GATHERING STRENGTH: Exploring self-determination and the human rights of First Nations peoples

Where are we with reconciliation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in 2025?

After the defeat of the Voice to Parliament and the dismantling of a truth telling process in Queensland, First Nations leaders are gathering strength and looking for a path forward.

Throughout this series, First Nations community members give you an inside look at how they’re tackling the challenges and opportunities for all Australians.

Mick Gooda, Professor Marcia Langton, Thomas Mayo, Kaleb Mabo, Aunty Gracelyn Smallwood and many others share their powerful reflections on the journey so far and the hopes they have for the future.

 

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Rights Made Real is a podcast from the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

This series, Gathering Strength, is based on interviews conducted during the Bandarran Marra’Gu summit in Queensland in 2025.

You can follow Queensland Human Rights Commission on Instagram or LinkedIn.

This series was produced by Deadset Studios: Host Solua Middleton, executive producer Kellie Riordan, supervising producer Rebecca Levingston, and producer/editors are Liam Riordan and Melissa May. Strategist is Ann Chesterman.

Our theme music was composed by Clay Cassar-Daley.

Thanks to the technical staff at the State Library of Queensland.

This podcast was recorded on the land of the Turrbal and Yuggera people. We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the land on which this show was made.

 

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Rights Made Real is a podcast from the Queensland Human Rights Commission.

The functions of the Queensland Human Rights Commission include promoting an understanding and acceptance, and public discussion, of human rights in Queensland and making information about human rights available to the community.

The content presented in this podcast is distributed by the Queensland Human Rights Commission as an information source only. The information may include the views or recommendations of other organisations or people, which are not necessarily the views of the Commission. The Queensland Human Rights Commission makes no statements, representations or warranties about the accuracy, currency or completeness of any information available in this podcast.