NATIONAL TALK BLACK – 10/04/2025
On todays National Talk Black via NIRS – National Indigenous Art Fair we have:
Matilda Nona, Badu Island Artist, talking about the official opening of her exhibition “Bupungu” at NorthSite Contemporary Arts Saturday 12th April. The inaugural recipient of Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) Catapult professional development program, Badu Island artist Matilda Nona has elevated her art practice through a transformative two-week residency at NorthSite Print Studios in Gimuy/Cairns. Nona’s exhibition, Bupungu(from the bush), is based on the maternal practices of the Maluilgal women of Zenadh Kes and her cultural upbringing, traditions and fascination with the bup (bush) and runs 24 March to 17 May 2025. The artist’s complete work will be presented at CIAF, 10-13 July 2025. You can find out more via the link below. Congratualtions, Matilda!
https://northsite.org.au/exhibitions/bupungu/
Professor Della Forster, La Trobe University Judith Lumley Centre, talking about the Funding for research to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies. A La Trobe University research project that aims to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mothers and babies has received $2.9 million in Federal Government funding. Led jointly by La Trobe’s Professor Della Forster from the Judith Lumley Centre in collaboration with community Elder Aunty Gina Bundle, the research team will work with a number of communities in Victoria to implement and expand culturally safe continuity of care for women having an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander baby. This project builds on the work La Trobe has previously undertaken with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and three major hospitals to develop its care model, which links women with the same midwife who cares for them throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum period. More than 1000 women and families have experienced this “gold standard” maternity care since this Victorian-based work started at three partner sites. Professor Forster said babies whose mothers received care in the program were more than twice as likely to be born healthy and 40 per cent less likely to be born early. The team will now work with more maternity and local Aboriginal health services in Victoria, including two in regional areas, to provide an additional 1600 women the opportunity to choose this type of care during pregnancy. Professor Forster said the program could help close the gap in maternal and infant health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Professor Forster is a leading international researcher in maternal and infant care. She has a joint appointment as the Professor of Midwifery and Maternity Services Research with La Trobe and the Royal Women’s Hospital. The project will also see collaboration between La Trobe’s Judith Lumley Centre and the Gabra Biik, Wurruwila Wutja Indigenous Research Centre. Professor Forster secured funding thanks to a 2024 Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) Maternal Health and Healthy Lifestyles grant. The MRFF provides financial assistance to support health and medical research and innovation, with the objective of improving the health and wellbeing of Australians. You can find out more via the link below!
https://www.latrobe.edu.au/…/funding-for-research-to…
Brad Gaddes, Chaired the Roundtable and Chair of the Central Australian Committee of the Chamber of Commerce Northern Territory, talking about The Success of The Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable. The Alice Springs Remote Food Security Roundtable saw more than 30 people from the grocery, transport and freight industries come together to discuss how to sustainably make food more affordable in remote areas. Freight companies and grocery stores have labelled the current Federal scheme to subsidise 30 products in 76 remote stores as completely unworkable and only benefitting a few. They are instead calling on the Government to support an industry-wide flat rate on freight, which would lower the price of all groceries in regional areas and offer a more sustainable approach to food security. The event was an opportunity to address a major cost of living issue facing remote communities across the country.
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