From Words to Action: All you need to know about South Australia’s First Nations Voice to Parliament

Dale is a Kaurna, Narungga, Ngadjuri and Ngarrindjeri person. His previous roles include… Director of Aboriginal Practice and Partnerships within the Department of Human Services, Manager of DHS’ Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services, Programs Officer in the Rehabilitation Programs Branch in the Department of Correctional Services, Northern Facilitator in the Northern Adelaide Initiative under the Urban Regional Strategy, Executive Officer in the Office of the Commissioner for Aboriginal Engagement and Executive Officer in the Office of South Australian Treaty Commission.

Dale is South Australia’s Commissioner for First Nations Voice to Parliament. Appointed by the State Government in July 2022, he is leading State-wide engagements to introduce a First Nations Voice to South Australia’s Parliament, which will provide First Nation South Australians a greater say in decisions that affect their lives. As part of the role he has travelled across the State to hear the views of Aboriginal people and leaders in metropolitan, regional and rural areas of our State. The feedback will inform the development of a Voice to the South Australian Parliament for a possible launch later in 2023.

An Aboriginal Voice to Parliament is the first tenet of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, which is a 2017 petition by Australian First Nation leaders for changes to improve and empower the representation of Indigenous Australians on Australia. State SA government is committed to implementing the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full in South Australia.

Dale is also the Chairperson of the South Australian Aboriginal Football and Netball Carnival Committee, and the President of the Kilburn Football and Cricket Club, who has also served on the Youth Review Board for over 10 years.

Talitha is an Adnyamathanha Woman from the Northern Flinders Ranges of South Australia, born on Barngarla Country, also known as Port Augusta and was raised in her traditional homelands, Iga Warta Community in the heart of the Northern Flinders.

Prior to joining OCPSE, Talitha has held various roles with a particular focus on Learning & Development, Cultural Capability and Aboriginal workforce initiatives. Talitha’s professional career started with the Office for the of Commissioner for Public Employment as an Aboriginal trainee and has since returned to OCPSE in the Director role. Talitha has worked across various State & Federal Government departments building her own capabilities to influence better outcomes for the Aboriginal community.

Until recently, Talitha has held the Principal Aboriginal Workforce Consultant role within DHS, where she designed, developed and delivered the DHS Aboriginal Cultural Footprint – Learning programs, the established of the DHS Nunga Network, DHS Aboriginal Women’s forum and the launch of the DHS Aboriginal Workforce Strategy 2021-23.

As the inaugural Director, Aboriginal Workforce Partnerships, Talitha will oversee a range of engagement strategies and programs that build the capability and capacity of the South Australian Workforce in both the public sector and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) Sector.

It will also provide specialist strategic and cultural leadership and co-ordination to identify, influence and establish a sustainable ad impactful model for professional development and cultural learning exchange between the public sector and ACCOs in South Australia as identified in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap to help grow the ACCO sector.

Appointed on 1 July 2014, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri works passionately towards creating a world-leading public sector that serves South Australians well, does what it says it will do, and to which every public servant is proud to belong.

With the role of the public sector being to serve and support South Australia to thrive, Erma leads sector-wide reform to modernise the public sector and continue to build on its value and service to the South Australian community.

Erma has worked for more than 30 years to help organisations optimise productivity and employee wellbeing. She was named a 2014 Telstra Business Woman of the Year as SA Winner of the Telstra Community and Government Award for her role in leading transformational change throughout the public sector.

With a key focus on flexibility, diversity and leadership development to ensure the public sector is positioned as an Employer of Choice, Erma continues to challenge cultural and structural barriers to drive innovative, collaborative and connected services for the community.