Being silent has never been a choice for our communities. I won’t be starting this week

‘As a survivor of child removal in Australia, and a survivor of the longest living culture in the world, there will never be a day my advice to anyone would be “let’s be silent”.’ Photograph: Lukas Coch/AAP

In the wake of the recent referendum in Australia, where the “voice” of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was rejected, it is crucial that we do not remain silent.

The reality is, change has only ever come from fighting for change. No doubt rest is crucial, but to publicly announce silence is not appropriate, especially as we live with grief daily in our communities.