Meet the secular champions who are pushing for reform

We’re excited to have Alison Courtice, of Queensland Parents for Secular State Schools, heading up the list of secular champions advocating for reform who will be speaking at the Secularism Australia Conference in December.

Alison has been leading the call for moving the Religious Instruction program out of class time in Queensland’s public schools and giving learning time back to teachers.

In a new video message on our social media platforms, Alison says she’s “delighted to have the opportunity” to speak at the conference in Sydney on Saturday 2 December.

“Please join me and a line-up of stellar speakers to talk about how to move forward to create a fairer and more equitable Australia that neither privileges nor disadvantages Australians based on their personal beliefs,” she says.

A number of other people who have been pushing for secular reform will appear at the conference. These include:

• Ron Williams, whose case against the funding of religious chaplains in public schools went to the High Court;
• Leslie Cannold, the Head of Programs at Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership recognised for her contributions to national discussions of ethics and diversity;
• Collin Acton, the former head of chaplaincy in the Royal Australian Navy who is now leading the push for secular reform in the Force Defence;
• Chris Schacht, the former Labor Senator who has been calling for reform of tax laws in relation to religious charities;
• Victor Franco, the councillor at Boroondara City Council who has taken a stand against the recital of prayers in council meetings;
• Craig McPherson, the spokesperson for Fairness in Religion in Schools who has been calling for reform of the Special Religious Education Program in New South Wales’ public schools;
• Meredith Doig, the president of the Rationalist Society of Australia.

If you have a friend who you think would be interested in attending the Secularism Australia Conference, please forward this email to them and encourage them to sign up for updates on our website.

Thanks again to our financial sponsors who have made this event possible:

• NSW Teachers Federation
• Secular Association of NSW
• Humanists Victoria
• Rationalist Society of Australia
• National Secular Lobby
• Plain Reason
• Humanists Australia

We hope to see you at the Secularism Australia Conference!