ArtsReady Trainee Blog – NAIDOC Week & New Opportunities
Focusing on NAIDOC week was a big part of my last few weeks. Researching, putting together, and executing content that connected with this year’s theme ‘Heal Country’. For me this week was a little bit different than Reconciliation Week, it was a time to reflect, learn, educate, celebrate, and come together to put forward ideas and plans to make a change.
Here at AFL SportsReady, we held an Around the Grounds meeting which is attended by all the staff throughout our offices around Australia. We got to connect and talk about culture and what it means to us, how we could make change in our lives to support Indigenous culture, big or small.
On social media we shared Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander social accounts to promote and highlight the amazing artists, photographers, writers, and platforms that connect us with Indigenous culture. I put together an Instagram question story to help our followers engage and understand more of Australia’s culture, in hope of lighting a spark of interest so people might want to continue to learn more.
Given COVID, Victoria unlike many other states, were able to run NAIDOC week events and I had the opportunity to go to a ceremonial flag raising in the city. This was a morning of reflection, listening, understanding and learning the history of the Aboriginal people and about the land I call home. We heard stories from Elders and saw the performances and stories of the Djirri Djurri, Wurundjeri women’s dance group. A very strong and powerful way to start the week.
Throughout the week I had another opportunity to explore culture, a trip to Williamstown with Marissa, my supervisor/mentor. This was a great way for us to get to know each other more. We viewed NAIDOC Posters from 1972 up until today. It was a beautiful layout that showed us the storyline of how far we have come, yet still how far we have to go. A powerful day, which highlighted strength, community, and history.
Now, a few weeks later I got given the opportunity to host the ‘Around the Grounds’ all staff meeting for the marketing team. I was a bit nervous as this was a huge platform to speak across, although I saw the opportunity as something that was going to help me grow. As soon as I got going, I received compliments and encouragement from my team members, this allowed me to ease my nerves and carry out the meeting. I introduced the CEO and then the staff in the marketing team who each had a part to speak about and continued on with some other bits and pieces and before I knew it, I was done!
After the meeting, many staff members reached out and congratulated us on our efforts. This made me feel heard, and encouraged, build my confidence in public speaking, and it showed me that giving it a go is the best way to find out if you’re capable, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone. From all of these experiences I grew and will continue to grow.
As part of our trainee blog series, Dakota will be sharing her traineeship journey!
So, keep a lookout for her next blog!
To read her other blogs click here.
To find out more about the ArtsReady program click here, or view our current job opportunities on our jobs board today – www.aflsportsready.com.au/jobs-board/
