Change the Story

Saying an Acknowledgement in our mother languages inspires us to learn more about First Nations histories and cultures.
But many migrants and new settlers claim that they know little about First Nations ways of doing and being.
How can we work together to educate each other?
Guests
Nema Madnani is a higher education professional with experience in student equity, project co-ordination and community engagement. In her past roles, she contributed to initiatives focused on inclusion and reducing barriers within education. She cares deeply about staying connected to her cultural roots and family, and believes that honouring where we come from shapes how we show up for our communities.
Sukhmani Khorana is a Scientia Associate Professor at UNSW Sydney whose research focuses on media, migration, belonging, cultural politics, and food studies. Her work has been recognised through awards such as UOW’s Impact-Maker Award, the Faculty Arete Research Champion Award, and Western Sydney University’s Research Engagement Award. Khorana also collaborates with cultural and community organisations to translate academic research into public impact. She was one of the co-founders of ‘South Asians for Voice’.
Mariko Smith (Yuin/Japanese) is Senior Specialist (Research & Publications) at the Australian Museum. Born in Sydney and growing up on the NSW Central Coast, her work explores Australian national history, historiographical practice, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems into museum and academic frameworks.
Nik Armstrong is Assistant Principal of Marrickville West Primary School, responsible for coordinating Stage 3 and Aboriginal Education.
Ruth Bradfield-Ling is the Principal of Marrickville West Primary School. She has been Principal for more than 20 years.
Violet Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s Daughter
Evan Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s Son
Students at Marrickville West Primary School
Credits
This series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People.
Host: Elaine Laforteza
Producer: Masako Fukui
With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios.

How are languages that have been dormant being revived by First Nations peoples?
We hear from Dr Lachlan McDaniel and Professor Lindon Coombes of the Jumbanna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS about their personal journeys with language.
Are we making any progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander language revival?
And why is language revitalisation important to non-Indigenous Australians?
Guests
Lachlan McDaniel is a proud member of the Kalari Clan of the Wiradjuri Nation. He currently serves as Associate Dean of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. His doctoral research examines the revitalisation of the Wiradjuri language and culture through community-driven initiatives reconnecting people to Country, tradition and identity.
Lindon Coombes is the Director of Research and an Industry Professor at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, UTS. With over 20 years’ experience in Aboriginal Affairs, he has held senior leadership roles across government, community organisations, and PwC’s Indigenous Consulting.
Alexandra Grey is a Chancellor's Research Fellow at UTS. She co-founded and co-runs the Law and Linguistics Interdisciplinary Research Network. Her research covers laws about minority, migrant and Indigenous languages in Chinese and Australian contexts, and the reception, impact and reform of those laws.
Violet Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s daughter.
References
Making linguistic diversity visible in parliament
Celebrating Indigenous linguistic diversity in Australia’s parliaments
Credits
This series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People.
Host: Elaine Laforteza
Producer: Masako Fukui
With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios
Tile artwork by Alexandra Morris
This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.

How has English dominance marginalised First Nations knowledges?
We hear from Gudanji/Wakaja author and academic Dr Debra Dank about how Aboriginal people’s expressive practices and deep relationships to Country are being erased.
How can we learn to listen to Country, to the ‘non-human utterances’ of birds, the wind, the rain?
And how do we listen to Country with our whole bodies, not just our ears?
Can we discover our own embodied wisdom, and how does this relate to our sense of belonging on this continent?
Guests
Carmine Gentile is an Associate Professor (Faculty) within the School of Biomedical Engineering (Faculty of Engineering and IT) at the UTS. He leads the Cardiovascular Regeneration Group, working on 3D bioprinting and stem cell technologies both at the Heart Research Institute and UTS.
Debra Dank is a Gudanji/Wakaja and Kalkadoon woman from the Barkly Tablelands in the Northern Territory. Dr Debra Dank is an Enterprise Fellow with the University of South Australia.
For 40 years Deb has worked in various roles in primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory in urban and remote contexts.
She worked to establish the Indigenous Literacy Foundation which included extensive work with remote communities to develop a robust but flexible service delivery model that supported place-based, community-identified responses to literary needs in early childhood education, provision of appropriate literature for remote communities, and the production of reading material for English as a Second language contexts.
Reference: Terrraglossia is published by Echo Publishing.
Leah Subijano (she/her) is a Filipino-Australian, multidimensional soul, and a fierce advocate for racial justice and gender equality. She loves to deep dive into all things social justice, spirituality, and dismantling systems to birth a new Earth. Leah believes that drumming and dance are decolonising and embodiment tools that help people reconnect with themselves, their ancestral wisdom, community, and the natural world.
Odette Subijano is Leah’s mother.
Credits
This series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People.
Host: Elaine Laforteza
Producer: Masako Fukui
With the support of Jane Curtis and Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios
Tile artwork by Alexandra Morris
This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.

What does embracing multilingualism sound like?
In this episode, we hear from two poets who challenge the dominance of English by creating bold, multilingual poetry.
How do these poets use language to disrupt, to heal, to remember, and to imagine a different, more ethical way of belonging in Australia?
Guests
Esita Sogotubu hails from Fiji and is the Employability Manager at UTS Careers. Her traditional roots are in Vunuku, Moala, Lau with maternal links to Nayavu, Wainibuka, Tailevu. She is a former international student who has over 15 years experience as a career development practitioner.
Nadia Niaz is the author of The Djinn Hunters and the founding editor of the Australian Multilingual Writing Project. Her work explores multilingual creative expression, translation, ‘belonging’ and relationships with place. She is a Lecturer in the Creative Writing Program at the University of Melbourne.
Anne Casey is originally from the west of Ireland and now living in Australia. She is the author of six poetry books. Her work is widely published and awarded internationally, ranking in The Irish Times’ Most Read. She has a PhD from UTS where she teaches creative writing.
Prankqueans are an ensemble of artists inspired by ancient Celtic mythology to celebrate all things female and Irish Australian.
Credits
This series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People.
Host: Elaine Laforteza
Producer: Masako Fukui
With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios
Tile artwork by Alexandra Morris.
This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.

What happens when we say an Acknowledgement of Country in our mother languages?
Would it feel different? More meaningful?
Does it change the way we connect to First Nations peoples and cultures?
We discovered that a multilingual Acknowledgement opened a door to deeper, and sometimes difficult conversations about colonialism, race, and what it means to belong in Australia today.
Guests
Violet Laforteza Kennedy is Elaine’s Daughter.
Maria Eleanor Carbonell is Elaine’s Mother.
Nema Madnani is a higher education professional with experience in student equity, project co-ordination and community engagement. In her past roles, she contributed to initiatives focused on inclusion and reducing barriers within education. She cares deeply about staying connected to her cultural roots and family, and believes that honouring where we come from shapes how we show up for our communities.
Carmine Gentile is an Associate Professor (Faculty) within the School of Biomedical Engineering (Faculty of Engineering and IT) at UTS. He leads the Cardiovascular Regeneration Group, working on 3D bioprinting and stem cell technologies both at the Heart Research Institute and UTS.
Esita Sogotubu hails from Fiji and is the Employability Manager at UTS Careers. Her traditional roots are in Vunuku, Moala, Lau with maternal links to Nayavu, Wainibuka, Tailevu. She is a former international student who has over 15 years experience as a career development practitioner.
Students at Marrickville West Public School.
Aunty Glendra Stubbs is the Elder-in-Residence at UTS, and is a proud Wiradjuri woman who brings over 40 years of experience in providing cultural guidance, mentorship, and practical support to individuals.
Lachlan McDaniel is a proud member of the Kalari Clan of the Wiradjuri Nation. He currently serves as Associate Dean of Research at the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at UTS. His doctoral research examines the revitalisation of the Wiradjuri language and culture through community-driven initiatives reconnecting people to Country, tradition and identity.
Credits
This series was produced on the Lands of the Gadigal People, the Cammeraygal People, the Darug People, and the Guringai People.
Host: Elaine Laforteza
Producer: Masako Fukui
With the support of Jane Curtis, Sarah Gilbert of UTS Impact Studios
Artwork by Alexandra Morris

This podcast was created by the UTS Multicultural Women’s Network and is part of the broader UTS Acknowledgment of Country in Our Languages project.