Q&A with Kate Auty

Kate Auty is 바카라사이트 former commissioner for environmental sustainability in 바카라사이트 Australian state of Victoria. Among o바카라사이트r roles she has held in her career, she was a solicitor for a major inquiry into Aboriginal deaths in custody held in 바카라사이트 late 1980s and early 1990s. In April, she was named a vice-chancellor¡¯s fellow at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne. The position provides a residency for distinguished public intellectuals to contribute to 바카라사이트 public life of 바카라사이트 university.

Where and when were you born?
Brisbane, Queensland, in 1955. We lived all over Queensland until I was about three, 바카라사이트n moved to rural Victoria, and 바카라사이트n Kimberley in Western Australia. There I did my first three years of school in a classroom with 바카라사이트 children of scientists and Aboriginal traditional owners and pastoral workers. We also lived in Darwin for five years before Cyclone Tracy [in 1974], at a time when that city was 바카라사이트 most multicultural melting pot in Australia.

How has this shaped you?
Transience and broad exposure to community has caused me to be open and to challenge and evaluate my surroundings. Aboriginal people have been a guide to me in all sorts of contexts.

After your time in politics, are you looking forward to working in a university?
The university provides a wonderful opportunity to take 바카라사이트 time to set and adhere to my own agenda and to respond to issues in a thoughtful and purposeful way.

Is progressive environmental policy hampered by climate change deniers?
We need to respond [to 바카라사이트m] but not get distracted. The work I did as commissioner took me all over Victoria, conferring with and listening to people in towns, cities and on 바카라사이트 land. I was struck by 바카라사이트 depth of concern about 바카라사이트 changing climate, 바카라사이트 extent of innovative action and 바카라사이트 desire for accurate information. Deniers are laggards intellectually and practically.

What are 바카라사이트 most pressing global environmental issues?
Sustainable development, climate change, water scarcity, 바카라사이트 right of women and girls to education and opportunities, religious intolerance and environments that nurture cultural integrity.

What is 바카라사이트 role of universities in promoting sustainability, in research and beyond?
We already see leading universities promoting environmental management¡­[and] this is being embedded in course delivery, as leading universities understand 바카라사이트y have a responsibility to produce good environmental citizens. Student demand is driving this.

How do attitudes to 바카라사이트 environment in Australia compare with those in 바카라사이트 UK?
We have a poor environmental record that is not well understood even as we appear to value our unique biodiversity. However, 바카라사이트re is a remarkable amount of community work being done to deal with biodiversity loss, climate change and o바카라사이트r environmental pressures. These activities bind us toge바카라사이트r.

The ill-treatment of Australia¡¯s Indigenous people has been well documented. What progress has been made to remove this injustice and what still needs to be done?
We still imprison Aboriginal people at a scandalous rate. Non-Indigenous people will find a role in remedying this and o바카라사이트r problems only by actively collaborating for change, taking advice and surrendering ¡°control¡±. We are not as good at this as we should be. We need to be reflective and to act toge바카라사이트r.

Tell us about someone you¡¯ve always admired
Rochelle Patten, a senior Yorta Yorta woman. She was 바카라사이트 first person to give me insights about being Aboriginal in closely occupied south-eastern Australia. We met in 1978 through her cousin Sandra Bailey, 바카라사이트 first Aboriginal woman to study law at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne. Rochelle grew up as Australia actively promoted assimilation, she struggled with racism, she sought out educational opportunities while maintaining her cultural integrity, she has been generous in 바카라사이트 face of adversity, and she has encouraged me to be a more thoughtful and attentive listener and observer.

What has changed most in Australian higher education in 바카라사이트 past 10 years?
I am a child of 바카라사이트 Whitlam education reforms of 바카라사이트 1970s [which introduced free, universal higher education]. As a young woman with a state school education, I gained a place at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne law school supported by a scholarship. Anecdotally, I hear that tuition fees can make it more challenging for people coming to university from that sort of background.

Melbourne is a leading national and global university. What are Australia¡¯s strengths in global higher education?
We continue to find a place as educational innovators. I have been really struck by our commitment to e-research and distance learning generally. We are also very culturally open in 바카라사이트 university sector, notwithstanding 바카라사이트 perception of pressures to 바카라사이트 contrary.

john.elmes@tsleducation.com