NIDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we learn and tell stories, the Bidjigal, Gadigal, Dharawal and Dharug peoples, and we pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.

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2024 Highlights from NIDA’s First Nations Team

In 2024, NIDA was proud to continue its commitment to supporting and celebrating First Nations culture through meaningful initiatives that foster connection, inclusivity, and creative growth. By integrating First Nations perspectives across programs and providing opportunities for engagement, NIDA empowers students and staff to deepen their understanding of First Nations culture and celebrate diverse voices in the arts.

Kickstarting 2024, a team of alumni, staff and students attended Yabun Festival on 26 January, one of the largest gatherings of First Nations people in Australia. NIDA’s stall was abuzz with activity, drawing significant interest in our educational offerings, scholarships and creative opportunities. The festival provided a meaningful space to connect with the community, including past and present First Nations students, while celebrating the 2024 theme, ‘Surviving, Guiding, Thriving.’ Outreach continued with several career expos, including Campbelltown Arts Expo and the Darwin Careers Expo, which allowed the team to meet prospective students and share the transformative opportunities NIDA offers.

Uncle Matt performing a smoking ceremony with students cleansing themselves.
Semester Two began with a Smoking Ceremony performed by Uncle Matthew Doyle AO.

To welcome staff and students to NIDA’s campus and the land we reside on, each semester commenced with a smoking ceremony performed by Elder-in-Residence Uncle Matthew Doyle. These ceremonies marked the beginning of the academic terms and created a sense of grounding, connection, and unity for students and staff .

During the first week of the school year and to further support new students, Student Services hosted a welcome lunch for first-year First Nations students. This relaxed and friendly gathering provided an opportunity for students to connect with one another and with staff, creating a strong foundation of support as they embarked on their studies. Building on this sense of inclusion, NIDA has also introduced monthly People of Colour (POC) lunches, offering students from diverse backgrounds a regular space to catch up, share experiences, and build a vibrant, interconnected community.

All first-year students also participated in First Nations movement workshops conducted by guest teachers Tim Bishop and Dubs Yunupingu during this first week as a fun and simple way to express themselves creatively. Organised by Student Services and led by Uncle Matt, this set a positive tone for the entire cohort as they settled into a new environment to begin their studies.

In class, the Performance Makers Subject was introduced as part of the 2024 curriculum for all first-year Bachelor of Fine Arts students. The framework and content were informed by First Nations pedagogies and guided by Uncle Matt, and Director of First Nations and Outreach, Travis Cardona (Acting, 2008). This subject equipped first-year BFA students with holistic skills in storytelling, environmental stewardship, and collaboration, all while fostering a profound Connection to Country through lessons such as deep listening and the On Country Walk excursion.

Burra installation in the NIDA Foyer.
Burra by Georgia Raczkowski, installed by NIDA first and third year students.

Moreover, as part of an internal assessment project, third-year Props and Objects graduand Georgia Raczkowski created and installed a moving artwork inspired by Burra in the NIDA foyer. In the Dharug language, Burra means eel, a creature celebrated for its resilience in many First Nations and Pacific Islander stories. Eels are known for their unrelenting determination, able to traverse concrete structures, navigate dams, and even cross short stretches of land to reach water. For the First Nations people of the waterways on which NIDA stands, eels symbolise survival, adaptability, and the delicate balance between respecting and learning from Country.

During Reconciliation Week, NIDA hosted a Q&A in the foyer for staff and students, featuring esteemed guest speakers Aunty Rhoda, John Paul Janke, Uncle Gerry Moore, and Lisa Ogle. Titled ‘Where to Now: After the Referendum,’ the discussion addressed the experiences of First Nations people and allies during and after last year’s Voice referendum, exploring pathways forward. Aligned with this year’s Reconciliation Week theme, ‘Now More Than Ever,’ the event emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and collective action.

Open Day was held on 15 June with the First Nations panel nearly at capacity. This dedicated session offered prospective students insights into NIDA’s programs, resources, and support available to First Nations students. Following the session, Travis Cardona and First Nations Project and Administration Coordinator Andrea Daniels, engaged directly with applicants, offering personalised guidance, and answering questions. They remained in touch with many applicants, providing support as they completed their applications and ensuring they felt confident about pursuing their creative ambitions at NIDA.

In November, NIDA welcomed 31 students from the Girls from OZ program, who travelled from remote communities across Australia to experience a day immersed in the world of theatre. During their visit, the students engaged with NIDA’s Design, Costume, Sets, and Props and Effects departments, participated in a workshop led by Uncle Matt, followed by an acting exercise workshop led by four first-year Acting students, and were invited onto the sets of Stupid Fucking Bird and Spring Awakening to see NIDA productions in action. Highlights included a discussion with third-year Design students Angelina Daniel and Edison Heartly and a heartfelt session with first-year Acting student and Girls from Oz alum, Ooen-s’tae McDonald, who shared her inspiring journey at NIDA.

Girls from Oz excursion to NIDA. Left: Students in a dance workshop. Right: Students sitting on the steps of the foyer.
Girls from Oz visited NIDA in November.

In December, First Nations students had the unique opportunity to visit the set of Play School, hosted by ABC Indigenous. The visit offered an exciting behind-the-scenes look at one of Australia’s most beloved children’s programs. Students met with the producers and crew, gaining insight into the creative and technical processes that have brought joy to children for over 50 years. The experience provided students with a deeper understanding of the industry while celebrating the importance of representation and storytelling in Australian media.

NIDA was delighted to host a series of enriching internal events for students and staff, led by esteemed Elders. In Semester 2, Uncle Matt organised and led Yidaki (didgeridoo) sessions for male students and staff during lunch. Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO led string workshops, imparting traditional weaving techniques and cultural insights to students.

*Header Image: From left to right: Jarron Andy, second-year Acting student, Theo Clarke, third-year Acting graduand Danny Howard and Travis Cardona (Acting, 2008) at Yabun, 2024.