It’s Time For Change campaign asks all Australians to have a think about how young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and friends feel about the nation celebrating Australia Day on January 26.

It’s time for change:

  • To consider the facts
  • To remember and understand our history
  • To think about the impact it has on our young people and their families
  • To connect and care for all Australians
  • To unite and celebrate our shared cultural lineage

“A country’s National Day exists in name only if it doesn’t include, respect and care for all its people. If it can’t honour these fundamental decencies to all citizens, it needs urgent review.” Belinda Duarte Wotjobaluk woman and CEO at Culture is Life

 

 

Culture is Life released Something On My Mind single and music video in January 2018 as part of IT’S TIME FOR CHANGE – a campaign that asks all Australians to have a think about how young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, their families and friends feel about the nation celebrating Australia Day on January 26.

Written by Nhunggabarra, Kooma, Muruwari singer-songwriter and international touring artist Glenn Skuthorpe in collaboration with Wemba Wemba, Mutti Mutti and Yorta Yorta woman Jedda Costa and Djugun man Louis Mokak and accompanied by Wergaia singer-songwriter Alice Skye, the song was produced by Katie Symes, engineered by Colin Wynne at Thirty Mills Studios and the music video was filmed at Aviary Studios in Collingwood by James Arneman of Sunlander Films.

The release of Something On My Mind has received high acclaim and significant radio play to include reaching number one on Canada’s Indigenous Music Countdown  and has been performed live at a number of high profile events to include Balit Narrun Festival in Treasury Gardens Melbourne VIC, at the 2nd National and World Indigenous Suicide Prevention Conference in Perth WA and at the 1st World Indigenous Music Conference at Folk Alliance International Montreal QC.

Something On My Mind also features in Thunderbox Films ‘Island Home’, an Australian short film encapsulating the pristine, natural beauty of our coastline, and featuring the activists who have been fighting the fossil fuel industry’s threat to our island-nation’s coastline.

Strategically timed for release four days prior to the 2019 Australian federal election, the story adds punch to the already powerful momentum of the Fight for the Bight, Stop Adani and Climate movements
that right now, are at the centre of our nation’s focus and critical to our shared futures on this planet.

@thunderboxfilmhouse @cultureislife @glennskuthorpemusic #somethingonmymind

Download bios for Something On My Mind

 

“I want to feel like I can celebrate Australia and the wonderful country I’m from, but I can’t when I’m excluded from that day that marks the beginning of a history of trauma.” Lalatuai Grogan, Kuku Yalanji and Tolai

#itstimeforchange #cultureislife

 

“I think we just need to take one step at a time, we need to stop, slow down for a bit and lead with our values, with our hearts at best interest. I think that’s the way forward.” Will Austin, Keerray Wurrung and Peek Wurrung

#itstimeforchange #cultureislife

 

What’s the impact of Australia Day on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and their families?

#itstimeforchange #cultureislife

 

What would it feel like for a young Aboriginal person if the past was truly acknowledged and they were included in Australia’s national celebrations?

‘I want to be included but I’m also remembering my families and what they’ve been through and experienced. It was never a day we felt like we could celebrate.’ Kodi Galleghan, Malak-Malak, Nhunggabarra, Kooma, Muruwari woman

‘I used to love the celebrations we had on Australia Day but it’s kind of upsetting to think that I can’t have that and invite Kodi along.’ Kevin Fernandez

#itstimeforchange #cultureislife


Sign up for our newsletter

Be the first to know about new projects and the latest from us.
We care about your data in our privacy policy.
⚠️ CW: Suicide and Mental Health

📣 Have you read the Yarn Up Listen Up Report? It looks into #Aboriginal and #TorresStraitIslander young people’s perspectives on #suicideprevention.

🤝🏽 This research project was undertaken with the Centre of Best Practice of Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention (@centre_of_best_practice) and the First Nations Young People Health & Wellbeing Committee.

Read the full report ☝🏾 #linkinbio

#FirstNations #MentalHealth #Indigenous
👋🏾 Meet Hakon Dyrting, a proud #Aboriginal (Garrawa,NT and Djugun/ Yawuru, WA) man who was born, raised and studied in Darwin.

🌐 Hakon is part of the 2023 #FullashipProgram and is an #Indigenous Enterprise Consultant for the Northern Territory Indigenous Business Network. He also sits on the U.S. Consulate General Melbournes Youth Council Melbourne and has been recently appointed as a Director on Danila Dilba Health Services Board. 

✊🏽 Hakon is passionate about #entrepreneurship for mob. He believes through economic independence, we can create intergenerational wealth which will lead to a surge of positive change and empowerment. 

#Fullaship2023 #BuyBlak #IndigenousBusiness
Can't believe it's December. Feels like yesterday, it was just November 🤣
Happy Australian Music Tshirt Day🎵

Today we want to amplify the voices of Blak artists and encourage people to follow them, catch a show and buy their merch! 🎟️

Also, a big mob shoutout to the Archie Roach Foundation in particular! Their Singing Our Futures program mentors young First Nations musicians to continue Uncle Archie's work of truthtelling and healing through music. Please donate to them directly, so they can continue their important work @archieroachmusic 🖤🦅 #Linkinbio

Tee available via @gamminthreads #buyblak 

#ausmusictshirtday #archieroach #aboriginal #torresstraitislander #australianmusic
Meet Guyala Bayles, one of our fellows from the 2023 #FullashipProgram 👋🏾 

✊🏽 Guyala is a staunch Birri Gubba / Wonnarua woman hailing originally from the Murri Community in Queensland, but grew-up in Redfern and Kempsey before eventually returning to Queensland.
 
🤩 You might recognise her face from her extensive modelling career, but she is also an actress, poet, musician, activist, facilitator, inspirational speaker and tour guide who uses her platform to advocate for her people!
 
Find out more about the Fullaship Program ☝🏽 #Linkinbio
 
#Aboriginal #YoungPeople #Mentorship
Walking Our Songlines with Language is a project created by Coota Girls Aboriginal Corporation for Coota Girls Survivors and their Descendants, in partnership with Culture is Life. Artwork by @balgarra_designs_ and Production by @33creativeaus 🫶🏽

Find out more about the Walking Our Songlines with Language project👆🏽#Linkinbio

#StolenGenerations #AboriginalAustralia #IndigenousLanguages #LanguagesAliveCultureThrives
“Songs from the Kitchen Table" is the ultimate illustrated commemoration of Archie Roach and Ruby Hunter in songs, stories, photographs and tributes. It has lyrics to over 100 of their songs and a QR code to a playlist. To coincide with its publication we have released "I’m Gonna Fly" a very special and brand new, unheard song from Archie Roach and Ellie Lovegrove, co-written back in 2014 - out now on all streaming services. A big shoutout to @simonandschuster and @mushroompublish. To purchase the songbook, hear the new song and enjoy the playlist visit the link in bio via @archieroachmusic 🖤

• Repost from @archieroachmusic 

#AboriginalAustralia #ArchieRoach #Music #Aboriginal #TorresStraitIslander #Indigenous #Australia
Croc lover Donny Imberlong (Jaru) from the Fullaship Program 2022, is featured in the upcoming short film 'Skin Deep' and appearing on a panel at the premiere screening 🐊🤩

• Repost via @defendthewild 

PREMIERE ANNOUNCEMENT: We are premiering our short film ‘Skin Deep’ alongside @worldanimalprotectionaustralia on February 2nd 2024 at Cinema Nova in Naarm (Melbourne).

The premiere screening will feature alongside a panel discussion with Donny Imberlong (@donnydrysdale), Alix Livingstone (@defendthewild), Emma Hakansson (@collectivefashionjustice) and Ben Pearson (@worldanimalprotectionaustralia).

Limited tickets available via Humanitix 👉🏽 head to @defendthewild for more info 🎟️

#Crocodile #Croc #CrocFarming #Australia #CrocWise #CrocCountry #Event #Wildlife #CrocodileFarm #Animals #WildAnimals #Melbourne #Cinema #Premiere #PanelDiscussion