SUFY

10/10/2025

Today is World Mental Health Day.

The objective of World Mental Health Day is to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world, to mobilise efforts in support of mental health and continuing efforts to reduce stigma.

This year, Mental Health Australia’s theme for World Mental Health Day is Connect with your community.

Connecting with our communities – the people and places where we feel safe, seen and heard – can help us feel cared for and supported, which is good for our mental health.

A community can take any shape. Community can mean:
🟠 friends, loved ones, your mob
🟠 multicultural centre
🟠 community choir
🟠 community garden
🟠 book club
🟠 running group
🟠 local volunteer group
🟠 LGBTQIA+ group

More information about World Mental Health Day - as well as resources including a calendar for the month of October with daily wellness tips - can be found on the Mental Health Australia website - https://www.mentalhealthaustralia.org.au/get-involved/world-mental-health-day/download-your-2025-mental-health-day-calendar/

[Image description: beige coloured banner with purple coloured text on the left hand side that says 'World Mental Health Day' with orange coloured text underneath it that says 'connect with your community'. Image of 3 people sitting on a blue rug together chatting and enjoying a bowl of food. In the top right hand corner of the banner, there is the date of World Mental Health Day 10.10.2025]

12/09/2025

Today marks the Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Adopted by the United Nations on 13 September 2007, this important declaration recognises the individual and collective rights of Indigenous peoples around the world, highlighting the right to culture, language, identity, and self-determination.

This historic declaration was decades in the making and was shaped by the tireless advocacy, resistance, and leadership of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous Elders, leaders, and activists from around the globe, including First Nations advocates from Australia, worked persistently to ensure their voices and rights were recognised and respected on an international level.

SUFY stands in solidarity with First Nations peoples and reaffirms our commitment to walking alongside communities in the fight for justice, recognition, and human rights.

Always was, always will be.

[Image Description: Black background with a boomerang on the left-hand side taken from the SUFY Artwork by artist Duane Doyle. White writing on the right-hand side that reads "Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples"]

08/08/2025

We are hiring!!

Please see more information about the available positions below:

Position 1: Intake Worker

Application will close on Monday the 18th of August 2025 at 5pm with commencement ASAP.

To view on Seek - https://www.seek.com.au/job/86209757?ref=hirer-jobs-list

To view on Ethical Jobs - https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/SUFY/intake-worker-4

Position 2: Individual Advocate (Brisbane)

Application will close on Friday the 22nd of August 2025 at 5pm with commencement ASAP.

To view on Seek - https://www.seek.com.au/job/86315827?ref=search-standalone&type=standard&origin=showNewTab =221dd8f50bddea627be7c3ef59e179a3e32c43dd

To view on Ethical Jobs - https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/sufy/disability-advocate-individual-advocate-1?categories=13&keywords=Speaking%20Up%20For%20You&locations=5

Position 3: Individual Advocate (Moreton Bay)

Application will close on Friday the 22nd of August 2025 at 5pm with commencement ASAP.

To view on Seek - https://www.seek.com.au/job/86304934?ref=search-standalone&type=standard&origin=showNewTab =04e5e24c46da66af31178f8d541c02cdc415f4c9

To view on Ethical Jobs - https://www.ethicaljobs.com.au/members/sufy/disability-advocate-individual-advocate-moreton-bay-1?categories=13&keywords=Speaking%20Up%20For%20You&locations=5

[Image Description: Indigenous Artwork made by Yiman artist, Duane Doyle, specifically for SUFY with red and yellow background which includes black and orange boomerangs, black waves with red and yellow dots on the outside of them leading into the centre of the painting, blue hearts, yellow smiley faces and red hand prints with smiley faces. Big blue circle in the middle that has white text that says ‘WE ARE HIRING!! 1 x Intake Worker, 1 x Individual Advocate for Brisbane, 1 x Individual Advocate for Moreton Bay’]

16/07/2025

SUFY were honoured to be a part of the Musgrave Park Family Fun Day NAIDOC celebrations last Friday, 11th of July, to support and celebrate First Nations culture during NAIDOC Week.

SUFY’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) Working Group put on a sausage sizzle for Community Elders, performers, and volunteers. With nearly 500 sausages cooked, we had plenty of extras to be shared with community on the day.

SUFY hopes that Musgrave Park Family Fun Day will have us back again next year and that SUFY can continue to work all year round towards strengthening relationships with First Nations communities and organisations.

07/07/2025

The Queensland Government’s recent announcement of a historic investment in segregated education for students with disability is a backwards step and sets a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country, unwinding hard-won progress towards inclusion.

Inclusive schools = better outcomes for all, inclusive communities, and real choice for families.

👏 Inclusve education is a right - not a ‘preference.’
💰It’s time to invest in every school, for every student.

Hit this link to take action now:
🔗 bit.ly/LetAllKidsLearnTogether

One click = one powerful message to all Education Ministers across Australia including Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and QLD Education Minister John-Paul Langbroek



[Image Description - Blue background with scrunched paper texture with white and yellow text. Heading says Inclusive schools build inclusive communities. Text below says Every child has the right to be welcomed, supported and included in their local school with their siblings and neighbourhood friends - not separated based on their disability. Text at bottom says Let all kids learn together. ACIE logo in bottom right.]

06/07/2025

NAIDOC Week 06 – 13 JULY

"The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy"

The year’s NAIDOC theme celebrates the enduring strength of First Nations peoples, the visionary leadership of young leaders, and the rich legacy passed down through generations.

At Speaking Up For You (SUFY), we honour this history and the ongoing journey towards justice and equity.

We acknowledge the resilience and contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, whose continued leadership shapes a future grounded in justice, equity, and cultural pride.

Let us all take this week to listen, learn, and support First Nations voices and leadership. Together, we honour the past, celebrate the present, and look forward to a future strengthened by unity and respect.

[Image Description: White background with a circular NAIDOC Week Logo on the left-hand side. Dark grey text on the right-hand side that reads "THE NEXT GENERATION: STRENGTH VISION & LEGAGY" and teal coloured text below that reads "6-13 July 2025".
Image source: https://www.naidoc.org.au/resources/naidoc-downloads]

26/05/2025

🖤💛❤️ National Sorry Day – 26 May ❤️💛🖤

Today, on National Sorry Day, we at Speaking Up For You (SUFY) acknowledge the strength, resilience, and enduring spirit of the Stolen Generations and their families.

We remember the deep pain caused by past government policies of forced removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, communities, and culture.

We also recognise that many of these injustices continue today through systems like child protection, policing, and the justice system — causing ongoing harm to First Nations peoples.

We stand in solidarity with First Nations peoples in their ongoing fight for truth, justice, and healing.

Always was. Always will be. Aboriginal land.

08/05/2025

Last week we met with Max Chandler-Mather, Federal MP for Griffith. We discussed the challenges faced by people with disability in accessing housing, and how QAI and the local advocates at SUFY can help people with disability in his community. We also talked about the importance of supporting disability advocacy so we can continue to advocate for changes to systems that will create better support for people with disability.

11/04/2025

UPDATE

There has been an update in the speakers for next Wednesday's online election forum:

🟢 Senator Jordan Steele-John - Australian Greens Party
🔴 Amanda Rishworth - Australian Labor Party
🟠 Bob Katter - Katter's Australia Party
🔵 Senator Hollie Hughes - Liberal Party of Australia

There is still time to register to attend this forum to hear from representatives about their plans to create a more inclusive Australia and address the disability issues that matter most to you.

Event and registration details below:
Date: Wednesday 16 April, 2025
Where: Online via Zoom
Time: 4:00pm - 5:30pm
Link to register - https://events.humanitix.com/alliance-online-election-forum-2025-3seyucry?fbclid=IwY2xjawJlf5VleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHv9cHcpUf1uLA8zCdM8oU0cLAEJpWUGgaPGJ0BNGNyjynMTo7_UmER5YvpWj_aem_9RHMO_HSi-wwP0fUeGc1xg

04/04/2025

SUFY is working alongside a strong alliance of thirty-one disability organisations, and is excited to announce that registrations are now open for the 'Queensland Disability Alliance - Online Federal Election Forum 2025'.

The Federal Election has been called for Saturday 3rd of May. This is a crucial moment for people with disability, their families, and their supports. It is essential that whoever gets elected is a Federal Government that listens, leads with vision, and prioritises the full inclusion and participation of people with disability in our communities.

Join us for this free state-wide forum to hear from:
🟢Larissa Waters - Australian Greens,
🔴Amanda Rishworth - Australian Labor Party,
🟠Bob Katter - Katter's Australia Party, and
🔵Michael Sukkar - Liberal Party of Australia,

In this forum, the representatives will talk about their plans to create a more inclusive Australia and address the disability issues that matter most to you.

Event and registration details below:
Date: Wednesday 16 April, 2025
Where: Online via Zoom
Time: 4:00pm - 5:30pm

Link to register - https://events.humanitix.com/alliance-online-election-forum-2025-3seyucry

03/04/2025

SUFY is so pleased to announce the launch of our 'Reflect' Reconciliation Action Plan.
On Tuesday, 25th of March, we celebrated this with an event at Jagera Community Hall in South Brisbane, and enjoyed hearing from:
⭐Our artist, Duane
⭐Chairperson, Hugh
⭐Manager, Kelly
⭐Graphic Designer, Juha
⭐Our RAP Working Group members

A smoking ceremony from 'Tribal Experiences' was also a highlight. We would like to thank everyone who attended – we thoroughly enjoyed celebrating this special milestone as an organisation with some delicious food and great company!

Please visit our website to see our Reconciliation Action Plan: https://sufy.org.au/sufy-reflect-rap/

19/03/2025

On National Close the Gap Day, SUFY is concerned that the latest data shows that only four of the 19 targets are on track to be met. SUFY finds it profoundly troubling that other key targets have gone backwards, in particular,

• Children thriving
• Criminal justice
• Child protection; and
• Su***de rates (social and emotional wellbeing).

SUFY is worried that the recent trend of state and territory governments to enact policies, such as lowering the age of criminal responsibility, the tightening of bail laws and the introduction in Queensland of ‘Adult Crime, Adult Time’ are deliberately harming Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, especially children and young people.

This is not good enough and SUFY urges all Australian governments to renew their commitment to the national agreement by taking meaningful actions to fully implement the priority reforms.

Source: Dashboard | Closing the Gap Information Repository - Productivity Commission - https://www.pc.gov.au/closing-the-gap-data/dashboard

✨It’s National Close the Gap Day!✨

Join us as we launch our 2025 Report ‘Agency, Leadership, Reform: Ensuring the survival, dignity and wellbeing of First Nations Peoples’ today at the Aborigines Advancement League in Naarm (Melbourne).
❤️💛🖤💚🤍💙

Last chance to attend the report launch in person👉🏿https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/national-close-the-gap-day-2025-tickets-1234201773729

If you cannot attend in person, no need to register, use the link to watch the live stream👉🏿https://vimeo.com/event/4944247

All are welcome. We hope to see you there.

🫱🏼‍🫲🏾In solidarity, we journey together.🫱🏼‍🫲🏾





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