Join Thomas Mayo, a Kaurareg Aboriginal and Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander, as he shares his journey from ‘wharfie’ to human rights campaigner, award winning author and orator.

Starting his career as a wharf labourer, Thomas found his voice on the wharves and became a union official for the Maritime Union of Australia. He is currently the Assistant National Secretary.

Thomas is passionate about First Nations people’s rights and is a signatory to the Uluru Statement of the Heart.

One of the first Torres Strait Islanders to have a book published for general trade he is now an author of seven books, including several children’s books. He has also had articles published in The New York Times, The Guardian, Griffth Review and Sydney Morning Herald. His books discuss First Nations people’s struggle for justice, recognition and equity. Letters and Reflections from First Nations Fathers and Sons (2021) has been adapted into a play Dear Son which premiered at the Billie Brown Theatre in 2025.

His book, The Voice to Parliament Handbook, co-authored with Kerry O’Brien and with cartoons by Cathy Wilcox, was awarded Australian Book Industry Awards Book of the Year, Non-Fiction Book of the Year, and Social Impact Book of the Year in 2024. Other awards include the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Book Award at the 2024 Speech Path?logy Australia Book of the Year Awards for Our Flag, Our Story: The Torres Strait Islander Flag, co-authored by Thomas Mayo and Bernard Namok Jr.

Light refreshments.

This event will be Auslan interpreted.