(De)colonise our public places. | Elle Davidson | TEDxByronBay

In this powerful talk, Aboriginal and white Town Planner Elle Davidson challenges us to reimagine our public spaces to embody the concept of 'cultural safety.' Truly decolonising public spaces goes beyond the removal of the legacies of colonialism like statues and naming. We must embrace working alongside Aboriginal communities to empower their voice and vision for the future of our places and spaces, acknowledging they are on Country.

Elle Davidson is a leading Australian town planner specialising in the concept of cultural safety in public spaces. A Balanggarra woman from the East Kimberley and descendant of Captain William Bligh, Elle Davidson describes herself as being caught in the cross-winds of Australia’s history. With a passion to empower the voices of First Nations People, Elle combines her Town Planning and Indigenous Engagement qualifications to shape our places and spaces ensuring they are informed about cultural considerations. Through her approach, she creates a strong platform for Aboriginal voices in the planning process and builds allies to advocate for community. She is the Director of Zion Engagement and Planning, an Aboriginal training and consulting business, and an Aboriginal Planning Lecturer at the University of Sydney. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx