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The culture and history of Australia's ancient people will be celebrated at UWA later this week in the Berndt Foundation Biennial Lecture.

Noel Pearson , Indigenous lawyer, renowned rights activist and advocate for Indigenous Australians, will deliver the lecture on Thursday 16 October in the University Club Auditorium.

An Agenda for the Classical Culture of Ancient Australia: Constitutional Recognition of Indigenous Australians is the subject of the lecture, which will include light refreshments from 6pm.

Adjunct Professor Sandy Toussaint , Associate Director of the Berndt Museum , said she was thrilled that Mr Pearson had agreed to deliver the lecture and she was looking forward to his presence on campus.

Noel Pearson is a member of the Guugu Yimidhirr Community of Hopevale on South Eastern Cape York Peninsula.  He has degrees in Law and History from the  University of Sydney.

He is the Chairman of the Cape York Partnership (CYP) and Good to Great Schools Australia . CYP is the holding company of the Cape York Institute, Cape York Partnership, Cape York Enterprises, Djarragun College, Cape York Employment, Cape York Timber and Djarragun Enterprises.

Good to Great Schools Australia supports schools to transition from Poor to Fair, Fair to Good and Good to Great. Good to Great Schools Australia's education program was developed by the Cape York Academy for its three primary schools - Aurukun, Coen and Hope Vale. It is responsible for delivering significant improvements in literacy and numeracy in these schools.

"Noel's goal is to enable Cape York's Indigenous people to have the capacity to choose the life they have reason to value, by reinstating the rights of Aboriginal people to take responsibility for their lives," Professor Toussaint said.

The Berndt Foundation Biennial Lecture  was established with a bequest to UWA by Catherine and Ronald Berndt, and is a central focus of the Foundation.  Other activities include funding awards for Indigenous undergraduate students, Postgraduate Research Awards, community engagement projects, and exhibitions.

Past Biennial Foundation invited speakers include Marcia Langton, Martin Nakata, Bob Tonkinson and Kim Akerman.

The Berndt Lecture is free and open to the public, but you must book your place here or by ringing Moira on 6488 4785.