How to Talk to Your Kids About the Referendum
As Australians prepare to vote in the upcoming referendum, many children have questions about what it means. This is a chance to engage in positive, values-based conversations, helping kids understand democracy, history, and the importance of community.
On the 14th of October, Australians will have the opportunity to decide if an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament should be enshrined in the Australian constitution.
Given the extensive media coverage as voting day draws ever closer, our kids are likely to hear about the referendum and want to understand what is going on.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to have values-based discussions with our children about culture, community, democracy, and history. Here are some tips on how to frame those conversations in a positive way, whichever way you plan on voting.
Lean in to What You Don’t Understand
Getting our heads around politics can be difficult at the best of times, let alone working out how to explain political processes to children! And then add to that discomfort the fact that many of us grew up without a solid understanding—or perhaps even a complete misunderstanding!—of our First Nation’s history and culture.
Start by acknowledging the gaps in your own knowledge. It’s great for our kids to hear us admit that we don’t have all of the answers. Demonstrate for them the process you’re going to take to find answers to questions or concerns you have.
Get Clear on the Basics
What is a Referendum?
For Younger Children
Imagine the Australian Constitution is like a big rule book for the whole country. It tells the people who run the country, called the government, what they’re allowed to do and what they’re not allowed to do. It’s super important because it helps keep everything fair and organised.
Sometimes the government wants to change the rules in this big book. But they can’t just change it all by themselves. They have to ask the regular people, like your mum and dad and other grown-ups, if they agree with the change. And that’s where a referendum comes in.
A referendum is like a special vote where all the grown-ups in Australia get to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the government’s idea for changing the rules in the big book. If most of the grown-ups say ‘yes,’ then the change can happen. But if most of them say ‘no,’ then the rules stay the same.
So, it’s like a big decision that all the grown-ups make together to decide if they want to change the important rules in the country’s rule book or not. It’s a way to make sure everyone’s voice is heard.
For Older Children and Adults
A referendum is when people get to vote on a proposed change to the Australian Constitution, which is a really important document that kind of acts like the country’s rule book. It tells the government what they can do, what they can’t do, and what they must do.
What’s the Referendum About?
For Younger Children
Right now, in our big set of rules called the Constitution, it doesn’t say anything special about the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. But some people think it should.
They have an idea called ‘The Voice.’ The Voice would make a group that speaks for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This group would tell the government what they think about things that affect these people.
Now, there’s going to be a big vote, like when we vote for our favorite things, but this time it’s about changing the rules. People will say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to this idea of making The Voice part of our important rules, the Constitution. If more people say ‘yes,’ then it will happen. If more people say ‘no,’ then it won’t change.
So, on a special day, people will decide if we should have The Voice in our rules or not. It’s like a big decision we all make together.”
For Older Children and Adults
Currently, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are not specifically recognised in the Constitution. There have been many suggestions on how we can recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people in the Constitution. One suggestion is what is called ‘The Voice’.
The Voice would establish a body to represent the views of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people to the government on things that impact Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Because it’s in the Constitution, the government must listen to the voice before it passes laws or makes decisions.
On Saturday, 14 October 2023, Australians will have their say in a referendum about whether to change the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing a body called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Voters will be asked to vote ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on a single question. The question on the ballot paper will be:
“A Proposed Law: to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice.
Understanding Different Perspectives on the Referendum
Reasons for Supporting a “Yes” Vote
For Younger Children
- The Voice would mean that the First Nations people get to talk about things that are important to them.
- People who vote “yes” think that the Voice will help First Nations people and the government make better rules. They also think it will bring all Australians closer together.
- If we put the Voice in our important rules (the Constitution), it can’t be taken away or stopped by a different government. It stays there but can change a little bit.
- Lots of First Nations people like the “yes” vote idea, and it came from a special message made by Indigenous Australians called the Uluru Statement of the Heart.
- The Voice would make sure the First Nations people are remembered in the Constitution.
- It shows that Australians want to keep being friends and making things better together.
For Older Children and Adults
- Establishing a Voice would give First Nations people a say about issues that affect them.
- People who campaign for the “yes” vote say that the Voice will improve the lives of First Nations people and help the government make better laws. They also say that it can be a unifying moment for all Australians.
- Having a Voice constitutionally enshrined means that it won’t be removed or de-funded by a different government. It’s existence can be fluid but not erased
- The “yes” vote has a lot of support from First Nations people and was one of the proposals from the Uluru Statement of the Heart, a statement which was itself created by Indigenous Australians.
- The Voice would recognise First Nations people in the Constitution
- The Voice would demonstrate that Australians support ongoing reconciliation
Reasons for Supporting a “No” Vote
For Younger Children
- Some people are saying “no” because they don’t think the Voice will be good enough to help Indigenous people. They think the government might not listen to the Voice, and there might be better ways to help.
- Other people are voting “no” because they worry that the Voice might make people feel different because of their race. They want everyone to be treated the same.
- Some people say “no” because they think the Voice will cost a lot of money and make it harder to make new rules.
- Finally, some people think a Voice isn’t needed because there are already Indigenous people in the government who are supposed to speak for everyone, including First Nations people.
For Older Children and Adults
- Some people are voting no because they believe that the Voice won’t be enough to help Indigenous people. Because the government can ignore advice from the Voice, they believe that there are better ways forward.
- Other people are voting no because they say that the Voice will divide Australians by including race in the Constitution
- Others are saying the Voice will cost too much money and cause delays in making new laws.
- Finally, there are others who believe that a Voice isn’t needed because there are already a lot of Indigenous Australians who are members of parliament, and elected members are already meant to represent all of their constituents, including First Nations people.
Encouraging Open Dialogue and Respectful Discussion
“Yes” or “No”, not “Right” or “Wrong”
It’s highly unlikely that all the adults in your child’s life will vote the same way on the referendum. Emphasise to your children that people on both sides of the argument care very much about First Nations people. Consequently, it’s important to frame the discussion so that there are no “goodies” and “baddies”. (Even First Nations people are not unanimous on how to vote in the referendum, so clearly there is no right answer.)
Providing Historical Context for the Referendum
For Younger Children
Many First Nations people in Australia don’t have as good a life as others. They face challenges in their health, happiness, and how long they live.
This happens because of things that happened a long time ago, like when people from Europe came to Australia and didn’t treat Indigenous people fairly.
The government makes a report called ‘Closing the Gap’ each year to show how they’re trying to make things better for Indigenous people. But some people say the government isn’t doing it quickly enough.
The Voice is an idea that some people think could make the government work harder to help Indigenous people and close this gap faster.
For Older Children and Adults
Whilst everyone’s individual circumstances may vary, in general First Nations people currently experience a significant gap in life outcomes compared to other Australians. This includes disadvantaged and poorer outcomes across most aspects of life including: physical health; mental health; social outcomes; life expectancy; and general well-being.
The reasons for this gap are varied and may include historic dispossession, exclusion, and the impacts of European settlement or colonization.
Each year the government publishes a report called ‘Closing the Gap’. This report highlights the government’s efforts to bring the life outcomes of Indigenous Australians to the same standard as other Australians.
It has been argued that the gap is not being closed fast enough, and that the government is not performing as effectively as it should be. The Voice has been proposed as a way to increase government accountability in closing the gap.
Modelling Values-Based Voting
Teaching Kids to Vote Based on Personal Values
For Younger Children
The referendum will be a big lesson for Australians. It’s a chance to learn about Australia’s history, how our government works, and how we make important decisions together. But the most important thing to learn is that it’s okay to have different opinions, even if we care a lot about something. Everyone thinks differently based on their own feelings and ideas, and it’s ok to be different.
For Older Children and Adults
The referendum offers many teaching opportunities; chances to talk about Australian history, our political landscape, and participating in democratic processes. Yet the most important learning opportunity it provides is that of modeling that you can disagree with others, even on issues about which you feel deeply, without being disagreeable.
Whichever way you ultimately decide to vote, explaining the way your own personal values inform your decision making can help your children recognise the way that different perspectives lead to different decisions.
More Resources for Kids and Teens
The topics discussed in this article are heavy, but there are many books suitable for children and teens that can be used as a springboard for engaging in discussions about these moments in history.
- “Somebody’s Land: Welcome to Our Country” address the mistaken belief of Terra Nullius,
- “Stolen Girl” talks about the Stolen Generation, and
- “Say Yes: A Story of Friendship, Fairness and a Vote for Hope” talks about the 1967 referendum that finally saw Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples recognised as Australians. Additionally,
- “Finding Our Heart” explains the Uluru Statement from the Heart in a way that even young children can understand.
More resources for learning about the history of First Nations people and important Indigenous topics can be found at AIATSIS.gov.au, ulurustatement.org/history, and abc.net.au/education.
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