First Nations Media NEWS | indigiTUBE is live :: CONVERGE Sydney travel support :: Action on our Calls for Action

The Alice Springs indigiTUBE launch will feature as part of the Human Rights Film Festival at 7pm this Saturday 29 September. indigiTUBE is excited to announce the showing of Undiscovered Country from director Tyson Mowarin as part of the 1 hour screening program. This powerful story shares the struggles Aboriginal youth face keeping in touch with their traditions and received the Australian Short Screenplay Award at the 65th annual Sydney Film Festival in June. The program includes 5 additional shorts and highlights the significance of the First Nations media industry. Don't miss it! #ourmediamatters.

indigiTUBE is now live and has started its journey to connect First Nations media across the country. If you missed the recent Bush Bands Bash, indigiTUBE had its first live stream to the platform and you can catch the epic event here. Right now you can stream 18 different radio stations live at any time to hear what's going on around the country.

It is awesome to see media organisations and independent content creators already signing up and sharing their music, radio and stories. indigiTUBE is looking for more content to continue building an impressive national presence for First Nations mob.

The final night of CONVERGE Sydney will be the official launch of the new indigiTUBE site and presentations of the inaugural First Nations Media Awards.

To help us celebrate, we're bringing some musician friends to join forces with media practitioners from around the country in acknowledging excellence within our sector. We're excited to announce live sets from.... (drum roll please)....
CAAMA Music's rising star, Alice Skye
the Koori woman of blues herself, Marlene Cummins, and
Mr LA Di DA Di, the new fresh prince of Arnhem Land, Baker Boy!

Bringing fresh sounds to Turner Hall on Friday 23 November to cap off two days of talking, learning, sharing and networking.

We received over 85 nominations for the inaugural First Nations Media Awards. Our judges are reading, watching and listening to the submissions now. Shortlisted nominees will be announced soon.

At CONVERGE Sydney we'll hear an update on the Employment & Skills Strategy from Pauline Clague. Plus there will be discussions of how organisations are addressing the Government's target Indigenous employment levels, and forum discussion about training opportunities for our sector to align with career progression.

The program will feature some workshop opportunities for content-makers to learn new skills and a range of opportunities for all delegates to talk about developing career pathways. Stay tuned for the full program announcement in October.

First Nations Media has secured discount pricing for 3 hotels close to the CONVERGE venue in Sydney:

Novotel Sydney Central
The Novotel Sydney Central are offering 10% off the best flexible rate. Delegates can call the hotel Reservations direct number +02 9281 6888 and refer to the group name ‘First Nations Media Australia’.

Metro Aspire Hotel, Sydney
The Metro Aspire Hotel are offering 15% discount. Click here to book online.

Mercure Sydney
The Mercure Sydney are offering 10% off best unrestricted rate of the day at the time of booking. Please call 02 9217 6797 and quote CIND10 to receive this discount.

To organise travel assistance for your Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander delegates, give our Assistant Manager, Jenni Nixon on 08 8952 6465.

Jennifer and Stephanie had the pleasure of meeting June Oscar, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner at a gathering held in Alice Springs recently as part of the Wiyi Yani U Thangani Women's Voices project. The discussions among local Arrernte, Luritja and Kimberley women attending were real and powerful and something Jen and Steph felt honoured to be part of. June gave all the women in the room an opportunity of introduce themselves and to talk about our strengths. The answers were inspiring with many of the women having similar strengths, hopes and dreams. We felt that we, as Aboriginal women are finally getting our voices heard by someone who is there and ready to listen, letting us cry, laugh and smile. The gathering felt like a safe place to share our life struggles with the one another without judgement.

This motion responds to a series of briefings delivered to members of Parliament during that visit. The motion notes the culturally significant programming and services delivered by our sector and "urges the Federal Government to implement First Nations Media's nine calls for action and fund them appropriately."

View the media release from Senator Siewert's office here.

First Nations Media Australia is pleased to see this step toward increased consistency in applying CDP obligations across the country. "We thank Senator Siewert and Senator McCarthy for their leadership in putting forward this motion," says Dot West, Chairperson of First Nations Media Australia, "We ask all parties to consider our calls for action to further support building a sustainable future for our sector."

The calls for action focus on industry development to increase employment opportunities, build capacity, extend the reach of First Nations media services, enhance social inclusion and preserve culture and language.

First Nations Media Australia also thanks CAAMA, The Wire, 4ZZZ and Radio Goolarri for their support in reporting on our recent activities in Canberra.

You might hear a new voice on the phone when you call our office because Rhiannon Monkerud has joined the team as our new Administration Assistant. Rhiannon is a Luritja woman from her grandmother's side being from Haasts Bluff, and is also Wiradjuri from father side. Rhiannon previously worked at Tangentyere as receptionist and Trainee Youth Worker with ASYASS. Make sure you say hello to Rhiannon next time you call!

Meanwhile Stephanie Stone has taken a step up to a new position within First Nations Media as our Executive Assistant. Steph will be turning her attention to providing support for a range of activities including communications, accounts, membership engagement and events. With 2 years of experience at the front desk, Steph is well-placed to turn her attention to all areas of First Nations Media operations, so rest assured you will still be seeing her friendly smiling face around!

Are you a member of First Nations Media Australia yet? Our AGM is coming up in November with members invited to nominate and vote for Board positions. We will be calling for nominations soon and encourage you to start thinking about whether your organisation's representative would be interested in participating in First Nations Media Australia as a Director.

Plus, member organisations can access travel subsidy support for First Nations Media Australia events. So there's never been a better time to make sure your membership is current, or to join us, than in the lead-up to CONVERGE Sydney.

Our General Manager, Daniel Featherstone recently travelled to Thursday Island to make arrangements for the Remote Indigenous Media Festival 2019, hosted by TSIMA 4MW. Daniel met with Traditional Owners, spent time with the TSIMA team and investigated venue options for workshops, forums, entertainment, catering and accommodation. His visit aligned with the Winds of Zenadth Cultural Festival (see story below) which gave Daniel a great opportunity to experience the dance, song, art and ceremony the Torres Strait has to offer and to see Thursday Island in full festival mode. The 20th Remote Indigenous Media Festival is shaping up to be a very special event in September 2019.

3KND will broadcast on treaty-related matters for both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities. Regular programs on treaty will allow for wide-ranging discussion of the treaty process and allow for different viewpoints on the process to be shared. The Treaty Community Engagement Program supports Traditional Owners groups and other organisations and businesses to engage with Victorian Aboriginal communities as well as non-Aboriginal Victorians on Treaty. The program will also help ensure the treaty process continues to be guided by Aboriginal voices and prepare the Aboriginal community for the establishment of the Aboriginal Representative Body and eventual Treaty negotiations.Insights obtained through the Program will be used by the Victorian Treaty Advancement Commission as it works to establish the Aboriginal Representative Body as part of the next phase of the treaty process. The Labor Government has provided more than $37.5 million to support the treaty process and promote self- determination among Victorian Aboriginal communities.

This fantastic showcases array of Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal cultural dance, music, art and practices from across the Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait region) is held every two years.

Over 40 dance groups gathered for the four-day event, demonstrating the wide variety of dance styles from the region. The theme for the 2018 festival was Stand Strong: Culture is our Foundation.

The team from NITV were there to cover all the action though the week and share it out via Facebook Live.
Thursday Island 11-14 September 2018

More jobs.....
There are a whole range of opportunities available to work in media and supporting community media organisations at the moment. Here's just a few of them:

inDigiMOB is looking for technical Project Coordinator and Digital Mentor to work out of the First Nations Media Australia office in Alice Springs
Batchelor Institute is looking for a Senior Lecturer in Creative Industries to work in regional NT
SBS has a Journalist Cadetship opportunity based in Sydney for 2019
The BBC is looking for a Senior Content Producer to be based in Sydney
CMTO is looking for an Administration Assistant in Sydney
CBAA is looking for an Executive Assistant in Sydney
APRA/AMCOS is looking for an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander National Representative to work from either their Brisbane or Melbourne office
The CBF has two positions available in Melbourne. They're looking for a part-time Finance Manager and a full time Grants Support Team Member
Diversity Arts Australia is looking for a Film Festival Director for Colourfest
Alice Springs Public Library is looking for a Permanent Full time
Library Indigenous Services Officer (identified)

REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GRANTS (WA)

The West Australian State Government is offering grants of up to $250,000 for individual projects that contribute to economic growth and development in regional WA. This includes skills development, expanding or diversifying industry and sustainable jobs growth. Eligible activities include traineeships, subcontractors, promotion and awareness of local industry and activities which build the capacity of local business sustainability.
APPLICATIONS OPEN ON 14 SEPTEMBER AND CLOSE ON 2 NOVEMBER 2018.