*** Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names of deceased people and mentions violence and murder.***
Introduction by Croakey: A joint statement by Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing (TIMHWB) and Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) at the University of Western Australia has urged all Australians to play a role in fighting injustice, in the wake of the death of 15-year-old Noongar-Yamatji Cassius Turvey.
“White peoples, who benefit from a system that privileges them, must work alongside Indigenous peoples to make governments accountable for their actions and to uphold and protect the human rights of the First Peoples of Australia,” TIMHWB and CBPATSISP said in the statement.
In the statement published in full below, TIMHWB and CBPATSISP led by Professor Pat Dudgeon highlight ten actions you can start today, including showing your solidarity by attending one of the many vigils being held across the country this week.
* Note, resources for mental health and wellbeing support are included below.
Pat Dudgeon, TIMHWB and CBPATSISP write:
Transforming Indigenous Mental Health and Wellbeing (TIMHWB) and Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP) at the University of Western Australia stand in solidarity with those protesting for justice for Cassius and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples whose lives have been taken too early.
We are committed to working together and walking together in a movement of the Australian people for a better future for our youth and a fuller expression of Australia’s nationhood.
Cassius Turvey, a proud Noongar-Yamatji 15 year old boy, had a bright future ahead of him. He was described as a ‘gentle giant’ and a ‘vibrant caring jokester’ and a ‘bright and humble boy’ who brought joy to his many friends and local community.
His mother reported that he had a beautiful nature and loved school, a sentiment echoed by his teachers and basketball coaches. In his spare time he had started a lawn mowing business and created radio shows.
On 13th October 2022, Cassius Turvey was violently attacked by men unknown to him as he walked home after school in his school uniform. He was immediately transported to hospital and later he died on Sunday 23rd October 2022. His family had only buried Cassius’ father a month earlier after losing a battle to cancer.
The Western Australian police commissioner has urged people not to “jump to any conclusions of racism” and that it was a case of being in the “wrong place at the wrong time.”
These kinds of victim-blaming comments are abhorrent but not uncommon to the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples who have been let down by the justice system and experience the perpetual grief of race-related violence.
We feel great sorrow for the death of Cassius. We also extend our heartfelt sympathy and humble respect to his family and community. We share the outrage and acknowledge the re-traumatisation felt by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities across Australia. We stand for and remember Cassius and all those let down by systemic racism.
Systemic racism
Human rights lawyer and Noongar academic, Hannah McGlade, has called for our state and nation to do better in addressing race hate crimes. She reveals that since Australia signed the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination in 1975, we have failed to enact laws to criminalise hate crime.
In 2016, 14 year old Aboriginal boy, Elijah Doughty, was run down and killed in Kalgoorlie by a 56 year old man. This man was found not guilty of murder and was charged only for dangerous driving. He served only 19 months of his three year sentence.
Just this week, Four Corners reported on their investigation that found 315 Aboriginal women missing, murdered, or who died under suspicious circumstances since 2000. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are being murdered at 12 times the national average, yet this investigation barely made the news, and calls for a Royal Commission seem to fall on deaf ears. We remember these women, their families, and their communities.
We remember the 517 deaths in custody since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. The Commission gave over 300 recommendations, yet very few have been effectively implemented.
Indigenous Australians are still the most incarcerated people on earth, based on their population ratio. In the thirty years since the Commission, there have been zero convictions as a result of these deaths.
The impacts of colonisation, oppression, contemporary systemic racism, and police brutality are global issues. In Australia, almost 40 percent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people report being unfairly treated in the last year, and one in five school children experience racism every day.
Aboriginal peoples are also 12 times more likely to be imprisoned and 16.5 times more likely to die in custody than white Australians. While the rate of imprisonment in Australia has remained relatively stable for non-Indigenous peoples over the last ten years, for Indigenous peoples the imprisonment rate has almost doubled, and continues to rise.
These social factors contribute to poor mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who experience psychological distress at two and a half times the rate of non-Indigenous peoples.
Despite recent social justice movements, including the Black Lives Matter protests, and claims from the Australian Government that they are ‘dealing with it’, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to experience racism, discrimination, and violations against their human rights daily.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been calling for a day of mourning since 1938. We saw how quickly a day of mourning could be implemented across Australia this year. It is time Australia as a nation recognised its First Peoples, just as the sovereignty of the Crown is recognised.
Grief
Grief is expressed in many ways and can be a different experience for different people. Grief can make us feel angry, sad, anxious, shocked, overwhelmed, isolated, or even numb.
As we continue to fight for justice, it is crucial that we take care of our mental health and wellbeing in ways that are meaningful to us and support each other. This is particularly important for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities, who are directly impacted by these injustices, loss and trauma.
Some people will understandably be exhausted and (re)-traumatised as we see more deaths and continuing discussions of racism and police brutality online and elsewhere. We have included some important resources to support wellbeing and mental health, including for immediate help below.
Take action
All Australians have a role to play in fighting injustice. A system built on White, patriarchal values will continue to uphold these values.
White peoples, who benefit from a system that privileges them, must work alongside Indigenous peoples to make governments accountable for their actions and to uphold and protect the human rights of the First Peoples of Australia.
Our education system must teach children about our history of racism, the social and historical determinants of health that underlie it, how this historical oppression continues to impact the quality of life of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and what each of us can do to stand against racism.
If you want to learn more about whiteness and anti-racism, we have included ten actions you can start today, and some additional resources below.
Ten actions you can take today
1. Show your solidarity, stand up for Cassius:
Community BBQ at Weeip Park, Junction Parada Midland from 11:00am, October 29
Candlelight vigil at 5:30pm at Weeip Park on October 31 (Halloween, Cassius’ favourite holiday)
Perth/Boorloo vigil and rally at Forrest Place at 12:30pm, November 2
Adelaide/Tarndanya ‘show up, stand up’ event at Victoria Square, 6.30pm November 2
Sydney/Warrane/Warrang vigil at 6pm at Sydney Town Hall, 6pm November 2
Newcastle/Awabakal candle light vigil at Civic Park, 6pm on November 2
Melbourne/Narrm Aboriginal Advancement League vigil at 6pm, November 2
Brisbane/Meanjin candlelight vigil at King George Square, 7pm on November 2.
2. Read about the families who have not seen justice for their loved ones killed in custody:
Deaths inside: Indigenous Australian deaths in custody 2019
Donate to individual families or local legal services such as Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia Limited (ALSWA)
3. Go to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events throughout the year:
Sorry Day + National Reconciliation Week + Mabo Day
Spend January 26 protesting the exclusion of Indigenous peoples at your local Invasion Day event
4. Educate yourself about systemic racism, Aboriginal disadvantage and white privilege:
The Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (CBPATSISP)
Learn about Australia’s history of violence towards First Peoples
National Indigenous Television
Intergenerational trauma (YouTube video)
The journey of health and wellbeing (YouTube video)
No Way: Anti-Racism Education for Australian Schools
5. Learn about your Country and the First peoples of your local area, Australia’s Indigenous history, culture, and pride:
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) map of Indigenous Australia
Common Ground Sharing First Nations cultures, histories and lived experiences
Australian Wars Educational Resources
Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice
Individual sections and chapters (PDF downloads)
Full book (PDF download)
6. Encourage your workplace, university or school to do Indigenous-led cultural competency or Indigenous cultural awareness training, and support their reconciliation journey:
Australian Indigenous Psychology Education Program
Core Cultural Learning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia Foundation Course
7. Support peak bodies and organisations to fight for the rights of Indigenous peoples – e.g., NACCHO, KAMS, LAA, Healing Foundation, SNAICC, Lowitja
8. Support Indigenous-led local community groups, art galleries, theatre companies:
Langford Aboriginal Association (LAA)
Aboriginal Art Centre Hub Western Australia (AACHWA)
9. Buy from Indigenous suppliers and businesses. Supply Nation is a large database of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses.
Learn about how to ‘buy Blak’ with confidence and make informed decisions.
10. Teach people around you as you learn – remember silence implies consent.
Media coverage
Australian and overseas rallies planned as Cassius Turvey’s mother leads vigil – The Age
‘A lot of anger’: a community shattered by the senseless death of Cassius Turvey – The Guardian
Cassius Turvey killing ‘clearly racially motivated’ says PM as extra charges laid on murder accused – SBS
WA Police Commissioner’s ‘wrong place, wrong time’ comment denies reality of Cassius’ death -NIT
Aboriginal schoolboy killed in violent Perth assault – NITV
Other relevant articles
Where do you fit? Tokenistic, ally – or accomplice – Croakey
Hundreds march in Sydney to protest against Indigenous deaths and George Floyd killing – The Guardian
The uncomfortable truth about Reconciliation – NITV
Hundreds of Aboriginal deaths in police custody. Zero convictions – The New Daily
Australia Must Stop Turning A Blind Eye To Our Own Black Deaths – Junkee
From Twitter
Resources for wellbeing and mental health
Headspace – Yarn Safe
Black Dog Institute – a weekly mental health check-in, originally designed to help cope with Coronavirus
National Suicide Prevention and Trauma Recovery Project
Help Lines
13YARN: 13 92 76
Lifeline Australia: Phone 13 11 14 or crisis support chat
Suicide Call Back Service: Phone 1300 659 467 or online counselling
Kids Helpline: Phone 1800 551 800 or WebChat counselling
Mens Line Australia: Phone 1300 789 978 or online counselling
Open Arms Veterans & Families Counselling: Phone 1800 011 046 or visit their website
Qlife – LGBTI peer support and referral: Phone 1800 184 527 or webchat 3pm to midnight daily
The National Indigenous Critical Response Service: Phone 1800 805 801
If you or someone you know needs help or support, you can also contact your local Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation.
See Croakey’s extensive archive of articles on racism.
