Advocacy
Nina is passionate about representation and access to the arts for First Nations Australians. Read about her current work in the space below.
Alongside her busy performance schedule, Nina is actively involved in speaking into the reconciliation space as a First Nations Advocate. Nina sits on the board for Queensland Youth Orchestra's Reconciliation Action Plan and on the First Nations Advisory Board for Queensland Symphony Orchestra. She has also recently been appointed as the First Nations Advisor to the Australian Music Foundation. Her work in the space extends to consulting with other Australian companies, acting as a cultural liaison when working with culturally sensitive material, and in speaking on various panels bringing a light to these current issues. Nina is currently working closely in the education sphere with Queensland schools to increase access and visibility in the performing arts for First Nations students. Nina would not be equipped to do this work without the support and ongoing teaching of her Elders within community.
Inspired by the work of many First Nations Australians trailblazing paths in the arts like Deborah Cheetham and Leah Purcell, Nina has begun her own project to increase access to the arts for Aboriginal students.
This past August, Nina worked closely with the staff and students at Cherbourg State School to establish an excursion program in collaboration with Queensland Youth Orchestra which allowed student's of Cherbourg State School the chance to come to Brisbane for an evening of culturally safe and immersive exposure to classical music. This program involved the students being able to experience the thrilling nature of orchestral performance while also being welcomed to engage with the talented musicians who perform these works through backstage tours, dinner in Southbank and the chance to come onstage at the interval of the performance.
Nina is a proud Koa, Kuku Yalanji, Wakka Wakka woman and has strong family ties to Cherbourg Mission which sits on Wakka Wakka country. Nina is grateful for the support of her Elders in this initiative and wishes to acknowledge her family who still call Cherbourg home.
Nina is proud to announce this initiative between herself and Queensland Youth Orchestra which they have been working on for the past year. In continuing their relationship and support of Cherbourg State School they are leading an instrument drive for the music program at Cherbourg State School.
The incredibly enthusiastic students at the school need flutes, clarinets, alto saxophones, trumpets, euphoniums, trombones, glockenspiel, other percussion instruments and practice amps. Beginner sheet music would also be useful. The instruments will be donated to the school which will organise for them to be loaned to their students to foster their ongoing love of music.
Please drop your instruments in to the QYO office (Monday-Friday 9am-5pm) and delivery will be organised. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out through Nina's contact form.