Speech by Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner:

Giridharan Sivaraman

Join us in person at Vedanta Hall or via Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88634914266?pwd=c2l3OHcrbnUwS1FjQUVtRi9FOUNwdz09

Other Speakers:

Prof. Desmond Cahill

Emeritus Professor at RMIT University, President: Religions for Peace Australia, Moderator: Asian Conference of Religions for Peace

Jason Yat-Sen Li M.P

State Member for Strathfield, Lawyer, Community Advocate

Cr. Sukirti Bhatta

Burwood Councillor, Social Worker, NSW Education Project Officer

Pravrajika Gayatriprana

President, Ramakrishna Sarada Vedanta Society of NSW, Member—Women’s Interfaith Network

Question/ Answer Session after speeches

WE’RE honoured to have several distinguished guest speakers at Vedanta Hall for a special event on Sunday, 16 March, 2025.

As world events stretch the boundaries of community harmony, we’ll explore the ongoing challenges that racial discrimination poses to our multicultural society, challenges that Australia’s Race Discrimination Commissioner, Giridharan Sivaraman, is well aware of since his appointment to this key role with the Human Rights Commission in March 2024. “It’s no secret that I start in a time of great challenge, but I’m honoured to take on the role and hope I can make a difference,” Giridharan observed in an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald.

“We sometimes coat over the racial inequities that exist with a veneer of purported harmony. That is: we don’t want to admit that there are problems and issues, and that we don’t necessarily all have a fair go, which is the Australian ethos,” he says. “Strength comes from having honest conversations about how we can do better… Let’s say: if we recognise racism, we can recognise how to be better. Let’s learn, let’s be curious, let’s find out more about those who might look or seem different, and we can be a stronger, richer fabric.”

We also look forward to hearing from our other guest speakers, Prof Desmond Cahill, Jason Yat-Sen Li M.P., and Cr. Sukirti Bhatta.