Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship | Greater Bank

Our mission is to connect our regional community to Indigenous expression and art through supporting the culture, arts and creativity of Australia’s First Nations people.

Building upon its inaugural initiative, Façon Australia, have announced the launch of the second annual ‘Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship’. Greater Bank is proud to support this initiative once again in 2024.

The scholarship program is designed to celebrate, sustain and grow Indigenous art and design in New South Wales. Greater Bank will provide a $10,000 scholarship to support the winner’s creative aspirations, with guidance from Murrook Cultural Centre.

The program consists of nine differing creative discipline categories that are open for applications including: fashion design, accessory design, art painting, music, dance, writing, digital art, film, and photography.

The finalists, one from each field will get to share their craft and obtain sound advice from a leader in their field.

An independent panel comprising leaders in the Indigenous and artistic communities will select a finalist from each category.

A $10,000 Scholarship from Greater Bank

A mentoring session with a leading voice from their creative discipline

Guidance from Murrook Cultural Centre and the use of their facilities

2024 Finalists

In 2024, the program unearthed a wealth of creative talent across the state, from which the committee had the unenviable task of selecting nine finalists and the eventual scholarship recipient. We’d like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the entrants and finalists of the Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship. Congratulations on your journey to date and we look forward to following your careers and future endeavours of these remarkable artists. Each of the nine finalists will gain access to mentorship from a creative leader in their chosen field to support their creative dreams.

Charles Perrurle Perkins

Charles Perrurle Perkins is a 19 year old Arrernte/Kalkatungu man, and an emerging film director currently living and working in Warrane/Sydney. Charles has worked on over 15 short films, 2 Award-winning television series and various video artworks. He is currently developing two documentary works as well as a historical short film. Recently, he founded his production company Akunye Filmworks, which he hopes will aid in putting Indigenous Australian voices on the big screen.

Holly Faulds

Holly Faulds is a 21 year old Wiradjuri and Dharawal dancer who has been passionate about dance since the age of 3. She grew up in Dubbo and has trained in a variety of genres including cultural, contemporary, jazz, ballet, tap, musical theatre and more. Holly has completed a secondment with Bangarra Dance Company and is currently a trainee in the 2024 Russell Page Graduate Youth program.

Jessika Spencer

Jessika Spencer is a Wiradjuri woman from the Sandhills of Narrungdera/ Narrandera, NSW. She was raised by her Elder and Matriarch, Beryl Simpson, alongside the Murrumbidgee river. This is where she continues to create her art. Jessika is an Aboriginal weaver, writer and activist, exploring her cultural identity through these mediums. The intertwining of culture and art are an ongoing source of inspiration for her.

Justine Villiers

Justine Villiers is a 24 year old, proud Wiradjuri woman born and raised on Darkinjung land, who has always had a passion for the creative arts since a young age. Justine was introduced to her culture by her Uncle Stuart Mcminn, who taught her through dance, song and stories. With her artworks, Justine aims to share her story and experiences, and encourage others to tell their own story.

Luca Sawyer

Luca Sawyer is a 24 year old Arts/Law student at UNSW, based on Gadigal land. She is a proud Wiradjuri woman, but her heart belongs to Biripi Country where she was born. Her submission to the scholarship ‘Anthropology of a Blak University Student’ is a real and raw story of being a First Nation girl from the country coming to the big smoke. Luca wouldn’t be here today without the support of her mum, grandparents and three beautiful little siblings.

Melissa Greenwood

Melissa Greenwood is a proud Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung & Dunghutti woman from the Mid North Coast of NSW. She is an artist, fashion designer & children’s book author, as well as founder and director of Miimi and Jiinda, which recently showed at Australian Fashion Week. Melissa is always passionate about supporting mob and giving back as she has first hand experience growing up grass roots and understands innately the struggles that mob face.

Ruby Shay

Ruby Shay is a Dharug singer-songwriter based on the Central Coast, NSW. Since teaching herself guitar in her late teens, Ruby has proven herself as a strong storyteller, drawing from personal experiences, her writing creates meaningful songs that draw the listener into a world of love and self-exploration. Her first 2 singles, released with her band “The Red Horse” have both debuted in the top 10 on the AMRAP regional charts and Ruby’s most recent single “Cooler” has been featured on ABC Country’s Grass Roots program.

Scott Colyer

Scott Colyer is a proud Arrernte man, born in 1972, raised on Awabakal Country and now lives on Worimi Country at Bundabah. Scott’s love for art began in 2018 when he was diagnosed with stage 4 Lymphoma. His healing journey involved a deeper discovery of culture, and through art, creating a lasting connection to the lessons Mother Earth and Country hold. Scott now runs Living Strong Nature Journaling with his wife, striving to help others slow down and learn about country through art.

Sean Kinchela

Sean Kinchela is a 30 year old Gamilaroi and Wiradjuri man with family ties to Moree, Coonabarabran, Dubbo and Wellington, currently living on Yuin country in the Far South Coast of NSW. Under the business name Local Famous, Sean’s photography is inspired by storytelling of the land, oceans and skies. He uses these elements along with stories passed down from family and culture to tell his own story.

In 2024 the Indigenous Storyteller Scholarship was awarded to singer-songwriter and Dharug woman, Ruby Shay.

Based on the Central Coast, Ruby uses her personal experiences and powerful voice to create songs that deeply resonate with listeners.

Using music as a form of therapy to escape to a world of make-believe and feel less alone, she plans to use the $10k scholarship towards releasing an album.

“I truly believe that if we are given the gift of storytelling, that it is our duty and purpose, that we owe it to the universe to share it,” Ruby said.

Chelsea Watego - Writing

Professor Chelsea Watego (formerly Bond) is a Munanjahli and South Sea Islander woman with over 20 years of experience working within Indigenous health as a health worker and researcher. She is the Executive Director of QUT’s Carumba Institute and her scholarship has drawn attention to the role of race in the production of health inequalities. She is a prolific writer and public intellectual, having written for IndigenousX, NITV, The Guardian, and The Conversation. She is a founding board member of Inala Wangarra, an Indigenous community development association within her community, a Director of the Institute for Collaborative Race Research, but most importantly, she is also a proud mum to five beautiful children. Her debut book Another Day in the Colony, published by UQ Press, was released in November 2021 and met with critical acclaim.

Kristy Dickinson - Accessory Design

At the helm of Haus of Dizzy, proud Wiradjuri woman Kristy Dickinson creates bold, playful, statement-making jewellery that celebrates and honours Indigenous culture. Dickinson has been making jewellery for 20 years and founded Haus of Dizzy in 2015 after recognising a lack of representation within the world of jewellery and fashion accessories. Available at many online retailers and museums throughout Australia, New Zealand and the USA, Haus of Dizzy has been seen on the likes of Ms Lauryn Hill, Lala Hathaway, Drew Barrymore, Miranda Tapsell, Shareena Clanton and Kaiit.

Milly Hooper - Photography

Milly Hooper is a Proud Ngiyampaa, Murrawarri, Kooma woman who thrives to capture the Beauty and Connection in all its form and showcase the Power of Visual Storytelling. As an Emerging Aboriginal Photographer Milly started her creative journey back in 2016 exploring Aboriginal Identity, Culture and Connection whilst learning her craft living on Arrernte Country in the Northern Territory. Her sole aim is to “Challenge Them Stereotypes” about her mob. She continues to develop her craft while always smiling behind her camera. Milly is a member of Blaklens, as well as a contributor in a joint Photography exhibition titled “First Sight” at Head On Festival 2021. Her latest work with Murrook Culture Centre of local Worimi Elders is now on display in their amazing space at Port Stephens. This year Milly has been invited to exhibit her own work at the Head On Photo Festival in Sydney later this year.

Mitch Tambo - Music

Mitch Tambo is Australia's unique and dynamic First Nations entertainer, renowned as "the new voice of our generation." His debut album "Guurrama-Li" topped charts worldwide. Mitch's powerful renditions of iconic songs, like 'You’re the Voice' at the historic Fire Fight Concert, showcase his commitment to preserving Gamilaraay language and culture. His electrifying pop single 'Yugal Yulu-gi' marked his tenth consecutive #1 iTunes Worldwide Chart success. Mitch has received two Golden Guitar Award nominations and passionately supports various social causes.

Nicole Chaffey - Art Painting

A distinguished artist based in Newcastle, Australia, Nicole Chaffey has spent over a decade weaving her Biripi heritage into the fabric of her art. Chaffey has exhibited widely in venues throughout Australia, achieving national attention and recognition. She is currently the Museum Gallery Director at the Murrook Culture Centre on Worimi Country, just north of Newcastle.

Samantha Harris - Fashion

Samantha Harris is an Australian Indigenous fashion model and brand ambassador. She has been involved in the world of fashion and modelling from a young age, winning the “Girlfriend Magazine Covergirl” competition at age 13, which catapulted her to international fame. She has graced the cover of Façon Magazine twice, in 2019 and 2022, and recently walked at Afterpay Australian Fashion Week 2023.

Sidney Saltner - Dance

Sidney Saltner is from the Wulli Wulli people of central Queensland. He graduated from the National Aboriginal Skills Development Association (NAISDA) Dance College in 1991. Sidney joined Bangarra in 1997, and after 15 years, stepped down from his full-time performing career to assume the position of Youth Program Director. With over thirty years of experience, Sidney has performed and taught alongside Australia’s most notable choreographers and dance companies, as well as taking up the roles of Rehearsal Director and Assistant Director with Bangarra and AIDT. In his current role, Sidney has mentored the NSW Public Schools Aboriginal Dance Company as part of Bangarra’s partnership with the NSW Education Department’s Arts Unit.

Stephen Page - Film

Born in Brisbane, Stephen is a Nunukal/Ngugi Man of Qandamooka Peoples and Munaldjali Man of Yugambeh Nation South East Queensland. Stephen’s first full-length film SPEAR premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival before screening at various arts festivals around Australia in early 2016. He has also directed the chapter SAND in the feature film THE TURNING (2013) and choreographed the feature films BRAN NUE DAE (2009) and THE SAPPHIRES (2011). Stephen was the Artistic Director of the Adelaide Festival in 2004, and currently sits on the Adelaide Festival Board.

Travis De Vries - Digital Art

Travis De Vries, a Gamilaroi and Darug multidisciplinary artist, is the driving force behind Awesome Black as its Executive Director. Renowned for his award-winning visual artistry, he seamlessly combines traditional landscape photography with a unique approach inspired by his oil painting practice. Travis's photographic focus is on capturing the dynamic interplay of colour and light, especially during sunrise hours, creating a style almost akin to portraiture. Beyond his role at Awesome Black, Travis has crafted an impressive career, performing globally with Bangarra Dance Theatre, organising groundbreaking projects like Dance Rites, and collaborating with international artists like Damon Albarn. His extensive skills as a trained dancer and fine artist, coupled with his photography practice, highlight his diverse creative spectrum.

In 2023, the Indigenous Storyteller Scholarship recipient was filmmaker Jahvis Loveday (from the Dyirbal tribe, who was born and raised on Bundjalung country in the Northern Rivers).

Jahvis has created twelve short films and 250 online videos and aims to bring to life the stories of his First Nations brothers and sisters through narratives unique to country.

Reflecting on the profound impact of winning the 2023 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship, Jahvis said:

“The scholarship helped me kick start incredible projects over the past year, collaborating with Indigenous artists from my region and beyond.

“I am excited to see the level of artists in this year's event, showcasing various art forms."

In 2023, the program unearthed a wealth of creative talent across the state with more than 70 quality entries received.

During Naidoc Week 2023, we celebrated the creative talents of the nine 2023 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship finalists.

The finalists had the opportunity to meet fellow finalists, mentors, view artworks, experience a smoking ceremony and Indigenous dance performances.

Congratulations to all finalists on your journey to date and we look forward to following your careers and future endeavours.

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