Introduction

Community Festivals are part of DEEWR’s Education Engagement Program for regional, rural and remote locations.  The aim of Community Festivals is to promote a greater understanding of the value of education and encourage students, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, to stay in school and complete Year 12 and to live healthy, positive lifestyles.

Community Festival activities typically include, but are not limited to, sporting and health clinics, educational and careers markets activities, displays by significant national, state or local institutions or organisations, displays of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, and representation by local community organisations, trades people and businesses. Many activities centre on the performing and visual arts i.e. singing, dancing, painting.

Objectives

The objectives of the Community Festivals for Education Engagement Program are to

• improve school attendance and retention, especially for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• promote healthy, positive lifestyles for young people to lead to improved participation in education
• promote better English literacy and numeracy;
• promote contemporary and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures to all participants
• develop aspirations, higher self esteem and build expectations in students’ ability to achieve educational success
• facilitate the connection of students with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander role models, information and resources promoting education, training and vocational pathways, and
• increase the capability of local communities by encouraging them to be involved at the local level in the planning, development and, where possible the supply of goods and services at the festival.

2011 Festivals are planned to be held at the following locations:

2012 Festivals TBA

Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands.

2012 Updated Travel and Accommodation Assistance Guidelines (TBA)

As part of the Program a small amount of funding is available to help students and teachers attend a Community Festivals event.  Government and non-government schools are eligible to apply for this assistance where the principal has approved the Community Festival as a school approved event.

Schools need to submit an Application for Funding form.  Where possible, applications should be submitted to the relevant DEEWR contact officer (see Guidelines), six weeks before the scheduled date of the festival. You can download the Application Form and Guidelines here.

• Application Form ( PDF 74KB | RTF 789KB)
• Guidelines ( PDF 260KB | RTF 464KB)

Protecting Our Kids

The Australian Government is committed to protecting children from harm and promoting their well being, and to protecting students involved in any Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education program funded under the Indigenous Education Targeted Assistance Act, 2000.

Everyone involved with students as part of the Community Festivals for Education Engagement Program, other than teachers who are teaching at a participating school, are required to undergo a National Criminal History Record Check that provides full disclosure of any pending charges or convictions. These checks are in addition to any obligation to comply with state based working with children requirements.

Community Festival Survey - Tell Us What You Think

Have you recently attended a Community Festival? We'd like to get your feedback.
Click on the link below to complete a confidential survey that will take no more than 2 minutes.

Community Festival Survey

About Festival Organisations for 2012

TAFE NSW North Coast Institute

The TAFE NSW North Coast Institute is a highly recognised and regarded educational organisation on the North Coast of NSW.  It was awarded Australia's Best Large Training Provider at the Australian Training Awards in 2004.  In 2011 it won the Institute Award, Academic Excellence, Apprentice of the Year and Staff Award- Non Aboriginal at the TAFE NSW Gili Awards.

North Coast TAFE operates in one of the largest regions of Aboriginal people in Australia. It has developed a proud reputation for working sensitively and innovatively with Aboriginal communities over many years, including communities confronting significant social and economic disadvantage and high unemployment.

Over the past year, the Institute has adopted a new business direction and initiative called North Coast Aboriginal Learning Partnerships to help steer innovative programs to help sustain Aboriginal communities culturally, socially, and economically through innovative learning programs such as V Tracks for Aboriginal youth and Goori Learning Frontiers for Aboriginal adults.  The Community Festival provides a further opportunity for TAFE and other education providers to engage with Aboriginal people by celebrating community success and by promoting education as a smart life and career move.

TAFE NSW North Coast Institute

Music Outback Foundation

Music Outback Foundation is a not for profit organisation dedicated to the use of music and related art forms as a means of improving important education and social outcomes on remote Aboriginal communities. Recognising the power of music as a tool for education engagement, over the past six years Music Outback has been delivering effective and innovative music based learning programs in remote Central Australia, focusing on literacy skills, encouraging attendance at school, vocational pathways, and building strong relationships between schools and their community members.   Music Outback's programs engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in song-writing and story-telling based on their own cultures, and even their own languages. The programs use age appropriate techniques that inspire students at all levels to actively participate in school based learning, and include the exploration of video and computer technology for the middle and senior years.

Since 2002 Music Outback has successfully delivered its programs to schools in over 35 remote Central Australian communities.  With continuity and community engagement a priority, Music Outback has demonstrated the innovation and effectiveness of its programs through the winning of the 2007 Flame Award for best school based music program in the NT.

Since 2008 Music Outback has expanded its school based programs to include the production of remote community festivals under the DEEWR Community Festivals for Education Engagement initiative. The festival events allow schools participating in Music Outback programs to come together and share their achievements with each other and their local communities. Music Outback festivals, otherwise known as MOB Fest, engage students in workshops, concerts and cultural activities that promote education, health, culture and potential vocational pathways for young Aboriginal people on community.

Music Outback Foundation

Wakakirri

Wakakirri was established in 1992 and is now the largest multi arts event for schools in Australia. Schools will be involved in an intensive workshops program on story dance, film, singing, and writing, culminating in a mini festival. The focus of activities is on improving English literacy and numeracy, providing access to role models, and promoting contemporary and traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

The aim of the program is to improve the attendance, retention, educational outcomes, career pathways, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. Wakakirri has built its reputation on being accessible and affordable to every school in Australia, including city, country and outback schools, with an emphasis on creativity and participation.

Wakakirri

Vibe Australia Pty Ltd (Vibe)

Established in 1994, Vibe Australia Pty Ltd (Vibe) is a dynamic Aboriginal media, communications and events management agency with an extensive history of working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia at local, state and national levels.

Vibe publishes Deadly Vibe and In Vibe magazines and produces the Deadly Sounds radio program, the Deadly Awards and www.vibe.com.au. Vibe has also been bringing the Vibe 3on3® basketball and hip hop festival to regional centres across Australia for the past nine years.

In 2011 Vibe Australia will produce three Vibe Alive two-day festival events for young Australians of all backgrounds to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and encourage tolerance and teamwork. Vibe Alive incorporates music, sport, dance and art in a high-energy, youth-friendly setting. Participants also have the opportunity to meet inspiring role models, learn about healthy living and career options and boost English literacy and numeracy skills.

All of Vibe’s products promote a healthy lifestyle free from drug abuse and alcohol misuse. All Vibe events are smoke-free and all Vibe products encourage the completion of a full secondary education. Vibe Australia is also committed to increasing training and employment opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and encouraging all young Australians to reach their full potential.

Vibe Australia Pty Ltd (Vibe)

Wagga Wagga City Council

The mission of Wagga Wagga City Council is to contribute to a vibrant growing community by providing excellence in leadership and delivery of quality infrastructure and services, and through supporting quality living in an improving sustainable environment.

Wagga Wagga City Council has made a significant investment in cultural infrastructure as evident by the collocated facilities such as the Wagga Wagga Art Gallery, National Art Glass Gallery, Wagga Wagga City Library, Civic Theatre and the Museum of the Riverina.

Wagga Wagga City Council, also provides support for community cultural development through cultural grants, donations and contributions to external art organisations such as Eastern Riverina Arts Program, Association of Riverina Cultural Centre, the Riverina Conservatorium of Music, Gearstick Theatre, Booranga Writers Centre and the Wagga Wagga School of Arts.  Wagga Council facilities have received many awards e.g 2010 Local Government Association Award and 2008 Museums Australia / Radio National Marvellous Museum Awards - medium to large museum regional museum winner).

Wagga Wagga City Council