a part of the solution. We need to create an environment that says that violence against women is not okay.

As bystanders, we can do three things to create change.

• We can raise awareness and increase people’s knowledge about the seriousness of the issue. It is critical to educate yourselves, talk to your families, and provide educational opportunities for others about violence against women.
• We can step up and address violence and/or abusive behaviour when we see it. We must be willing to speak up against problem behaviour and provide support to those who need it.
• We must think critically about how to intervene. Intervention is not just about getting right in there and having your say. It is about making the smartest, safest choice with the highest likelihood of being effective.

Every person has the ability to prevent, confront or interrupt situations of violence.

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Michelle Dang is a feminist, book hoarder and self-confessed basketball fanatic. In her early 20s, Michelle stumbled across the world of ideas from bell hooks, Paulo Freire, INCITE!, narrative practice and anti-oppressive/feminist ideas. She was captured and transformed forever. These discoveries led her to addressing sexual and domestic violence through practicing counselling and community development in NGOs throughout South-East Queensland. But with dismay, Michelle finds herself perpetually discontent with the dominant ways that men’s violence is addressed and laments the absence of more radical, transformative politics. Subsequently, she has embarked on a mission to work with others to bridge the gulf between activism, collective practices and anti-violence action.

Description
Michelle contends that a more effective tool for social change are broader, community-based approaches that focus on social conditions and education rather than strategies based on punishment and incarceration. She sees that working to challenge men’s violence against women demands a critique of all form of oppression, an ethics of accountability and a practice of community responsibility.

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When?  6.30pm, Tuesday 25 March, 2014

Where?   Carpark under Westpac Bank, 89-91 Boundary Street, West End

AS USUAL, ALL ARE WELCOME!

The space is child-friendly. Animals are also welcome, but only if they have thoughtful comments. Just kiddddddding. Dangerous reptiles are not recommended.

This session will include some group based activities, but if you’re uncomfortable in that environment, you’re welcome to sit out or leave after the presentations.

There might be tea.

Don’t panic! The universe is pretty large and intergalactic travel can get quite tiresome. Perhaps one of the most tiresome areas to navigate is the Capitalist economy of the planet Earth (in the Solar System). In an attempt to save countless hours of your life, this guide is designed to give you access to the capitalist planet without having to commodify yourself, your values, time or your loved ones!

Our guides for the evening: 

Peter (PJ) Holtum is an ‘Australian Postgraduate Award’ RHD student with first class honours undertaking a PhD in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Queensland. His research areas include sociology, philosophy and political science. His current research project is an empirical investigation into the construction of worker identity and its effect on creativity, productivity and agency in contemporary globalised workplaces.

James Ribeiro Duthie is a sociologist and PhD candidate in the school of Social Sciences at the University of Queensland. He holds a masters in Social Development with a major in International Social Development from UNSW, as well as a Masters in Environmental Management with a major in Sustainable Development from UQ. He has worked and traveled extensively in the global south, as in international Development, as an adventure tour guide and a down and out vagabond, where his experiences helped form a passion for the study of social and ecological systems and how they interrelate, especially in the context of sustainability. He is interested in food and food systems, in particular the social-ecological aspects of urban agriculture and its potential to be used in the transition towards a sustainable and just society.

When: Tuesday the 25th of February, 6.30 – 8.30 pm.

Where: Car park under the Westpac Bank, 89-91 Boundary St, West End.

Brisbane Free University invites you to a panel discussion focusing on women in media. With the approach of International Women’s Day, this event aims to celebrate women working in a variety of different media roles. It is also an opportunity to critically discuss the representation of women in these industries.

When: Wednesday the 19th of February, 6.30 – 8.30 pm.

Where: Car park under the Westpac Bank, 89-91 Boundary St, West End.

Panellists:

Sally Prosser is a freelance television journalist and news producer, as well as a university tutor and media voice trainer. She’ll provide an insight into the world of television news and the challenges of getting a bulletin to air each night. Sally will also offer tips on how to crack into the industry and what to expect once you do.

Nicole Jensen is a freelance social media strategist. She has managed social media for ad agencies, ad agencies, large businesses, SMEs, not-for-profits, lobby campaigns, job seekers, students and teachers. Her main interests are in content marketing as well as digital reputation management for individuals. Nicole will be discussing networking and creative self-promotion. 
 
Ellie Freeman is 25 and works in community media. She got her start volunteering at 4ZZZ FM and has since worked in several differnt community media roles. She currently works as sound and program producer at ethnic community radio station 4EB FM. Half of her job is fiddling with waveforms and the other half is producing a grant-funded program, Where are you From? Where are you From? talks to multicultural Australians about their lives in Australia plus their views on racism, ethnic identity, culture, migration and refugees. Ellie was born in Korea and adopted by Australian parents. Ethnic identity and what it means to be from a multicultural background in Australia is a topic she’s particularly passionate about, which is what she aims to explore by producing ‘Where are you From?’ http://4eb.org.au/whereareyoufrom
 

Brisbane Free University is open to all, pet and family friendly, and free.

Brisbane Free University welcomes you to a discussion on the question of ethical investment and divestment. 

Our speakers for the evening:

Karen McLeod is a financial adviser that specialises in ethical investment. She helps socially-conscious investors to make ethical investment choices. Karen has previously given talks with groups such as 350.org on topics including how to divest from fossil fuels.

Justine Hickey is an independent non-executive director with over 20 years’ experience in investments, superannuation and corporate governance. She sits on a range of for-profit and not-for-profit boards and has a particular interest in responsible investing.

When: 6:30pm, Tuesday, February 11th, 2014.

Where: TBA

Brisbane Free University remains free of charge and open to all.

Brisbane Free University invites you to a panel discussion in anticipation of the G20 Summit that will be held in Brisbane in November this year. Potential topics for discussion include how Brisbane locals can report the G20 and other events in the city, as well as the broader role of media (traditional and contemporary) in building resistance movements. Each panellist will give a brief presentation, followed by time for general discussion.

When: Tuesday the 14th of January, 6.30 – 8.30 pm.

Where: Car park under the Westpac Bank, 89-91 Boundary St, West End.

Panellists:

Nic Seton grew up in Brisbane, but concern about climate justice took him overland to the UK. Nic is now the Community Strategist for Greenpeace UK. Today, digital story-telling is a central tool in growing and engaging with groups of citizens to effect change. Nic will present a variety of examples to inspire Brisbanites ahead of the G20, including one project he collaborated on, where six women climbed to the top of Europe tallest building to protest Arctic oil drilling, while being watched be nearly a quarter of a million people live online.

Jim Beatson was a radical activist at the University of Queensland in the late ‘60s and ‘70s. Jim’s career in media and journalism has included working for The Economist magazine (London), The Guardian (London and Australia) and the Australian Financial Review, along with contributing to The Washington Post, The Independent (London), The Observer (London), San Francisco Chronicle, Sydney Morning Herald, Time magazine, the BBC and ABC radio program. Jim has also taught journalism at the University of Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Technology Sydney, been a successful co-author of two radio and one television metro-wide station license applications and has developed and written the media curriculum for TAFE, NSW. He is one of the founders of 4ZZZ, the National Radio News network and was a member of the Whitlam Government’s Working Party which first developed Community Radio in Australia. Since moving to Byron Shire he has worked on resourcing existing community-based institutions and working as Research Officer for Byron “Greens” Mayor, Simon Richardson.

Andrew Bartlett was a Senator for 10+ years and a political activist before and after that. He was also involved with community radio 4ZZZ in the 1980s and continues to be so today. Andrew is a contributor to/user of social, independent and mainstream media.

Ben Pennings is the publisher of Generation Alpha and coordinator of Over Our Dead Bodies. Generation Alpha is actively involved in BrisCAN-G20, an emerging multi-organisational resistance and response to the November staging of G20 in Brisbane.

Brisbane Free University is open to all, pet and family friendly, and free.

Many thanks to everyone who attended our open meeting last Saturday.  We discussed some great feedback and ideas for the future.  For anyone who is interested, we’ve transcribed the audio recording of the meeting into written minutes, which can be found here: BFU Open Meeting 14.12 minutes

Please feel free to email BFU at any time with suggestions, comments, etc.  We’re all ears!