NOOSA District State High School Year 12 student leaders Ruby Tucker, Finn Neville, Amber Jones and Karree Lindenmayer attended the Amnesty International’s schools conference at Brisbane Boys College last week.
Student leaders heard from Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service principal legal officer Gregory Shadbolt, who spoke about the miscarriage of justice faced by Indigenous Australians.
Mr Shadbolt recalled an instance in a legal trial where a newly inducted Indigenous lawyer who was presenting in court was requested twice to sit in the dock as it was assumed he was the accused due to his Indigenous appearance and colouring.
“The law treats Indigenous people in ways so vastly different to white Australians,” Mr Shadbolt said.
The Noosa District students worked with students from Pittsworth and Brisbane schools sharing ideas on the communities they are a part of and can identify with.
“We quickly realised that we need a humanitarian or Amnesty community in our school,” Finn said.
The idea of community was further explored with students looking at ways problems or wrongdoings are dealt with by specific communities.
“We learnt that a person’s wrongdoings would be dealt with according to the individual’s level of privilege,” Ruby said.
Privilege was explored in more detail after lunch, with the students demonstrating through a kinaesthetic approach the different levels of privilege within a community.
A moving visual and dance presentation showcased and explored the concept of discrimination within society before the students discussed their intended whole school approaches for community activism.
“We will discuss our plans for an Amnesty International Club with the school at the parade next week and our student council at the next meeting,” Karree said.
