The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre

The Bob Hawke Prime Ministerial Centre hosts a year-long free and diverse programme of events including exhibitions, lectures, art installations and forums to engage with the community on topics ranging from human rights, science, arts, environment and more.

The latter half of the year features another impressive lineup of prominent speakers, including Hon. Julia Gillard, Maggie Beer AM, Michael Kirby and Geoffrey Robertson.

First up is Rev Tim Costello who will present as part of Open State – a festival promoting South Australian collaboration, innovation, ideas and enterprise. As World Vision Ambassador, Tim Costello will discuss the question: How are we going to build a better future together with the humanitarian entrants Australia is welcoming to its shores?

Recipient of the Anzac Peace Prize, journalist and press freedom campaigner Peter Greste presents for the Hawke Centre in early October.

Former Prime Minister the Hon Julia Gillard AC, will deliver the 2017 Annual Hawke Lecture on 12 Oct. Gillard’s speech will be delivered in the capacity of her new role as beyondblue Chair, and focus on the increasingly discussed issue of mental health.

Hon Julia Gillard AC

“Mental Health is one of the most pressing public health issues of our time,” says Jacinta Thompson. “The Hawke Centre has chosen to dedicate a premier event on its calendar, the Annual Hawke Lecture, to the issue of mental health.” The lecture will coincide with Mental Health Week.

Mental Health will also be the focus of the Hawke Centre’s Kerry Packer Civic Gallery’s October exhibition. Visualising Mental Health is a collaboration between mental health professionals and visual arts students, studying at the University of South Australia. Discussing the project, Jacinta says: “This project is not only a fantastic opportunity for design students to nurture their design careers by actualising their craft in a real-life project, but it also encourages us all to ‘visualise’ mental health and re-imagine the support and education materials that can broaden our understanding of mental health issues.”

Later in the month, University of South Australia Professor Nicholas Proctor will launch his book: Mental Health A Person-centered Approach.

Another seminal event on the Hawke Centre’s calendar is the UniSA Nelson Mandela Lecture, co-presented with the University of South Australia’s School of Law.  The lecture, which is designed to promote fundamental human rights and freedoms, is, Thompson says “a unique opportunity to hear from two of the world’s leading human rights commentators and defenders as they examine current world dilemmas.”

The 2017 Art Talks series, co-presented with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (ASO), concludes with a unique in-conversation with Genevieve Lacey, recorder virtuoso and artistic director in which she will talk about the art of programming and the collision of musical worlds. Jacinta is also pleased to confirm: “Registrations are open for the 2018 Art Talks series – with another great line up of speakers who complement the 2018 ASO programme. The series gives our audience an ‘insider’s view’ of the creative people who create beautiful music”.

This event is quickly followed by the Hawke EU Centre Annual Lecture 2017, delivered by Professor Loukas Tsoukalis, exploring the future of the European Union, amid recent crises in the region.

During 2017, the Centre continued to develop its partnership with Palliative Care SA, co-presenting a number of high profile experts in this field. Jacinta says, “During October, we will be looking at how to navigate ‘difficult conversations’ within this space.”

This year the Hawke Centre is a proud to support the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival, presenting Nusrat Durrani. Nusrat used the power of an iconic brand, MTV, to provide a platform for unheard voices and to create inspiring, authentic narratives of international youth. His stories have covered over 50 countries, and always put the humanity of their subjects at the centre. Adelaide audiences will not miss out with Durrani also presenting for the Hawke Centre in October.

At the end of the month, culinary icon Maggie Beer will launch Maggie’s Recipes for Life. Based on the latest scientific research, Maggie has created more than 200 recipes that help provide the nutrients we need for optimum brain health. Maggie will co-present with Professor Ralph Martins, Professor of Neurobiology at Macquarie University.

Our series A Humanitarian in the Front Line continues in November with UN Senior Protection Officer, Paul White – whose talks portray a harrowing, but important insight into the humanitarian crises of some of the world’s most troubled regions.

Also in November, the Hawke Centre moves in a new and exciting direction – co-presenting a number of Unsound Adelaide events. Curated by David Sefton, the festival programme offers star-studded Australian debuts, rare collaborations and specially commissioned works celebrating the world’s best experimental and underground club music. “This event will enable the Hawke Centre to reach new and diverse audiences,” explains Jacinta.

Celebrating the contribution and legacy of University of South Australia’s alumni and staff to the practice of Illustration, the Kerry Packer Civic Gallery will host: The Power of Illustration: A Legacy for the Future.

Journalist and social commentator Jane Caro will present the 2017 Amnesty International Oration, at the beginning of December.

The exhibition programme concludes with the University of South Australia’s 2017 Industrial Design Graduate Exhibition, showcasing the creative talent of the University’s Industrial Design students.

It is Jacinta’s aim that this year’s programme will provide the audience with the knowledge and means to navigate some of the world’s more complicated issues, and the tools to meet our shared responsibilities to “Strengthen our Democracy; Value our Diversity and Build our Future” ­– which are the Centre’s fundamental themes.

Find out more about the Hawke Centre and keep up-to-date with its latest programme here.