We need a national Holocaust education centre

Never has the mission to build bridges, demystify Jews and Judaism, defeat the evil of “othering” and work towards a healthier social landscape in Australia been more important. In that context the ACT Jewish Community is overwhelmingly committed to pursuing a National Holocaust Memorial Education Centre (NHMEC) in our nation’s capital, using committed federal funding and additional funding through community efforts.

Canberra is the only capital in the free world that doesn’t have a Holocaust related institution. This should be remedied because Canberra presents a unique opportunity as a vital education hub. Thousands of school children visit Canberra as part of a mature and extremely well organised National Capital Education Tourism Project (NCETP). Around 30% of these children come from regional and remote areas of Australia. Around 71% of them are in the Year 6 bracket.

The ACT Jewish Community has embraced this responsibility, and we have been greatly encouraged by the passion the NCETP and our donors have exhibited in seizing this moment and opportunity. We have had a careful process of community involvement to determine the best way forward to deliver the desired outcome. At no point in the process was a motion presented opposing the project. The only foundational issue requiring deliberation was whether the facility should be a stand-alone building or integrated into existing ACTJC structures.

A range of other issues were discussed and communicated through a community consultation process, including our elevated security concerns, ensuring our children weren’t exposed to confronting images, that there was no conflict with ACTJC amenity or impact on our own meagre financial resources above the generous donations from community members.

After a great deal of investigation, design analysis and costing it was determined in an overwhelming vote at our AGM in November that the integrated option offered the best means of addressing the bulk of concerns and ideas.

With the design that has been selected there will also be tremendous flexibility built in. This will enable us to better support the National Jewish Community events that we host on a regular basis. We have growing concerns regarding the functionality of the existing facilities at our Centre in catering for mobility challenged members and general fire and security safety. These will be remedied in the new works. The multipurpose hall will handle High School groups for Holocaust education, commemoration events at which we have many politicians, diplomats and senior Defence and Public Service figures, and travelling Holocaust exhibitions in partnership with the Melbourne and Sydney Museums.

We are excited by the prospect of what we can contribute to the wellbeing of the National Jewish Community, the struggle against antisemitism and the health of our democracy, and we believe it is important to stand up for the values we hold dear in these challenging times. It has never ended well when we try to wish away problems and hide our heads in the sand.