Canberra in 2029: Dhani Gilbert

Posted on 27 May, 2019

We’re a cool little capital with big ideas. But does pride come before a fall?

We asked three locals—with very different perspectives—to imagine what Canberra will look like in 2029. 

There is no doubt that we are a changing city, so let’s be a city and community that is changing for the better. The most positive social change comes from the collective efforts we can all bring to the table, be it as citizens, businesses or as a government.

It is my hope that the people of this beautiful, dynamic, innovative and well-resourced community tackle issues of inequality and improving the life outcomes for our community’s most marginalised and vulnerable. It is vital that all of our community and our beautiful natural environment can thrive in safe, inclusive and sustainable ways moving forward to 2029.

Let’s keep Canberra as the beautiful bush capital but use innovative thinking about our evolving city along with the balancing principles of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to guide our efforts to renew, develop and grow—so that both people and our natural environment thrive together.

Let’s all work to build a future over the next 10 years where there is equality in wellbeing and the outcomes First Nations Peoples are achieving in our community.

Ngunnawal Peoples and the local Aboriginal community have repeatedly highlighted and offered solutions to the critical issues they are facing in the Canberra community. These are reflected in the priority areas of the 2019 ACT Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement, so let’s rise to challenge.

All Canberrans can better support these efforts and maybe even lead the country over the next 10 years in ending the acceptance of First Nations inequality. By valuing First Nations knowledge, systems and aspirations for wellbeing we can be enablers of First Nations self-determination and move to a treaty.

I hope as a community in 2029 we are also proudly talking about the great strides we have made for Canberra’s young people.

How we listened to the collective voices of young Canberrans when they came together in 2018 at the ACT Youth Assembly. That the key recommendations they made in ACT Youth Assembly: Our Voice, Our Impact report to improve the experiences of youth homelessness, youth mental health, equality and equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people, and civic participation have actually been acted upon.

That young Canberrans falling through the cracks is a thing of the past. Because we have put the right resources and supports in place to meet young people’s needs, help them navigate difficult circumstances when they arise, as well as value the contributions young people make to our community now and into the future.

READ CATHERINE CARTER’S TAKE ON CANBERRA IN 2029 HERE.

READ DAVID CAFFERY’S TAKE ON CANBERRA IN 2029 HERE.

Feature image: Lydia Downe. Mural on City Walk by Faith Kerehona for IWD 2019. 

Slider image: Hilary Wardhaugh

This article originally appeared in Magazine: FALL for Autumn/Winter 2019, available for free while stocks last. Find out more about Magazine here.

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