On this episode of The Grapevine Kulja and Dylan are joined in the studio by Education Policy Fellow at the Mitchell Institute, Peter Hurley, to talk about the recovery of Australian Universities. With the opening of international borders at least a year away, will the tertiary education sector recover to its pre-pandemic levels? Hurley’s piece, ‘As hopes of international students’ return fade’, in The Conversation discusses the economic fallout of keeping the borders closed to international students.

Then, as Australia leads up to Reconciliation week, Muriel Bamblett, CEO of VACCA steps into the station to break down the State budget and its impact on First Nations youth and childcare. Bamblett discusses what real reconciliation would look like in Victoria and the ongoing treaty negotiations between First Nations leaders and government.

And, after 11 days of conflict, a cease fire between Israel and Palestine has been called. Molecular geneticist at the University of Sydney, and Palestinian Rights and Community Advocate Fahad Ali gets on the line to describe his experience watching the conflict over the last few weeks, its impact on the Palestinian community and give an update of the latest information concerning the cease fire. Ali discusses how reporting of the plight of Palestinians has been obscured by a particular “framing” and the notable silence from Canberra regarding the conflict.