Charles Darwin University students told to ‘reflect deeply’ on career choice if they oppose the Voice

A university professor is under fire for telling health students who don’t support the Indigenous Voice to Parliament to consider a different career.

Charles Darwin University Associate Professor Bea Staley sent a pro-Voice email to speech therapy students suggesting they reconsider careers in allied health if they planned to vote no in the Oct. 14 referendum.

“As you know, the CDU has also taken the position of a yes vote,” Professor Stanley wrote.

“The speech pathology courses at CDU are created with notions of equality and social justice at their core. We will vote yes.

“If you feel you can’t vote ‘Yes’ for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rights, you may want to think deeply about whether a career in paramedical healthcare in Australia is really for you.”

Associate Professor Staley described the referendum as ‘Australia’s Brexit moment’.

“As Australians, if we strive for reconciliation with the Aborigines and the Torres Strait Islanders, we must vote yes,” she continued.

“A yes vote won’t make amends for the atrocities of colonisation, but it is certainly a step in the right direction for a more humane and just Australian society.”

Federal NT Senator and prominent No campaigner Jacinta Price described the email as “effective bullying.”

She claimed that concerned students had previously contacted her office about the CDU’s stance on The Voice.

“They no longer feel they have the freedom to discuss – especially this issue – and that they are being excluded because the school, the university, has taken a position to support the Voice,” Senator Price told Sky News on Thursday night. .

“This is leadership failure and I would call on the Chancellor to rectify this so that this kind of pressure is not put on students by teachers.”

‘Universities should be spaces where debate is encouraged, where universities don’t take a position on a political issue.

Sky News presenter Rita Panahi later described Professor Staley’s email as insane.

Professor Scott Bowman, Vice-Chancellor of Charles Darwin University, said the lecturer would be ‘advised’ and stressed that those who vote ‘no’ are still excellent healthcare workers.

“We respect everyone’s right to have their own opinion on the referendum,” he said.

“CDU has actively provided a platform for discussion and the exchange of informed ideas and views.

“We know that people who vote no will still be excellent healthcare workers.”

The CDU would not yet comment on whether the matter will be investigated further, but has reiterated its support for The Voice.

“We recognize the impact of colonization on the autonomy, agency, culture and identity of First Nations peoples, and advocate a Voice to Parliament as a critical first step towards achieving reconciliation that reflects a genuine Australian democracy, yet maintains First Nations self-determination,” a statement to Daily Mail Australia read.

We recognize that achieving a YES vote in the upcoming referendum is critical to the advancement of the First Nations, for them to have a direct say in the decisions made about them, and for the nation’s restoration as a a whole.

“While we understand that people have different views, we encourage and welcome discussions and debates that are informed, fair and respectful.”

Professor Stanley supervises PhD students in her field and has several active research projects.

“Bea’s teaching and research interests relate to language development, literacy, diversity and difference,” says her university biography.

‘Bea studies children and young people in the context of their families and communities.’