A Fair and Just Future for First Peoples: Creating the Artwork and Report Design for the Social Justice Report 2025

July 9, 2026

I was deeply honoured to create the artwork, design and layout for the Australian Human Rights Commission’s A Fair and Just Future for First Peoples: Social Justice Report 2025, along with the supporting report documents and community resources.

This was one of those projects that carried so much more meaning than design alone. From the very beginning, I knew this work needed to feel strong, respectful and grounded in culture, while also supporting the importance and seriousness of the report itself.

The Social Justice Report 2025 is centred on the voices, experiences and aspirations of First Peoples across Australia. It speaks to justice, accountability, self-determination, truth-telling and the need for real structural change. Knowing the depth and importance of the content, I wanted the artwork and visual design to help carry the story in a way that felt powerful, connected and respectful.

The artwork was created to reflect connection to Country, community, strength, protection, waterways, gathering places and the voices of First Peoples. Throughout the design, I included flowing pathways, meeting places, shields, hands, feathers, water and natural elements to represent movement, cultural knowledge, resilience and the ongoing journey towards a fair and just future.

Designing the report suite was a careful and meaningful process. It was important that the artwork did not just sit on the cover, but became part of the visual language across the publications. The goal was to create a design that felt culturally strong and visually engaging, while still allowing the words, recommendations and community voices to remain at the centre.

I worked across the main Social Justice Report 2025, the First Peoples Voices – Informing the Agenda report, and the Community Guide. Each document needed to feel connected as part of the same project, while also standing strongly on its own. The final design brought together the artwork, colour palette, page layouts and visual elements into a cohesive report suite for the Australian Human Rights Commission.

This project was also a reminder of the responsibility that comes with creating artwork for work that speaks to our communities, our rights and our future. As an Aboriginal artist, I never take that responsibility lightly. For me, this was not just about creating something visually beautiful. It was about creating artwork and design that could respectfully support a national conversation about justice, truth, self-determination and change.

I also want to pay tribute to Tara Apps, who was the project manager on this report and who sadly passed away during the process. Tara’s work, care and contribution were an important part of bringing this report together. Projects like this are carried by people — through their commitment, organisation, conversations and belief in the purpose of the work. I want to acknowledge Tara with deep respect and honour her contribution to this important project.

Being part of A Fair and Just Future for First Peoples has been a proud and humbling experience. I am grateful to have contributed creatively to a report that holds such important voices and calls for meaningful change.

I hope the artwork and design help carry the strength, vision and purpose behind this report, and I am incredibly proud to have been part of this important work with the Australian Human Rights Commission.