Denison Debate on Education in Tasmania. The most recent Denison Debate – ‘Opportunity, Prosperity and Equity: Educating Tasmanians for the Twenty-First Century’ – took place in Hobart on 8 September. Panelists were Professor Peter Rathjen (Vice-Chancellor of UTAS), Mr Colin Pettit (Secretary, Department of Education, Ms Robyn Kronenberg (Principal, St Michael’s Collegiate School) and Mr Garry Bailey (Editor, The Mercury), in conversation with Inglis Clark Centre Director, Natasha Cica, and a very engaged audience expressed diverse perspectives. An edited video recording of the debate is now broadcast on the front page of the UTAS website – www.utas.edu.au

Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Bursary. Applications are now open for the first Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Bursary, supported by the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund, a collaboration between the UTAS Faculty of Law, the Inglis Clark Centre and the UTAS Foundation. Up to $2 000 will be awarded to a UTAS student in any area of study with a demonstrated commitment to social justice, to support a social justice project or activity. This may involve working with an established organisation on a recognised issue, or involve an entirely new initiative. Closing date is 31 October 2001. Apply online at http://www.studentcentre.utas.edu.au/scholarships/AwardDetails.aspx?AwardId=2227

Sandy’s Spring Fair. Boosted by an innovative facebook campaign, the generous face-shaving gesture of Associate Professor Rick Snell in the Faculty of Law raised over $10,000 for the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund – see here: http://www.themercury.com.au/article/2011/08/28/256811_tasmania-news.html. The next major fundraising event for the fund is Sandy’s Spring Fair on Saturday 8 October, from 1-5pm at St George’s Church Hall, Cromwell Street, Battery Point. There will be a huge jumble sale, good food, great coffee, entertainment, children’s activities and much more. To donate items for the fair or for more information about this event, please email: [email protected]. For more information about the Sandy Duncanson Social Justice Fund, see http://www.utas.edu.au/foundation/sandy-duncanson-social-justice-fund

Books For Our Time. The Inglis Clark Centre has partnered with Fullers Bookshop to present a series of conversations – prompted by books which shape the big ideas of our time. Helen Hayward, the Associate Editor of Tasmanian Style, and Natasha Cica lead each discussion, featuring a selected book as a starting point for conversation. All are welcome to attend and participation is free, but RSVP is essential to [email protected]. Numbers in each conversation will be limited to a maximum of 25. The next conversation in Books For Our Time will take place at Fullers Bookshop in Hobart on Wednesday 21 September, 6:00 – 7:30 pm. The featured book is Hamlet’s Blackberry: A Practical Philosophy for Building a Good Life in the Digital Age by William Powers. ‘Hamlet’s Blackberry is a paean to the pleasures of the unplugged life. But Powers is no woodsy technophobe who would deep-fry every silicon chip. He offers an ardent argument for balance between the wired world and the silent spaces of the human heart.’ – Geraldine Brooks

Public Forum on Human Rights with Julian Burnside + Greg Barns. Australian Lawyers for Human Rights Tasmania will present a public forum on 29 September, 6:00 –7:00 pm in the Stanley Burbury Theatre at UTAS, Churchill Avenue, Sandy Bay. Speakers are Julian Burnside AO QC, addressing the question ‘Who’s Afraid of Human Rights?’, and Tasmanian barrister Greg Barns, speaking on ‘Our Indigenous Human Rights Failure.’ The event is supported by the Tasmanian University Law Society and the Tasmanian Committee of Australian Lawyers for Human Rights. All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact ALHR Tasmanian Convenor, Madeleine Ogilvie, tel: 0409 001 800 or email: [email protected]

Measures of Australia’s Progress 2.0 – have your say. A reminder that the Australian Bureau of Statistics is currently consulting Australians regarding its Measures of Australia’s Progress (MAP) initiative. MAP 2.0 aims to provide a digestible selection of statistical evidence, to be used by Australians to help answer the question: ‘Is life in Australia getting better?’ The ABS first published MAP in 2002. In 2011, the ABS wants to find out about the aspirations of Australians in four areas: social, economic, governance and environmental progress. The Director of the Inglis Clark Centre is part of an expert panel assisting the ABS on governance questions for MAP 2.0. Have your say here at the MAP 2.0 blog: http://blog.abs.gov.au/blog/mapblog2010.nsf It’s an important opportunity for Tasmanians to have an equal voice in a national conversation.
Dr Natasha Cica Director Inglis Clark Centre for Civil Society University of Tasmania