I have great pleasure in inviting you to participate in the University of Melbourne's central conference for 1999: "Individual, Community, Nation: 50 years of Australian Citizenship"

The conference marks this year's 50th anniversary of Australian citizenship. Before the Nationality and Citizenship Act (now the Australian Citizenship Act 1948) came into

force on 26 January 1949, Australians were solely British subjects and had no separate Australian legal status. The University of Melbourne, and its Law School, felt the event changing this deserved a major conference to commemorate 50 years of Australian citizenship. In addition, the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs have agreed to be a major sponsor of the conference, and together with the support of Telstra and the National Australia Bank we intend to make the conference a memorable event.

I use the term "commemorate" rather than "celebrate" because this conference seeks to do more than purely acclaim Australian citizenship. It will take a probing and critical look at the meaning of citizenship in Australia and abroad. While there may be much to celebrate, there are matters worthy of reflection and improvement. "Individual, Community, Nation: 50 years of Australian Citizenship" will do this over three days from 21-23 July 1999. Each day has an overall theme of the "Past", the "Present" and finally the "Future". Within each day, the conference will consider the place of individuals, communities, and the nation and how citizenship figures in Australia's national identity. Some of the sub-themes that will be further developed include the place of Indigenous Australians, women, and, ethnic communities when thinking about citizenship. The conference will be truly interdisciplinary, looking at citizenship from historical, sociological, legal, educational and political perspectives.

Conference highlights include:

• Presentations: Listen to a range of stimulating and engaging presentations by leading international and national speakers, in a range of formats and venues. You will also be given the opportunity to engage in discussion following the presentations.
• Discussion groups: Participate more fully when the conference breaks into smaller discussion groups on the second afternoon.
• Archives Guide: All delegates will be given a complimentary copy of Citizenship in Australia: A Guide to Commonwealth Government Records, which will be launched at the conference.
• Citizenship ceremony: Attend a citizenship ceremony at the Melbourne Town Hall followed by a reception for the conference delegates and new citizens.
• Conference dinner: Enjoy dinner at Ormond College where we will be addressed by the Executive Head of the State of Victoria, His Excellency, the Governor, Sir James Gobbo.
• Immigration Museum Tour: Be taken on a guided tour through the recently-opened Immigration Museum.

This is just a sample of the range of activities that we hope will stimulate you over the three days. Please do not hesitate to contact me by email if you have further questions about the conference content: k.rubenstein@law.unimelb.edu.au or by telephone (61-3) 83447460. For further information about registration and administrative arrangements associated with the conference, please contact National Curriculum Services at registration@vcta.asn.au or by telephone (61-3) 9415 1299.

I look forward to meeting you at what I believe will be a most stimulating, challenging and timely conference.

Yours sincerely,

KIM RUBENSTEIN,
Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Melbourne