Come down to Newcastle’s Mereweather Beach this May for a showcase of Indigenous excellence both on and off the water!
This year Surfest’s Indigenous Classic will run from 24- 25 May with some of the country’s best Indigenous surfers taking part. Alongside the Indigenous Classic, an Aboriginal Business Precinct will offer a smorgasbord of food, beverages, art, craft, design and service offerings from across regional NSW.
Alongside the Precinct, a program of music and cultural activities will entertain and delight. Program highlights include a didgeridoo orchestra and a fashion parade curated by Wiradjuri/Wongaibon artist Renae Lamb of fashion label Midnight Dreaming. Proceedings will kick off with a Welcome to Country from local elder Aunty Cheryl Smith, before an official opening by NSW Minister for the Hunter, the Hon. Yasmin Catley.
Both the Indigenous Classic and the Aboriginal Business Precinct are being sponsored by the NSW’s Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships and Outcomes (RAPO) program. This unique program is run by a team of regionally placed Aboriginal staff members within the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development. The team builds on strong cultural connections to achieve positive economic and social outcomes in the communities where they live and work.
The events at Surfest are a great example of how the RAPO team works to create meaningful outcomes. As the event coordinator for the Aboriginal Business Precinct, local Aboriginal business Indigenous Services Group can harness their cultural know-how and develop expertise in running a major event. The Aboriginal-owned businesses featured in the Precinct gain exposure to a wider audience and customer base, who in turn get to experience some of the amazing Indigenous business and sporting talent around. The Indigenous Classic will also showcase the stunning work of local Worimi artist Jason Russell when winners are presented with his hand-painted surfboards as trophies.
The RAPO team partners with Aboriginal organisations and businesses to help them reach their goals in a number of ways – through information, referrals and other support. The team is currently running a series of Gather and Grow events across regional NSW, in partnership with NSW Treasury. These free events, running from May to August connect representatives from major government projects with Aboriginal businesses, suppliers and job seekers and provide an opportunity to learn about upcoming procurement and employment opportunities. An Aboriginal Business Guide[EW1] [AB2] was also launched at the first Gather and Grow event in Dubbo. The Guide provides information to help prospective businesses find the support they need.
To find out more about the support available to Aboriginal organisations and businesses connect with your local RAPO team.
