Indigenous Australia - Aboriginal Art, History and Culture

Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival

Held at the Sydney Opera House from Thurs 6th May - Sun 9th May, Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival is an opportunity for the Indigenous community of Australia to share their Australia. The Festival has showcased the works of Indigenous storytellers and film-makers for 11 years and achieved widespread national recognition when it was awarded the 2009 IF Award for Best Australian Film Festival.

The Festival curated by award-winning filmmakers, Rachel Perkins and Darren Dale, features a selection of documentaries, shorts and features that provide insight into issues and experiences of the indigenous community.

‘Many of the films address contemporary indigenous life: the unexpected and sometimes delightful things that happen at the intersection of ancient Aboriginal and modern Australian culture.’ The Australian

One of the featured films was 'Boxing For Palm Island' telling the story of a group of talented young boxers and their coach Ray Dennis a 73 year old man who moved to the Palm Islnd area 10 years ago battling a drinking problem. The film encompasses the kids struggles to defy stereotypes and take the future into their own hands with the support of Uncle Ray.

"And I was going to end up going astray so I had to get out of the place. I always had success training boxers. Some of the boxers I used to train live on Palm Island so I thought well I'll go over there. That might keep me out of trouble."- Ray Dennis

Still today, Ray Dennis trains boxers to compete in state and national competitions including the Quuensland Titles and Australian National Championships. The Director Adrian Wills said he wanted to tell a positive story from a community that has been described in the past as 'the most violent place outside a warzone'.

"I was really excited about being a part of a project that was you know a hopeful example of that community and something that showed it was a positive, interactive, inspiring community - which it is."- Adrian Wills

Another documentary that featured in the festival was Big Fella. A film that followed the experience of Director Michael Longbottom's best friend Rodney ARdner and his weight loss battle. Rodney was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at 36, which isn't uncommon in the Indigenous community. He was told that his heart and kidneys weren't doing very well and if he didn't change, he'd only a few years to live. Rodney hopes to inspire people in similar situations to change their lives, "I'm just a much happier person and I'm able to do a lot more."

Films:

NIN’S BROTHER Message Sticks Indigenous Film Festival
BIG FELLA
BOXING FOR PALM ISLAND
SHIMASANI
NUNDHIRRIBALA’S DREAM
REDEMPTION
THE CAVE
BARNGNGRNN MARRANGU STORY
DANIEL’S 21st
REEL INJUN
LANI’S STORY
BRAN NUE DAY

Aboriginal oral health partnerships launched

(Cited from ABC.net.au on Wednesday 8th April 2009)

A consortium of Aboriginal community controlled health organisations from centres including Walgett, Bourke, Orange and Wellington will launch two oral health partnerships today.

The Bila Muuji Aboriginal Health Service will sign a memorandum of understanding with Charles Sturt University to establish a student placement program for dentistry and oral health therapy graduates.
Aboriginal oral health partnerships
Sandra Meihubers from the Bila Muuji Service says she hopes student placements will give undergraduates a greater understanding of the poor oral health of Indigenous people.

"Students just having that first-hand experience ... it sure beats reading about something in a newspaper or a textbook if you can actually meet people from a community and see first-hand what is actually going on," she said.

The health service has also worked in conjunction with the Greater Western Area Health Service to appoint an oral health promotion coordinator.

Ms Meihubers says many Aboriginal residents suffer from poor oral health.

"It's quite critical in the early ages, we find dental decay rates in the Aboriginal kids sadly are much higher than the rest of the population," she said.

"Generally decay rates in rural areas are higher, but then in the Aboriginal population are higher again than the state average."

Redfern program helps Indigenous Youths get ahead

(Cited ABC Online Indigenous News - Saturday 4th April)

Koori Job Ready is a program set up in inner city Sydney to train young Indigenous people to work in the construction industry.
Since its inception the program has achieved a high success rate in getting young Aborigines work as builders. Trainees come from all over New South Wales and many have had it tough growing up. Many say the program saved them from a life of drugs, alcohol and crime. Many of the participants come from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Koori Job Ready has been running since 2007. Since then more than 80 per cent of its graduates have found work - most in the building industry. Participants graduate not only with skills in construction but also knowledge of occupational health and safety, industrial relations and first aid. The program's project manager Rohan Tobler says approximately 50 people apply for each course they run.

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