Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference 2007: WAITOC is pleased to announce that the Australian Indigenous Tourism Conference (AITC) 2007 will be held from October 20 - 23, 2007 in Broome. The event is in its 4th year with successful conferences held in Alice Springs in 2004 and in Fremantle and Perth in 2005.

WAITOC is looking forward to showcase the Kimberley to the nation and the world with a large number of delegates expected to attend. The conference will focus on youth, caring for country and the business of tourism including the Indigenous Tourism Experience Exchange.

For more information or a request to be included on the AITC mailing list for future updates, please contact the Executive Officer on (08) 9232 1746 or email waitoc@westernaustralia.com

Successful AHRU Presence at Dreaming Festival: Dale Bacon and Stephen Loo from DIA's Aboriginal History Research Unit (AHRU) look back on a successful presence at the 'Biruk Yeedee Mooditj Dreaming Festival' on 26 Jan 2007. The AHRU stall provided Aboriginal people and the wider community with an opportunity to view photographs from the Norman Tindale Collection and other private collections. One of the main reasons for taking these photographs into the community is to have unknown people in them idenitfied.

A few ladies who visited provided assistance in naming some persons. There was an instance where one person became very emotional while viewing the photographs and had to be consoled by a friend. Dale and Stephen spoke to many people in realtion to accessing their family information, the protocols and procedures such as family background. Three young ladies were very interested in tracing their family backgorund.

"It was great to get out there and deliver this to people in Perth as well as people from WA, intersate and overseas," Stephen commented. For more information about the AHRU visit the DIA website. 

DIA Reconciliation Grants: Grants of up to $5000 are available to Western Australian community groups for innovative community-based initiatives that promote or preserve Indigenous culture, strengthen relationships and build awareness between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

Successful applicants are eligible to register their project as an ENRICH program, carrying the handprint on all promotional and marketing material as a symbol of optimism, harmony and respect for Indigenous people, culture and heritage.

For more information and to apply visit dia.wa.gov.au or contact your nearest DIA regional office.

Closing date for applications: Monday 16 April 2007 9am

Community Cultural and Arts Facilities Fund - April 2007 Round: Applications are invited from Western Australian regional/rural and metropolitan Local Governments and eligible not-for-profits arts and cultural organizations to partner with the State Government to develop and improve arts and cultural facilities in the Bi-annual April Community Cultural and Arts Facilities Fund (CCAFF) round.

Funding partnerships will increase community participation and access to arts and culture and benefit regional/rural arts infratsructure, Indigenous arts and cultural infrastructure, community museums and art infrastrcuture.

Applications for funding close Friday 27 April, 2007. All applicants MUST contact the CCAFF Project officer to discuss the project and its eligibility prior to commencing an application. Call (08) 9224 7300 or for country WA callers only, freecall 1800 199 090 or email ccaff@dca.wa.gov.au. For more information, visit the CCAFF website.

KICKS4Kidz Program Calling for Support: The KICKS4Kidz program is on again. Formerly known as Kicks 4 Kimberley Kids, the program has expanded to Pilbara. It will continue to collect anything football materials for boys but will now also collect netball gear for the girls. So if you have any spare netballs, skirts, tops, shoes, socks, playing bibs, hats, drink bottles and even goal rings please email Rod Willet. DIA staff can bring items to the Aboriginal History Research Unit and Dale Bacon will pass everything on to program organizers.

Call for Crew Attachments For Deadly Yarns 3: Are you interested in being an attachment to work alongside one of the production crew positions (ie camera operator, sound operator, producer) on the selected Deadly Yarns 3 Indigenous Short Film Initiative projects?

This initiative provides financial and developmental support to the WA Indigenous filmmakers. Five short films will be produced and broadcast nationally on the ABC MessageStick program.

The Film and Television Insitute of Western Australia is calling for expressions of interest from Indigenous West Australians looking to develop their skills in various crew positions.

For more information please contact Jub Clerc for more information - jub_clerc@fti.asn.au or 9431 6729.

Deadline for Applications: Friday 30 March 2007

Invitation to attend Community Contact Lunch: Local service providers and community representatives are invited to attend a "Community Contact Lunch," to learn more about the services and programs offered by the South East Employment Directions Network. Employment Directions is a free service funded by the WA Department of Education and their services are available to everyone.

The information lunch session is on Thursday April 5, 2007 at Lotteries House Meeting Room (122 Forrest Road, Armadale). BYO Lunch for a 12pm start. For more information, please contact Rebecca Scott on 9333 2000.