Media Release
Training benefits young Indigenous musicians
Friday 9 June 2006
A report commissioned by the Department of Employment, Education and Training (DEET) and the CHARTTES Training Advisory Council on Indigenous training and employment in the music industry has led to a pilot project that is now really making music – showcased by the talents of a group of young artists from Arnhem Land called Wildflower.
Wildflower, comprising five women and three men, have just released their debut video single Galiwin'ku. The debut music clip has been widely distributed throughout Australia and overseas and has been added to playlists on all Foxtel digital networks.
Many Top End communities are also showcasing the band’s talents at local festivals, including the Merrepen festival last Saturday and the Barunga Festival this long weekend. Darwin residents will also enjoy a live show later this year as the talented group performs at the opening of the Darwin Festival.
The department has allocated $42 670 for its second round of funding towards the Aboriginal Music Development Pilot Project that aims to enable Indigenous musicians to gain economic and employment opportunities in the music industry. All Wildflower band members are participants in the three-year project, which is already showing real outcomes for Indigenous members and stakeholders.
DEET Deputy Chief Executive Employment and Training Services John Hassed said local people were greatly benefiting from the project.
“This is an innovative step that provides both accredited and non-accredited music industry training that will hopefully create a real opportunity to generate economic activity and employment at a local level which can be sustained by the community at the community,” Mr Hassed said.
“This project is the first of its kind in the NT, which includes a mentor arrangement with well-known Indigenous band, Narbarlek,” Mr Hassed said.
All members are studying units from the Certificate II in Music Industry and Certificate III in Music from the National Music Industry Training Package.
“The success of this project is largely due to a partnership between Skinnyfish Music, Stringybark Training, Wildflower, Mamadawerre outstation elders, CHARTTES and DEET,” Mr Hassed said.