07/08/2016
Academics and the public got together in the Armidale Mall to bring difficult subjects out in to the light of day. The idea was to take a lunch break and join the conversations in the mall on the 10th, 11th and 12th of December 2014.
Beyond Empathy’s Brave Conversations project gathered together local intellectuals to hold Q and A style sessions in the Mall on social issues, with members of the public encouraged to contribute. The discussions were part of the ‘Festival of the Brave'.
One of the topics up for debate involved perceptions around the issue of youth on the street - a subject that a lot of people have views on sccording to MC, Dr Nathan Wise.
The title of the first conversation was, A Rational Fear: are young people on the street making our community unsafe? The conversation covered a range of other issues as well. Can the future lives of children be predicted by family structures and circumstances? How does alcohol and violence affect family life? Are some families better than others? Included in the conversation were thoughts about happiness, income, family breakdowns etc.
Dr. Nathan Wise facilitated the conversation. The speakers included Dr. Matthew Allen, Lecturer in Criminology, School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences; School of Humanities (UNE) and Associate Professor, Elaine Barclay, Lecturer in Criminology, School of Behavioural, Cognitive and Social Sciences (UNE) and Professor Margaret Sims, Early Childhood Team, School of Education (UNE). UNE lecturer Matthew Allen talked about how fear of people on the streets was not a recent development. Dr Allen referred to how the British Monarchy reacted to “vagabonds and gypsies” to show how society fears who it doesn’t know how to handle.
The second ‘Brave Conversation’ was framed in the topic, Finding Home in Dis-Place. Finding your self, home and community in a new place. What are the challenges for refugees and migrants settling into a new community, specifically in relation to rural Australia? What added effect do wars have on refugees? How is Islamic radicalization creating fear in our community? How do our international students adjust to these uncertain times?
Dr. Nathan Wise facilitated the conversation. Speakers were: Dr. Imre Bokor, Lecturer, School of Science & Technology (UNE), Dr. Bea Bleile, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics, School of Science &Technology, (UNE), Dr. Julie Collins, Lecturer in Indigenous Studies, School of Humanities (UNE), and Professor Helen Ware, School of Humanities, Peace Studies (UNE).
‘Festival of the Brave’ conversation number three dealt with the idea that S*x is not a Power Tool. Discussions were around the idea of s*x in advertising, po*******hy, body image, s*x as currency and even do we need feminism in regional Australia. The issue of ‘women for sale’ is relevant to young mothers (international students and refugees) who have relocated and then find themselves isolated in regional areas.
Dr. Nathan Wise facilitated conversation number three. Associate Professor, Claire Baker, Sociology – Behavioural, Cognitive & Social Sciences (UNE) and Dr. Kathy McKay, Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the School of Health (UNE) were the speakers.
The fourth and final ‘Brave Conversation’ was conducted on stage as part of the ‘Festival of the Brave’ in the pavilion at the Armidale show grounds. The controversial subject was, Do Poor Choices Make Good Stories? Artists, writers, filmmakers and musicians often use their daily struggle to survive and at times their misadventure to inform their art. Is the lifestyle of what was once the domain of a small subculture becoming the mainstream? Issues discussed around the topic include alcohol, childman & new girl order.
Kerrin Thomas from ABC New England North West facilitated the event. Speakers included Dr Greg Pritchard, Cultural Program Director for Artlands 2016, Dr Kathy McKay, Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the School of Health (UNE), Professor Margaret Sims, Early Childhood Team, School of Education (UNE), Michael Leslie, Dancer and David Leha (Radical Son), Artist.
