A former Socceroos captain and passionate human rights activist is set to spark powerful dialogue as he speaks on the Sunshine Coast.
Craig Foster will feature at Venue 114’s next signature In Conversation event on July 22, when he will discuss becoming anti-racist.
Well-known for representing Australia on the international soccer stage, followed by a career in sports broadcasting, Mr Foster has made a significant contribution to multiculturalism, human rights and refugee support organisations, and to football.
Mr Foster is also a member of Australian Multicultural Council and in 2021 was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
“We all have a responsibility to break down barriers to equal social participation of our fellow Australians,” Mr Foster said.
“This means acknowledging and understanding racism, being willing to hear about the experiences of those around us and being mindful and sensitive to their well-being in our daily lives.”
His humanitarian activism extends to several, high-profile campaigns including #SaveHakeem to free Bahraini refugee and Australian footballer Hakeem al-Araibi from a Thai prison.
Mr Foster was also instrumental in the #GameOver movement to call for the resettlement and freedom of more than 400 refugees and asylum seekers detained in Papua New Guinea, Nauru and Australian hotels, plus #PlayForLives, which is a humanitarian response by sport to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, Mr Foster was instrumental in securing the evacuation of 100 female Afghans from Kabul including the Afghanistan women’s national football team and Taekwondo athletes, and Afghan Paralympians who went on to compete in Tokyo.
This powerful event invites attendees to join Mr Foster and panellists to openly discuss the impact racism can have on the Sunshine Coast community.
The panel includes University of the Sunshine Coast adjunct professor David Hollinsworth, director of Sunny Comms Peppi Bueti, Christine Thomas of Cygnet Centre Peacebuilding and Transformation, and the founder of Sunshine Coast African Diaspora Community, Walters Nkemfack.
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Sunshine Coast Council community portfolio councillor David Law said the community was proud to welcome leaders in the field of positive action and social harmony.
“Venue 114’s In Conversation event provides the ideal stage to facilitate a conversation about what it means to be anti-racist as an individual and as a society,” Cr Law says.
“The In Conversation events were founded on a passion to educate, engage and empower our community; to sow seeds of thought and invite growth. The Becoming Anti-Racist theme will invite robust, uncomfortable yet important discussions on how we all have a responsibility to be anti-racist.”
The breakfast event will be held on July 22 at 6.30am. Last-minute tickets are available at Venue 114.
