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2022 Sir Wallace Kyle Oration - June Oscar AO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner

24 August, 2022

The McCusker Centre for Citizenship at the University of Western Australia, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Perth, invite you to attend the 2022 Sir Wallace Kyle Oration.

  • Date: Wednesday, 24 August 2022
  • Time: 6:00pm to 7:00pm
  • Location: The University Club Auditorium, Hackett Drive, Crawley

The Sir Wallace Kyle Oration is given by distinguished citizens and leaders who have made outstanding contributions to the community. The theme of the Oration is "Service Above Self", the motto of Rotary.

This year, the Oration will be delivered by June Oscar AO, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner.

June Oscar AO is a proud Bunuba woman from the remote town of Fitzroy Crossing in Western Australia’s Kimberley region. She is a strong advocate for Indigenous Australian languages, social justice, women’s issues, and has worked tirelessly to reduce Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

You can access a recording or transcript from the 2022 Sir Wallace Kyle Oration. We also encourage you to explore photos from the event.

About the Orator

Commissioner June Oscar AO has held a raft of influential positions including Deputy Director of the Kimberley Land Council, chair of the Kimberley Language Resource Centre and the Kimberley Interpreting Service and Chief Investigator with WA’s Lililwan Project addressing FASD.

She led a successful community driven campaign for alcohol restrictions in Fitzroy Crossing and is an international advocate on the impacts of intergenerational trauma and the need to restore societal wellbeing through the revitalisation of cultural practices, languages and connection to land and water.

In 2013 June was awarded an Officer of the order of Australia for distinguished service to the Indigenous community of Western Australia, particularly through health and social welfare programs. In 2015, June received the Menzies School of Health Research Medallion for her work with FASD. In 2016, she was the recipient of the Desmond Tutu Global Reconciliation Award, she was named NAIDOC person of the year in 2018, and in 2019 she was bestowed the honorary role of a Distinguished Fellow of ANZSOG.

June began her five-year term as Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner in 2017, and in April 2022 she was reappointed for a further two years. She published the landmark Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) Report in December 2020 and continues to pursue its full implementation to advance First Nations gender justice and equality in Australia.