Free NAIDOC 2020 online event - open to all

Nikki Madgwick is a proud Worimi-Biripi woman who lives and works on beautiful Wurundjeri Country. To celebrate NAIDOC Week, the Moondani Toombadool Centre of Swinburne University and headspace Hawthorn invite you to join this online event for a yarn with Nikki.

Hear about Nikki's connection to her culture and what NAIDOC means to her. Nikki will share stories, poems and give an insight into her creative process as a poet. There will also be a chance to ask Nikki any questions about her experience as an Aboriginal woman in modern day Australia and how we as a community can strive for reconciliation.

If you have questions for Nikki already, you can email them to lily.bourke@headspacehawthorn.org.au. There will be a chance for you to ask questions during the event either by unmuting yourself or writing in the chat box. If you have a question you'd like to ask anonymously, you can private message Lily Bourke or Cyan Earnshaw during the event and we'll ask it.

Please note that some of the topics raised during the event may by upsetting for some. Please know you are welcome to remove yourself from the event any time. If something comes up for you and you'd like to chat, you can private message Lily or Cyan with the safe word "chat" and we'll contact you directly.

This event has limited capacity, if you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket to free a spot for someone else.

This is a free event. However if you'd like to make a donation, here are some places you can do so:

https://oonah.org.au/product/donate-for-programm/

https://djirra.org.au/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-towards-djap-wurrung-embassy

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which this event will be occurring, the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nations. We extend that respect to wherever you join this event from. This land always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. We pay our respects to Elders past, present, emerging and extend that respect to any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who join us for this event.

More about Nikki

In 2016, Nikki graduated from the Australian Catholic University with majors in Literature and Philosophy, with electives mainly focused around Fine Arts. Currently, she works at an Indigenous health service as the Community Engagement Worker, and as part of her professional development, Nikki is also currently completing her Diploma of Counselling, through Pathways Psychology Institute.

In 2017, Nikki was selected to participate in the National Indigenous Youth Parliament in Canberra. Following this, she was invited back to Canberra for Democracy 100, an event which involved the Museum of Australian Democracy inviting over 100 leaders from the worlds of academia, arts and culture, business, the community sector, the legal community, politics and political journalism, and the public service to make a difference and become champions of democracy. In her free time, Nikki writes and performs spoken word poetry, creates baskets using traditional techniques passed down to her, as well as MCs various events (including virtual events). She has been performing live since 2016, when her friend signed her up to her first ever Spoken Word Poetry Night. Nikki is a driven, dedicated and proud Indigenous woman who wants to inspire those around her to achieve their dreams, no matter the obstacles.

Event contacts:

Lily Bourke - lily.bourke@headspacehawthorn.org.au

Cyan Earnshaw - cearnshaw@swin.edu.au