Whose democracy? Bridging divides across generations, cultures and beliefs

Join sociologist, Dr Christian Mauri; author of queer historical fiction, Dr Meg Caddy; and Associate Lecturer at the Centre of Aboriginal Studies, Anthony Kickett, to discuss the state of our democracy and how we come together across generations, cultures, and beliefs to build a more tolerant community.

About the panellists:

Christian Mauri:

2024 Fremantle Citizen of the Year, Dr. Christian Mauri is an internationally published sociologist, biographer, and community organiser. Under the banner of The Fremantle Network, Dr. Mauri presents the monthly event Politics in the Pub to connect curious and concerned citizens to politicians and experts, as well as co-organises public debates for local and state elections. His academic research covers the impacts of insecure employment on the aspirations and relationships of the highly educated. Through his business, Family Tales, Dr. Mauri interviews the friends and families of private clients to publish books that cover life stories from multiple perspectives - a service he has also provided to not-for-profits and community movements. These efforts are supported by Dr. Mauri's expertise in de-escalation and strategic communication, for which he provides training to public and private clients.

Meg Caddy:

Meg Caddy (she/they) is a full-time nerd with a string of day-jobs and a PhD in creative writing. Their fantasy novel Waer was shortlisted for the 2013 Text Prize and the 2017 CBCA Book of the Year Award, and their historical fiction Devil’s Ballast was shortlisted for the 2020 Readings YA Book Prize. Slipping the Noose, a sequel to Devil’s Ballast, was longlisted for the ARA Historical Novel Prize in 2022. When they are not elbows-deep in archives or playing Dungeons and Dragons, Meg spends their time running after two dreadful cats and one wonderful toddler. Meg’s fourth YA novel, A Flash in the Dust, is out with UQP in June, 2026.

Anthony Kickett:

Anthony Kickett strongly identifies as a Noongar Whadjuk, Ballardong, Yued and Wiilman maaman from the Noongar Nation, the southwest region of Western Australian. As a direct descendant, Anthony’s family continues to maintain strong cultural connections to this region, through the ongoing strength and memories of his grandfathers and grandmothers.

Anthony’s cultural place of belonging is in his grandmother’s country (his father’s mother’s ’boodja’), which is in the district of Yornaning, including the Dryandra State Forest.

Anthony’s aspiration is to maintain his strong cultural links whilst continuing to develop both professionally and as a person.

Anthony also aspires to accept challenging roles which serve a purpose within the whole community, with a strong approach and emphasis on our similarities, rather than our differences, within our culturally diverse world.

Anthony has had a comprehensively diverse working background including the Federal and State Public Service in WA, NSW and Qld in Indigenous employment and education. He has also worked extensively in Indigenous health and cultural education with the University Department of Rural Health, University of Sydney, Broken Hill, NSW and Curtin University, Centre for Aboriginal Studies (CAS). Anthony has also worked with ACCO’s with a focus on supporting the Stolen Generations and also as a Counsellor/Educator in the Alcohol and Other Drugs sector.

Anthony is currently an Associate Lecturer and Cultural Educator at the CAS, Curtin University, which also includes lecturing within the Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering and the School of Media, Creative Arts, and Social Inquiry (MCASI).

This event is a Community Cohesion initiative funded through the Australian Library and Information Association, in partnership with the Office for Social Cohesion and supported by the Australian Public Library Alliance.

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