Reflecting on 2025, NIDA was proud to maintain its long-standing dedication to the support and celebration of First Nations culture through meaningful initiatives that encourage inclusivity, connection to country and creative growth. This year saw the implementation of new programs alongside continued embedding of First Nations pedagogy throughout our tertiary courses, Open programs and Corporate Training. NIDA’s First Nations team, Travis Cardona, Rhoda Roberts AO, Uncle Matthew Doyle, and Andrea Daniels, were also acknowledged within the broader creative arts education sector via the Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts (DDCA) Awards, setting a standard for engagement and celebrating diverse voices in the arts.
In January, NIDA Open partnered with Netflix ANZ to deliver a specialised five-day ‘Hair and Make-up for Screen’ short course with the intention of teaching industry relevant skills for better representation. Participants from across the country travelled to NIDA to take part, creating a new and accessible pathway for aspiring hair and make-up artists. With a specific focus on empowering First Nations Peoples and People of Colour, the course presented a hands-on experience for artists looking to break into the film and television sector.
As well as supporting this course, Netflix and NIDA announced the Netflix Specialist Make-up Scholarship, which will provide one First Nations or Person of Colour student with $50,000 to cover academic fees, travel and living expenses for the duration of their study.
NIDA has partnered with CareerTrackers for over a decade to support First Nations university students eager to develop skills in communication and leadership. On 22 January NIDA Corporate Training and CareerTrackers collaborated once again, running a 90-minute session at Marvel Stadium to offer practical advice and build confidence within attendees who will take these skills into their future careers. Malak Malak man and NIDA’s Director of First Nations and Outreach Travis Cardona (Acting, 2008) facilitated this event, along with members of both teams, to ensure it was delivered to the highest standard.
On 26 January NIDA community attended the annual Yabun Festival in Victoria Park, the largest one-day celebration of First Nations culture and history in Australia. Staff, alumni and current First Nations students connected with community, discussed NIDA’s educational offerings and scholarships available to First Nations Peoples, and celebrated enduring strength and resilience of the world’s oldest living culture. Outreach continued throughout the year with several career expos, including the Campbelltown Arts Expo and the Darwin Careers Expo, which allowed the team to meet prospective students face-to-face and share the transformational opportunities waiting for them at NIDA.
At the top of the academic year and at the start of the second semester, NIDA’s Uncle-in-Residence and descendent of the Muruwari people, Uncle Matthew Doyle, performed a traditional Smoking Ceremony for our community. This practice welcomes staff and students to the unceded lands on which our campus resides, grounding participants as we start each term with a sense of shared purpose and collaboration.
Also in February, in collaboration with the First Nations team, Student Services hosted a welcome lunch for first-year First Nations students during orientation week. This relaxed get-together gives students a space to forge early connections with one another as well as the wider NIDA First Nations team. Additionally, each month the Head of Equity and Inclusion, Dr Alexia Derbas, organises a People of Colour (POC) lunch which is supported by the First Nations team and continues to be a staple of campus life, encouraging students from diverse backgrounds to come together and build a supportive, safe and interconnected community.
In the classroom, Wiŋara (Previously Performance Makers Subject) returned as a cornerstone of the first-year Bachelor of Fine Arts curriculum. Guided by NIDA’s Uncle Matthew Doyle and Travis Cardona, this subject continued to equip students with holistic skills in storytelling and collaboration. Moreover, through lessons in deep listening (Wingara) and Connection to Country, students were encouraged to engage thoughtfully with the environment and First Nations perspectives from the very beginning of their training.
In March, Dharug woman, Professor Anna Reid joined NIDA’s Board and serves as Chair of the NIDA Academic Board, providing cultural perspective and leadership in her roles at NIDA. Her extensive experience in arts education brings following a career as a performing artist has made her an invaluable member of NIDA’s community.
During National Reconciliation Week (27 May – 3 June), NIDA was honoured to host esteemed Elder Aunty Rhoda Roberts AO (Honorary Master of Fine Arts, 2022), Widjabul Wia-bul woman of the Bundjalung Nation, alongside NIDA alumni, Gumbaynggirr and Wiradjuri artist Dalara Williams (Acting, 2017) and Birripi, Worimi, Waddi Waddi and Walbunga actor and director Guy Simon (Acting, 2010), who held an insightful conversation on ‘The History of First Nations Theatre.’ The discussion was anchored in the 2025 theme, ‘Bridging Now to Next’ and invited staff and students to listen, reflect and act by connecting historical events with future possibilities and highlighting the enduring role of First Nations storytelling in shaping the Australian arts landscape.
Also part of National Reconciliation Week, first-year Bachelor of Fine Arts, Acting students performed two songs to a foyer filled with members of our NIDA community. The choir was led by NIDA’s Elder in-Residence Uncle Matthew Doyle, with support from Head of Voice, Dr Nicole Stinton. The first was an original Acknowledgement of Country song written by Uncle Matt, the second song, Solid Rock by Shane Howard, is an iconic Australian anthem that powerfully echoed the spirit of reconciliation.
NIDA’s 2025 Open Day was held in mid-June, with the dedicated First Nations information session drawing another full house. The session provided prospective students with a clear pathway into NIDA’s programs, listed scholarship options and outlined the culturally safe support systems available to them. Following the presentation, Director of First Nations and Outreach Travis Cardona (Acting, 2008) and First Nations Project and Administration Coordinator Andrea Daniels engaged one-on-one with attendees to answer questions and offer guidance to anyone hoping to pursue their creative ambitions at NIDA.
In June, NIDA announced a partnership with Australian Plays Transform (APT) to launch the First Nations Emerging Writers Group, a national program supporting the next wave of First Nations performance writers. Led by celebrated writer and performer Jada Alberts, the program consisted of eight sessions delivered over 16 weeks online, offering practical and accessible support, inspiring workshops and unparalleled mentorship First Nations and Torres Strait Islander artists to develop their craft and create original works.
Shortly after, the team extended their community outreach to Heffron Park on Bidjigal land for the Souths Cares NAIDOC Festival on 8 July which brought together families and local organisations to celebrate the enduring strength and richness of First Nations and Torres Strait Islander culture. To assist, NIDA’s First Nations team worked alongside our Technical Operations team and Diploma of Live Production and Technical Services students to supply and manage sound equipment for the event. It was a wonderful opportunity for students to apply hands-on skills in a real-world setting while standing in solidarity with our local community.
To celebrate the release of Prime Video’s Top End Bub, NIDA hosted a special panel, inviting back powerhouse alumni and co-stars Miranda Tapsell (Acting, 2008), Shari Sebbens (Acting, 2009), Guy Simon (Acting, 2010) and Ursula Yovich (Honorary Master of Fine Arts, 2022). Travis Cardona moderated the conversation, discussing the themes of the show, memories from their time at NIDA and why stories like Top End Bub are so important.
Late in the year, NIDA’s First Nations team was honoured to receive a High Commendation at the 2025 DDCA Awards (Australian Council of Deans and Directors of Creative Arts) for the ‘Distinguished Australian First Nations Creative Leadership Award.’ This acknowledgement was particularly meaningful as recognition of our team’s success in embedding First Nations perspectives across the curriculum and fostering a culturally safe, thriving community for the next generation of Australian storytellers.
NIDA’s First Nations team concluded November with a three day workshop at Ilbijerri Theatre Company, where they also caught up with Ilbijerri’s Creative Associate and NIDA alum, Amy Sole (Directing, 2022). Accompanied by Acting graduand, Theo Clarke and second-year Technical Theatre and Stage Management student, Shevon McCormack Edwards, the team were invited to view two significant Ilbijerri productions, Scar Trees and Goodbye Aunty Flo. They also attended the Ilbijerri Blakstage and Ensemble showcase, which culminated in a hands-on workshop expertly facilitated by Theo, who offered practical advice on physicality in performance, and Shevon, who focused on professional rehearsal room etiquette, sharing these essential skills with emerging artists.
Also in November, NIDA announced a new Pathways Program which invites First Nations Peoples and People of Colour aged 18 – 25 to spend a week on our campus in January 2026. This free program will cover the cost of flights, accommodation, meals, tuition and materials for the duration, allowing them to fully immerse in NIDA’s various creative disciplines including Design, Costume, Props & Effects, Hair & Make-up and Technical Theatre & Stage Management. Applications are open and close 12 December.
To finish the year, it was a joy to catch Aunty Rhoda’s My Cousin Frank at the Opera House, the story of her trailblazing first cousin, Frank Roberts, a Widjabul Wia-bal and Githabul man from Cubawee who became Australia’s first Aboriginal Olympian. This compelling, moving and uplifting production was the perfect end to a year of community and achievement.