Events Archive 2012

Australian Humanist of the Year (AHOY) 2012

Thursday 31 May 2012, 6:30 pm

Embiggen Books, 197–203 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
The annual CAHS award for 2012 is being presented to Mr. Ron Williams by the former Senator and leader of the Australian Democrats and AHOY 2008, Ms. Lyn Allison,
and the ethicist, social campaigner and AHOY 2011, Dr. Leslie Cannold.

Ron Williams is the person who challenged the Australian Government at the High Court, on the constitutionality of the national school chaplaincy program. The Court’s decision is pending, but – win or lose – that case must be the beginning, not the end, of national collective action to secularize the public education system. Dress is neat casual. Space being strictly limited, booking is essential. RSVP by 26th May to HSQ treasurer to treasurer@hsq.org.au OR CAHS president on (03) 9857 9717.

Public Forum on Evangelists in State Schools

Sunday 4 November 2012, 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library Entry 3, La Trobe Street, Melbourne
Over past years there have been increasing concerns expressed by parents, educators, community organizations and the general public, about the way in which Christian religious instruction is currently presented and administered in the majority of Victorian Government Primary Schools. These weekly sessions are officially known as SRI (Special Religious Instruction), but are often referred to as CRE, RE or RI.

Parents took the Education Department to court, claiming their children who do not attend these sessions suffer discrimination. Their cause was publicized by the parents’ group, Fairness in Religions in School (FIRIS), which claims that SRI divides children and recommends that the current ‘Sunday School’ lessons be replaced by ‘culturally diverse and unbiased’ classes. The case of AITKEN AND OTHERS VS DEECD was heard during 1st to 9th March 2012 by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). Read Event Details …