The first intensive for 2023 was held in Sydney, on the lands of the Gadigal People. This was the first time the fellows had met in person and there was lot’s of excitement and anticipation, some visiting Sydney for the first time! Arriving from Polouma Island, Townsville, Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.
We stayed at a central location to the harbour and surrounds, and kicked the informal part of the program off at Accor Stadium, for some socialising, and Rabbitohs NRL Experience.
On Sunday we traveled to Kuringai Chase National Park where we met Uncle Laurie Bimson, a Guringai man, who runs Guringai Aboriginal Tours. Uncle passed around and shared knowledge on weapons and tools and participants got to practice their return boomerang throwing skills. We walked along The Basin track to The Basin Aboriginal art site with its rock engravings, where Uncle shared knowledge about this site and how it links with others nearby, and visited beautiful ochre hand-prints.
Finished by a rest at West Head, one of Sydney’s best lookouts, to take in stunning ocean and coastal views before a beautiful native ingredient infused lunch catered by Cafe Dreaming.
The next morning we met Uncle Shane Phillips at NCIE in Redfern, who took us on a walking tour of Redfern sharing it’s stories of resistance and pride, visiting Dreaming Cafe, and Aboriginal services, before heading back to NCIE for a personal development project session with Thara & Sofii.
Participants got to meet the newly appointed Programs Officer Madeline, our former project officer who misses us, Jayden Oakley, Aunty Steffi Armstrong, Aunty Lynette Riley and board members, Jane Pound and Faye McMilan for lunch. Lunch was catered by the incredible Aunty Beryl, who is still cooking and delivering hospitality training in her eighties – a true inspiration!
Tanja Hirvonen delivered a wellbeing workshop at NCIE that evening and seeded some great ideas for SEWB support throughout the program, before a much needed dinner and games night.
The last morning was spent at Palms Studio, recording video messages from the fellows ‘For Our Elders’ NAIDOC resources and promotion. And a photo shoot with Gammin Threads and Clothing the Gaps merch to use throughout the year. Shelley Ware then delivered her media training workshop offering some incredible tips and tricks from her years of media training and teaching to develop participants’ confidence in public speaking and presenting.
The final closing circle came around quickly with participants sharing some great insights, highlights and challenges of the intensive, what they will take with them and a compliment to their fellow participants. The feedback was recorded to inform our future intensives as well as staff feedback. Overall, a successful jam packed intensive and looking forward to reconnecting with some more culturally grounding , wellbeing and professional development focused sessions in WA in September.
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The 2025 Fellows just wrapped an incredible week in Garramilla on Larrakia Country, a week of reflection, storytelling, healing and deep connection with community and Country.
From Uncle Dr Richard Fejo’s Saltwater Ceremony, to SEWB learnings with Mark Nannup, values grounding with Aunty Steff, storytelling with Gen Grieves, visits to Children’s Ground and Minramana Community, and a beautiful bush medicine workshop with Aunty Cheryl, every day was packed with culture, growth and purpose.
We closed with a powerful circle led by Dr Carmen Cubillo and heartfelt ‘Who You?’ presentations that brought the cohort even closer.
Huge love to all our First Nations hosts and facilitators for welcoming us so generously.
❤️🤎🖤
Join award-winning filmmaker Rachel Perkins and esteemed historian Henry Reynolds at the launch of The Australian Wars book tomorrow night. After sold out launch events in Sydney and Melbourne, the conversation now heads to The Australian War Memorial on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra.
Rachel has long called for First Nations people who died in Frontier Wars conflicts – as well as colonists who were killed – to be officially recognised by this institution ❤️🖤🤎
Co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray, and Henry Reynolds, this ground breaking book was conceived by Rachel Perkins following her award-winning documentary series of the same name, produced by Blackfella Films for SBS. 🎥✨
Image credit: Dylan River
@rachelperkinsau @allenandunwin @stephen.gapps @_mina.murray
📚 Launching The Australian Wars Book!
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in creating The Australian Wars book, being launched around the country this week!
Co-edited with Stephen Gapps, Mina Murray, and Henry Reynolds, the book was conceived by the incredible Rachel Perkins following her award-winning documentary series produced by Blackfella Films for SBS. 🎥✨
The book builds on the meticulous research conducted for the documentary series, and covers Frontier Wars battles across all the states and territories. It’s a hugely valuable resource for history teachers, and essential reading for all Australians to progress truth-telling in this country. ❤️🖤🤎
Look out for launch events happening in:
Gadigal Country (Sydney)
Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung Country (Melbourne)
Ngunnawal Country (Canberra) ... and hopefully more to come!
🔍Look it up! Don’t miss this important work.
@rachelperkinsau @allenandunwin @stephen.gapps @_mina.murray Henry Reynolds
Don’t miss this! Tomorrow night in Naarm!
We’re so proud that our Education Consultant and Fullaship Elder, Aunty Stephanie Armstrong OAM, will be in conversation with Mervyn Bishop and Tim Dobbyn to launch the illustrated biography; Black, White + Colour!
Mervyn Bishop took one of the most significant photos in Australian history: Gough Whitlam pouring a handfull of sand into the hands of Vincent Lingiari. As Australia’s first Aboriginal press photographer, his story is a must-hear.
Still a few tickets left - book via trybooking!
Avenue Bookstore, Elsternwick. It’s FREE!
Leyla is a proud Noongar woman who works to amplify the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in Victoria. From advocating for strength-based mentoring programs to representing young mob in key policy forums, her work is deeply rooted in community and cultural strength.
She is a graduate of the 2022 Fullaship Program, a three-time Melbourne Fashion Week model, and has represented Australia at the World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference. Having overcome immense adversity, Leyla is committed to breaking cycles and creating spaces for young people to see their worth, pursue their dreams, and step into opportunities that were never designed for them. Above all, she carries forward the values of love, care, and integrity instilled in her by her Nan, whose legacy she continues to honor in all that she does.
📣The school year is flying, but there’s still time to bring our 2025 NAIDOC Education Resources into your classroom!
Here’s a peak at some engaging activities for Early Learning to Year 10, aligned with this year’s theme, ‘The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.’ Designed to be used all year round!
❤️💛🖤
Download Now: Find the official resources (developed by Culture is Life, National NAIDOC Committee, and ABC Education) on our website.
Share Your Voice: Used them already? We want to hear your experience! Complete our quick feedback survey.
🔗 Links in bio!
Professional development webinars for teaching The Australian Wars are now live on our YouTube channel! 📺
Access some of our best discussions anytime and share these essential resources with your colleagues ✨
Deepen your understanding and boost your confidence with Rachel Perkins and our team of Aboriginal educators! 🫶🏽
🔗 Link in bio!
Bek is a proud Wakaya woman, born and raised on Wadawurrung Country in Geelong. In recent years, she has lived and worked across Darwin, Brisbane, and now the Gold Coast.
At the heart of Bek’s work is a deep commitment to using her voice to empower others—especially young people—to embrace their power, identity, and creativity through the mediums that speak to them.
Fullaship Expressions of Interest Now Open!
👉🏽Link in bio
