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Building a Common Future – Africa and Australasia

Published: 10 December 2008

The 'Building a Common Future – Africa and Australasia' held from 26-28 November hosted 120 delegates with sessions focused on health, sustainability, security, development, the African diaspora and support of migrant and refugee communities in Australia and the arts.

Hosted by Monash on behalf of the African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific, the conference featured keynote speaker Mac Maharaj, who was imprisoned with Nelson Mandela for 12 years and secretly smuggled Mandela's memoirs out of prison.

Dr Rosalyn Gleadow and Dr Tim Cavagnaro from the Monash School of Biological Sciences, in conjunction with partners at Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Maputo in Mozambique, presented their ground-breaking research into cassava toxicity and the implications of climate change on food security in Africa and across other developing regions.

The conference also featured Dr Colin McLeod presenting on the recent expansion of the AFL into South Africa and the success of the game in crossing economic and racial boundaries to increase health and welfare, lifeskills, leadership and community cohesion in disadvantaged communities in South Africa.