Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship | Greater Bank

Our mission is to connect our regional community to Indigenous expression and art through supporting the culture, arts and creativity of Australia’s First Nations people.

Building upon its inaugural initiative, Façon Australia, have announced the launch of the second annual ‘Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship’. Greater Bank is proud to support this initiative once again in 2024.

The scholarship program is designed to celebrate, sustain and grow Indigenous art and design in New South Wales. Greater Bank will provide a $10,000 scholarship to support the winner’s creative aspirations, with guidance from Murrook Cultural Centre.

The program consists of nine differing creative discipline categories that are open for applications including: fashion design, accessory design, art painting, music, dance, writing, digital art, film, and photography.

The finalists, one from each field will get to share their craft and obtain sound advice from a leader in their field.

An independent panel comprising leaders in the Indigenous and artistic communities will select a finalist from each category.

Scholarship applications have now closed. Finalists in the nine creative disciplines, along with the recipient of the scholarship will be announced at the event in NAIDOC Week on 11 July 2024 and on this page.

A $10,000 Scholarship from Greater Bank

A mentoring session with a leading voice from their creative discipline

Guidance from Murrook Cultural Centre and the use of their facilities

Chelsea Watego - Writing

Professor Chelsea Watego (formerly Bond) is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman with over 20 years of experience working within Indigenous health as a health worker and researcher. She is the Executive Director of QUT’s Carumba Institute and her scholarship has drawn attention to the role of race in the production of health inequalities. She is a prolific writer and public intellectual, having written for IndigenousX, NITV, The Guardian, and The Conversation. She is a founding board member of Inala Wangarra, an Indigenous community development association within her community, a Director of the Institute for Collaborative Race Research, but most importantly, she is also a proud mum to five beautiful children. Her debut book Another Day in the Colony, published by UQ Press, was released in November 2021 and met with critical acclaim.

Kristy Dickinson - Accessory Design

At the helm of Haus of Dizzy, proud Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson creates bold, playful, statement-making jewellery that celebrates and honours Indigenous culture. Dickinson has been making jewellery for 20 years and founded Haus of Dizzy in 2015 after recognising a lack of representation within the world of jewellery and fashion accessories. Available at many online retailers and museums throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA, Haus of Dizzy has been seen on the likes of Ms Lauryn Hill, Lala Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Miranda Tapsell, Shareena Clanton and Kaiit.

Milly Hooper - Photography

Milly Hooper is a Proud Ngiyampaa, Murrawarri, Kooma woman who thrives to capture the Beauty and Connection in all its form and showcase the Power of Visual Storytelling. As an Emerging Aboriginal Photographer Milly started her creative journey back in 2016 exploring Aboriginal Identity, Culture and Connection whilst learning her craft living on Arrernte Country in the Northern Territory. Her sole aim is to “Challenge Them Stereotypes” about her mob. She continues to develop her craft while always smiling behind her camera. Milly is a member of Blaklens, as well as a contributor in a joint Photography exhibition titled “First Sight” at Head On Festival 2021. Her latest work with Murrook Culture Centre of local Worimi Elders is now on display in their amazing space at Port Stephens. This year Milly has been invited to exhibit her own work at the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney later this year.

Mitch Tambo - Music

Mitch Tambo is Australia's unique and dynamic First Nations entertainer, renowned as "the new voice of our generation." His debut album "Guurrama-Li" topped charts worldwide. Mitch's powerful renditions of iconic songs, like 'You’re the Voice' at the historic Fire Fight Concert, showcase his commitment to preserving Gamilaraay language and culture. His electrifying pop single 'Yugal Yulu-gi' marked his tenth consecutive #1 iTunes Worldwide Chart success. Mitch has received two Golden Guitar Award nominations and passionately supports various social causes.

Nicole Chaffey - Art Painting

A distinguished artist based in Newcastle, Australia, Nicole Chaffey has spent over a decade weaving her Biripi heritage into the fabric of her art. Chaffey has exhibited widely in venues throughout Australia, achieving national attention and recognition. She is currently the Museum Gallery Director at the Murrook Culture Centre on Worimi Country, just north of Newcastle.

Samantha Harris - Fashion

Samantha Harris is an Australian Indigenous fashion model and brand ambassador. She has been involved in the world of fashion and modelling from a young age, winning the “Girlfriend Magazine Covergirl” competition at age 13, which catapulted her to international fame. She has graced the cover of Façon Magazine twice, in 2019 and 2022, and recently walked at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023.

Sidney Saltner - Dance

Sidney Saltner is from the Wulli Wulli people of central Queensland. He graduated from the National Aboriginal Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College in 1991. Sidney joined Bangarra in 1997, and after 15 years, stepped down from his full-time performing career to assume the position of Youth Program Director. With over thirty years of experience, Sidney has performed and taught alongside Australia’s most notable choreographers and dance companies, as well as taking up the roles of Rehearsal Director and Assistant Director with Bangarra and AIDT. In his current role, Sidney has mentored the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company as part of Bangarra’s partnership with the NSW Education Department’s Arts Unit.

Stephen Page - Film

Born in Brisbane, Stephen is a Nunukal/Ngugi Man of Qandamooka Peoples and Munaldjali Man of Yugambeh Nation South East Queensland. Stephen’s first full-length film SPEAR premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before screening at various arts festivals around Australia in early 2016. He has also directed the chapter SAND in the feature film THE TURNING (2013) and choreographed the feature films BRAN NUE DAE (2009) and THE SAPPHIRES (2011). Stephen was the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival in 2004, and currently sits on the Adelaide Festival Board.

Travis De Vries - Digital Art

Travis De Vries, a Gamilaroi and Darug multidisciplinary artist, is the driving force behind Awesome Black as its Executive Director. Renowned for his award-winning visual artistry, he seamlessly combines traditional landscape photography with a unique approach inspired by his oil painting practice. Travis's photographic focus is on capturing the dynamic interplay of colour and light, especially during sunrise hours, creating a style almost akin to portraiture. Beyond his role at Awesome Black, Travis has crafted an impressive career, performing globally with Bangarra Dance Theatre, organising groundbreaking projects like Dance Rites, and collaborating with international artists like Damon Albarn. His extensive skills as a trained dancer and fine artist, coupled with his photography practice, highlight his diverse creative spectrum.

In 2023, the Indigenous Storyteller Scholarship recipient was filmmaker Jahvis Loveday (from the Dyirbal tribe, who was born and raised on Bundjalung country in the Northern Rivers).

Jahvis has created twelve short films and 250 online videos and aims to bring to life the stories of his First Nations brothers and sisters through narratives unique to country.

Reflecting on the profound impact of winning the 2023 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship, Jahvis said:

“The scholarship helped me kick start incredible projects over the past year, collaborating with Indigenous artists from my region and beyond.

“I am excited to see the level of artists in this year's event, showcasing various art forms."

In 2023, the program unearthed a wealth of creative talent across the state with more than 70 quality entries received.

During Naidoc Week 2023, we celebrated the creative talents of the nine 2023 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship finalists.

The finalists had the opportunity to meet fellow finalists, mentors, view artworks, experience a smoking ceremony and Indigenous dance performances.

Congratulations to all finalists on your journey to date and we look forward to following your careers and future endeavours.

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