TANIA MAJOR

Tania Major is a Kokoberra woman from the remote community of Kowanyama in Cape York Queensland. She holds a degree in Criminology from Griffith University, and at 21 became the youngest elected regional councillor in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC).

In 2006 Tania Major was announced as the Queensland Young Australian of the Year, and was further honoured by being named the Young Australian of the Year in January 2007. She was also voted as Young Leader of the year for the 2007 Deadly Awards, and YEN Young Woman of the Year for Community Vision. Tania has also achieved international recognition in winning the Political Legal and/or Government Affairs section of the Junior Chamber, International Outstanding Young Persons of the World contest held in India in 2007.

Since 2002 Tania Major has publicly addressed many national and international forums, speaking on Indigenous and Youth affairs as these relate to remote communities, particularly those in Cape York. Along with her mentor, Noel Pearson, she has tried to bring the realities of life in many of these communities to the foreground of wider Australian thinking and to engage mainstream Australians in the collaborative challenge of seeking solutions to long standing problems.

After 4 years with the Cape York Institute for Policy and Leadership, Tania Major is now working to establish a private consultancy and advocacy business, and to set up a youth foundation to support other young indigenous people with the potential for leadership. She is currently completing her Masters degree in Public Policy at Sydney University and working on her business part time.

Session Title: Relationships: Connecting the Past to the Present for the Future

The focus of discussions on the development of education often involves a review of school systems, structures, policies and curriculum. Yet a critical component of effectively implementing these mechanisms is recognising and developing relationships between schools and communities, teachers and parents, students and the curriculum, bureaucrats and educators, researchers and implementers, and politicians and administrators. This presentation considers the past, present and future of education from the perspective of relationship building, and offers practical solutions for fostering relationships that cultivate successful learners, creative individuals, and informed citizens.

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