Each year the Don Dunstan Foundation presents the prestigious Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration during National Reconciliation Week – an event that recognises the cultural respect between Don Dunstan and Dr O’Donoghue.
The Oration serves as a platform to highlight critical issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, continuing Dr O’Donoghue’s lifetime of work pursuing social justice and equality.
Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG
Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG was a Yankunytjatjara woman who dedicated her life to improving the welfare of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples. She was named Australian of the Year in 1984 and was the inaugural chairperson of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. She was the first Aboriginal woman to be inducted into the Order of Australia (AO) and was a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Dr O’Donoghue was awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1999 and Dame of the Order of St Gregory the Great (DSG), a Papal Award, in 2005.
Romlie Mokak, 2025
Watch Romlie Mokak’s speech at the 18th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2025 on Honouring Lowitja: For the Love of Our People.
watch download transcriptProf Tom Calma AO FAA FASSA FAHA, 2024
Watch Tom Calma’s speech at the 17th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2024 on Looking Back to Look Forward – Lessons From the Past to Influence Actions of the Future.
watch download transcriptPrime Minister Anthony Albanese, 2023
Watch Anthony Albanese’s speech at the 16th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2023 on A Moment to Unite.
watch download transcriptThe Hon Linda Burney MP, 2022
Watch Linda Burney’s speech at the 15th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2022 on The Way Forward – Informed by the Past.
watch download transcriptPat Anderson AO, 2021
Watch Pat Anderson’s speech at the 14th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2021 on Continuing the Story: Resolving the Issues that Won’t Go Away.
watch download transcriptDavid Rathman AM PSM FIML, 2019
Watch David Rathman’s speech at the 13th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2019 on Storytelling: Culture, Truth-telling and the Arts.
watch watch highlights download transcriptNoel Pearson, 2018
Watch Noel Pearson’s speech at the 12th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2018 on The Uluru Statement from the Heart: One Year On.
watch watch highlights download transcriptFr Frank Brennan SJ AO, 2017
Watch Frank Brennan’s speech at the 11th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2017 on Aboriginal Land: Seeking a Place at the Table.
watch download transcriptThe Hon Rev Dr Lynn Arnold AO
Listen to Lynn Arnold’s speech at the 10th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2016 on Lingua Nullius: A Retrospect & Prospect about Australia’s First Languages.
listenProf Marcia Langton AO, 2015
Watch Marcia Langton’s speech at the 9th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2015 on Freedom Songs: The Unfinished Business of the 1967 Referendum.
watch part 1 watch part 2 download transcriptProf Patrick Dodson, 2014
Watch Patrick Dodson’s speech at the 8th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2014 on Rights, Recognition and Reconciliation.
watch download transcriptOlga Havnen, 2013
Read Olga Havnen’s speech at the 7th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2013 on Healing the Fault Lines: Uniting Politicians, Bureaucrats and NGOs for Improved Outcomes in Aboriginal Health.
download transcriptThe Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, 2012
Listen to Michael Kirby’s speech at the 6th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2012 on Constitutions, Interventions and Other Melancholy Takes.
listen download transcriptThe Hon Paul Keating, 2011
Listen to Paul Keating’s speech at the 5th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2011 on Lowitja O’Donoghue and Native Title: Leadership Pointing the Way to Identity, Inclusion and Justice.
listenRay Martin AM, 2010
Listen to Ray Martin’s speech at the 4th Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2010 on Walking Together on the Journey of Healing.
listenThe Hon Fred Chaney AO, 2009
Read Fred Chaney’s speech at the 3rd Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2009 on Bringing Black and White Australians Together.
download transcriptJackie Huggins AM FAHA
Read Jackie Huggins’ speech at the 3rd Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2009 on Bringing Black and White Australians Together.
download transcriptRev Tim Costello AO, 2008
Listen to Tim Costello’s speech at the 2nd Annual Lowitja O’Donoghue Oration 2008 on The Journey is Healing: How We Go Forward After ‘Sorry’.
listenDr Lowitja O’Donoghue AC CBE DSG, 2007
Listen to Dr Lowitja O’Donoghue, who presented the inaugural oration in 2007 on Black and White Together, We Shall Overcome, Some Day.
listen