The Mitchell Oration recognises Dame Roma Mitchell's lifelong advocacy for human rights and preventing discrimination. Dame Roma was particularly interested in rights for women, indigenous Australians and ethnic Australians. Dame Roma served as the first female judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia and later became the Chair of the Australian Human Rights Commission and the first woman to be appointed Governor of South Australia.

For each Mitchell Oration, the Equal Opportunity Commission of South Australia selects a community leader to present current issues about human rights with the aim of carrying on the work of Dame Roma through developing ways to counter discrimination.

Below is a list of the Mitchell Orations beginning with the inaugural presention by Dame Roma in 1989 entitled - "Looking Back… Looking Forward". The orations are available to download by clicking on the Microsoft Word links.
 

Mitchell Oration 1989 - Inaugural Mitchell Oration

by Dame Roma Mitchell
"Looking Back... Looking Forward".
 Mitchell Oration 1989 - Roma Mitchell

Mitchell Orations 1990 - 2007

Mitchell Oration 2009

by Dr Katharine Gelber
"Freedom of speech and its limits"
 (71 KB) Mitchell Oration 2009 - Dr Katharine Gelber
Listen to the Mitchell Oration 2009 podcast on the Radio Adelaide website (opens new window)

Mitchell Oration 2007

by Professor Hilary Charlesworth
"Are human rights the past or the future for Australia?"
 (62 KB) Mitchell Oration 2007 - Prof Hilary Charlesworth
An audio file (MP3 format) of this presentation can be downloaded at the bottom of this page.

Mitchell Oration 2005

by Prof Julian Disney
"Equal Opportunity at home and abroad"
 (62 KB) Mitchell Oration 2005 - Prof Julian Disney

Mitchell Oration 2003

by John von Doussa
"Dialogue or Monologue – Human Rights in Australia"
 (57 KB) Mitchell Oration 2003 - John von Doussa 

Mitchell Oration 2002

by Mary Robinson
"The future of Human Rights Globally"
 (83 KB) Mitchell Oration 2002 - Mary Robinson

Mitchell Oration 2001

by Magistrate Geoffrey Robertson QC
"Justice and Revenge: The Lessons of Sept 11"
 (106 KB) Mitchell Oration 2001 - Geoffrey Robertson QC

Mitchell Oration 2000

by Prof Peter Sellars
"The art of Justice"
 (68 KB) Mitchell Oration 2000 - Prof Peter Sellars

Mitchell Oration 1999

by Gary Andrews
"Ageing Triumpantly"
 (78 KB) Mitchell Oration 1999 - Gary Andrews

Mitchell Oration 1998

by Alice Tay
"Human rights and Human Wrongs"
 (93 KB) Mitchell Oration 1998 - Alice Tay

Mitchell Oration 1997

by Hugh Mackay
"The pleasing myth of Egaliatarian Australia"
 (66 KB) Mitchell Oration 1997 - Hugh Mackay

Mitchell Oration 1996

by Frank Brennan
"Thirty Years on, Do we need a Bill of Rights?"
 (153 KB) Mitchell Oration 1996 - Frank Brennan

Mitchell Oration 1995

by Hon Justice Catherine Branson
Equal Opportunity: The next twenty years"
 (94 KB) Mitchell Oration 1995 - Hon Justice Catherine Branson

Mitchell Oration 1994

by Elizabeth Evatt
"Women, Citizenship and the Law in the coming century"
 (70 KB) Mitchell Oration 1994 - Elizabeth Evatt

Mitchell Oration 1993 

by Rev Peter Hollingworth
"Whither Australia? Shaping the Future of our nation"
 (91 KB) Mitchell Oration 1993 - Rev Peter Hollingworth

Mitchell Oration 1992

by Magistrate Pat O'Shane
"Human rights & Aborigines: Time for re-appraisal"
 (62 KB) Mitchell Oration 1992 - Magistrate Pat O'Shane

Mitchell Oration 1991

by Sir Ronald Wilson
"Human Dignity for all: A pie in the sky?"
 (68 KB) Mitchell Oration 1991 - Sir Ronald Wilson

Mitchell Oration 1990

by Hon Justice Mary Gaudron
"In the eye of the law: The Jurisprudence of Equality"
 (53 KB) Mitchell Oration 1990 - Hon Justice Mary Gaudron