News & Events

Press Release for Launch of Hardwork: Australian South Sea Islanders Bibliography.

It is hypocritical of the Morrison Government to assure Pacific Islands nations of Australia’s good intentions when the Australian Government has never dealt adequately with problems within its own Australian South Sea Islander (ASSI) community. Two major issues have been caused by the Australian...

Message from the Prime Minister – The Hon Scott Morrison MP

From the arrival of the Don Juan at the port of Brisbane in 1863, generations of South Sea Islanders have had a lasting influence on the social, cultural and economic life of our nation. Despite immense hardship and discrimination, the community’s story is one of survival and resilience. It is...

Video interview by Indigenous filmmaker Steven McGregor with Emelda Davis

Video interview by Indigenous filmmaker Steven McGregor with Emelda Davis about NSW Entrepreneur Benjamin Boyd for Servant or Slave – NITV documentary. Today ASSI people remain marginalized, unrecognized, and even unknown to exist as citizens of Australia, with their labour contribution...

Daily Mercury story on South Sea Islander slave labour

Daily Mercury: Mackay and District Australian South Sea Islander Association’s Starrett Vea Vea hopes for more commitments from government to his community. 10th Nov 2016 – The Daily Mercury, Mackay ran an interesting article entitled EXPOSED: Lost history of South Sea Islanders slave...

Alicia Morgan has always had a passion for what is dear to her heart

November 1, 2016
Emelda Davis
BLACK workshop

Alicia Morgan Alicia Morgan has always had a passion for what is dear to her heart – family, research and education. After leaving high school Alicia spent most of her young adulthood in the workforce before recently returning to study full-time at Southern Cross University.\ As a third generation...

Bilyana Noel Blomeley

Bilyana Noel Blomeley Bilyana Noel Blomeley (Torres Strait Islander) has a Masters degree in Indigenous Studies from Southern Cross University where he majored in trauma and trauma recovery. He has a Masters degree in educational psychology and University Medal from Harvard Graduate School of...

My name is Sasha Harrington

Sasha Harrington My name is Sasha Harrington I am an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander woman. My family lines are from Saibai Island in the Torres Straits and Bundjalung Counrty on the NSW/QLD border. Born and raised on Bundjalung Country, I am a young woman who is passionate about empowering...

Hear Josh Apanui speak live at the BLACK forum in Tweed Heads

November 1, 2016
Emelda Davis
BLACK workshop

Josh Apanui is from Tweed Heads and is proud Bundjalung, South Sea Islander and Maori descendant. Josh is one of six children to Virginia Apanui (nee Bellear) and Tui Apanui. Growing up, Josh has experienced love, joy and happiness, however, he has also faced life’s challenges as a young man,...

Hear Anita-Lee at BLACK Tweed Heads

November 1, 2016
Emelda Davis
BLACK workshop

Hear Anita-Lee at BLACK Tweed HeadsAnita-Lee Summers has volunteered her time and energy to advancing local Aboriginal and Islander communities through strong governance for more than 35 years. Anita has firm views on the topic of identity and is proud of her own dual heritage as an Aboriginal...

Aria award nominee L-Fresh The Lion heads up free youth event.

October 21, 2016
Emelda Davis
BLACK workshop

L-FRESH The LION is renowned for his powerful presence and thought-provoking lyricism. Aria-award nominee L-Fresh The Lion heads up free youth event. A workshop designed to encourage greater community awareness of Australian South Sea Islander history and ignite inspiration and connection in local...