The first intensive for 2024 was held in Naarm/Melbourne and Wharburton, Victoria, on the lands of the Wurundjeri people. This was the first time the fellows had met in person and there was lot’s of excitement and anticipation. Arriving from Boorloo/Perth, Maningrida (West Arnhem), Tarndanya/Adelaide, Djilang/Geelong, Newcastle, Canberra & the Gold Coast. 

The week was filled with laughter, deep reflections, ideas, and love. Fellows began their journey in Preston for the night for some rest after their travels and had a welcome dinner to meet one another. 

The next day Fellows and staff travelled to Laughing Waters in Eltham and were Welcomed to Wurundjeri Country by Sue-Anne Hunter, a proud Wurundjeri and Ngurai Illum Wurrung woman and the Deputy Chair and Commissioner of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. Sue-Ann spoke about her work in Treaty making and truth telling with the Yoorrook Justice Commission and the history of the Wurundjeri people, launching us into the first intensive of 2024!

Fellows and staff then travelled to Warburton, where everyone stayed for the week on the beautiful Birrarung (Yarra River), grounding themselves and connecting to this part of Wurundjeri Country under Mount Donna Buang.

Throughout the week, Fellows heard from Alumni Leyla Quartermaine (Ballardong-Noongar) and Maya Hodge (Lardil), spent time at Healesville Sanctuary to see Bunjil up close and spent time connecting with animal kin. 

Fellows and staff visited Uncle Dave Wandin at Coranderrk Aboriginal Mission, hearing about what he does as a caretaker, Elder and his vision for the future of the land, which included the importance of native plants, medicines and bringing people together.

The fellows had time to reflect and talk about their values as a group, reflect on their own stories and those who have inspired them whilst growing up. Fellows split into two groups and had yarns with Gamilaraay/Bigambul siblings Uncle Mark Fernando and Aunty Steph Armstrong, which were spaces to be vulnerable, connect and spend time with Elders. 

“The defying difference on programs like this is that there’s a cultural lens before anything. It’s rooted in culture and then the other elements.” – Joel Matysek (Meuram tribe on Erub/Darnley Island), 2024 Fullaship Program

Nights during the program were filled with games, team building, music and performances, including a special performance by one of our Fellows, Ray Ray (Anbarra, Nakara, Yamatji and Luritja), who shared their original pieces. Fellows debriefed with staff followed by a night of sharing stories, laughter and sitting by the fire enjoying some damper and time with each other.

On the last day, Fellows and staff returned to Naarm (Melbourne) for a networking event at the Koorie Heritage Trust, featuring a keynote speech by Australia’s inaugural Ambassador for First Nations People and Co-Chair of Culture is Life, Justin Mohamed. Guests were welcomed to the space with a live acoustic set from Yorta Yorta musician Madi Colville-Walker, who was also a participant in our Singing Our Futures Program with Archie Roach Foundation in 2023.

Since returning home, Fellows have shared amazing ideas about their personal development, wellbeing and prioritising spending more time on Country.

A special thank you again to Sue-Anne Hunter, Eugene Howard from InPlace, the staff at Oscars on the Yarra, Leyla Quartermaine, Maya Hodge, Aunty Steph Armstrong, Uncle Mark, Uncle Dave Wandin, Caroline Kell from Blak Wattle, everyone who attended our networking event at Koorie Heritage Trust, our funders and partners and the Culture is Life team for all your support during this Intensive.


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Meet Koby Sellings, one of our 2024 Fellows! Koby is a proud Gunai Kurnai man who is passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and advocacy. ✊🏽

This is evident through his past and current commitments with Yalari, headspace National and Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. Koby was also the Community Engagement Officer at the @koorieyouthcouncil, which saw him lead the 2023 Koorie Youth Summit, as well as the Blackouts in Mildura and Warrnambool. 💛

Currently, he works at Yalari and has been working in the leadership and wellbeing space to help in the personal development of Yalari's students and alumni. 🧘🏽‍♂️
The 2024 Fullaship in Gimuy (Cairns) wearing their deadly creations made in the “Clay Speaks” workshop hosted by @ttpopp_ 🎨 

Thank you to the deadly tidda @taliciaminniecon for yarning with the young mob and sharing her story, talking about healing and her journey with social entrepreneurship. 💛 

As tidda said, this is why we do what we do - for the next generation, our children, our community and our connection to culture. ✨

📸 @ttpopp_
Meet Bri Apma Hayes, one of our deadly 2024 Fellows! 👋🏽 Bri is a proud Arrernte woman, born and raised on Waddawurrung country in Geelong. She is an artist who grew up learning stories and techniques from her father which she now uses to connect with other people and share culture, history and people's journeys. 🎨

Bri is passionate about education and is currently Co-Chair for her Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group to help all young mob feel safe and heard in education environments. ✊🏽
Arrernte and Kalkadoon filmmaker, Rachel Perkins, has been awarded the Distinguished Services to the Australian Screen Award at the Screen Music Awards in Naarm (Melbourne). 🏆

“Her stories, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous, have become woven into the fabric of our national story. 🎬

They challenge us to look deeper, to understand more fully and to walk in the shoes of those whose experiences may be different from our own.” - Dean Ormston, CEO of APRA AMCOS, which present the Screen Music Awards. 🙌🏽
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📱 Read the full story via @nitv_au
Meet Jeremy Last, one of our 2024 Fellows! Jeremy is a proud Ngaanyatjarra & Pitjantjatjara man studying a double bachelor's degree in International Relations and Arts majoring in Indigenous Knowledges & Society at the University of Adelaide. 👨🏽‍🎓

Jeremy is passionate about community development and advocating for mob. On a personal level Jeremy enjoys playing Australian Rules Football, trail running, spending time with my family and friends and also volunteering at a youth group. 🏃🏽
The 2024 Fullaship mob have landed in Gimuy (Cairns) on Yidinji & Yirrganydji Country for their second intensive ✈️

Special thanks to Traditional Owner, Jiritju Fourmile, for the warm Welcome and showing us around this beautiful Country. 🍃
Meet Raychelle (RayRay) Mckenzie from the 2024 Fullaship Program! RayRay is an Anbarra, Nakara young person with ties to Luritja and Yamatji mobs, passionate about grassroots initiatives and community empowerment. As an MC, rapper, and poet, they express stories of resilience and disparities through music and creativity. 🎤

As part of their Fullaship project to develop as an artist, RayRay has recently performed with Kobie Dee on his Northern Territory Tour and is also passionate about addressing Rheumatic Heart Disease and Streptococcus A, sharing insights from their lived experience and the effects it has on families and their community. 🫂
Today, October 10, marks #WorldMentalHealthDay 🌏 This is a gentle reminder that it's ok to not be ok. Take care of yourself, your mob and your Country. 🫂 It's all connected. 🫶🏽 #MentalHealthMatters

Artwork via @coffinbirth
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