We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
Sermsah’s name in the Indigenous community is synonymous with theatre, television, film, festival circuits, opera, dance and choreography. He was top 14 on “So You Think You Can Dance Australia” in 2008 and made history as the first ever Indigenous dancer on commercial television. He was a radio broadcaster for Joy 94.9 with his own show, 'Urban Dreaming', about bridging the gap, as well as a facilitator on empowerment of cultural and spiritual development in education using the medium of the arts as a tool to educate society. Above all his artistic achievements, Sermsah values his
heritage. He is a proud Nyikina man from the Kimberley’s. He believes in ‘Liyan' - a saying from his hometown of Broome/Derby, meaning connection to Country, spirit and your instinctual knowledge.
Sermsah is representing Aboriginal people on the terrible atrocities of colonialism and the displacement of his own people in his own Country. He believes we have been subjected to this for too long and it still continues systemically today.
Rona is a proud Kaytetye woman from Central Australia who works with high impact organisations to create systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and solutions.
Rona is the founder of Common Ground and brings 7 years
of professional experience working across First Nations organisations and not for profits. Rona was previously the Director of First Nations at YLab, a social enterprise that puts young people with diverse lived experiences at the centre of designing and developing innovative and impactful solutions
to complex social issues. Over her career, Rona has worked in policy at the Central Land Council, the Research Unit for Indigenous Languages at the University of Melbourne, Reconciliation Victoria, and the Foundation for Young Australians.In 2020, Rona was a finalist for the Victorian Young Achiever awards, was awarded a Westpac Social Change Fellowship. In 2019 Rona won a Diana Award and was named a 'Woman of the Future' by Women's Weekly.Through her work with First Nations communities across Australia, Rona aims to create future systems that centre First Nations people, knowledge and cultures.Rona currently resides in Mpartnwe on Arrernte Country.
We are a First Nations not-for-profit that exists to centre First Nations people, Country and truth-telling. We acknowledge all First Peoples of this land and celebrate their enduring connections to Country, knowledge and stories. We pay our respects to Elders and Ancestors who watch over us and guide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.
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