2021 Swinburne Annual Barak Wonga Oration
Swinburne University of Technology's Moondani Toombadool Centre is both honoured and delighted to have Uncle Jack Charles deliver the 2021 Swinburne Annual Barak Wonga Oration.
The Swinburne Annual Barak-Wonga Oration is designed to advance understandings in the wider community on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues. It’s is a key element of Swinburne’s Reconciliation Action Plan and is named in honour of two significant Aboriginal leaders, William Barak and Simon Wonga.
Key speaker
Uncle Jack Charles
Uncle Jack Charles is an actor, musician, potter and gifted performer, but in his 76 years, he has also been homeless, a heroin addict, a thief and a regular in Victoria’s prisons. A member of the Stolen Generation, Uncle Jack co-founded the first Aboriginal theatre company Nindethana in 1972.
Awards include:
- the prestigious Tudawali Award, honouring his lifetime contribution to Indigenous media
- Green Room Lifetime Achievement Award in 2014
- Ochre Award.
