Blakollective
A network of young First Nations people established in their work, building movements to connect, reflect and replenish.
Applications are closed for Blakollective 2023.
If you have questions or want more information about Blakollective you can email them to Meriki Onus (they/them) at meriki.onus@fya.org.au.
Why Blakollective?
While there are many mainstream youth leadership and capacity building programs, there are very few dedicated blak-only spaces for young people.
Blakollective is a network of young First Nations activists, organisers and community advocate who are established in their work and already making changes in their communities and nationally. All are under 35.
First Nations young people told us that it is important for young mob to gather in a dedicated Blak space with key areas of focus wellbeing, building skills, creating change in your community, culture, connecting with other young First Nations people and building movements and campaigns.
How does Blakollective support young First Nations People?
Blakollective is a space to support young First Nations people to understand each other’s movements and collaborate, share tools, knowledge and connect.
Through online bi-monthly meetings and in person retreats participants:
- Develop deep relationships and networks of support with other young Blak changemakers, founding Blakollective as a community of support for eachother.
- Learn, skillshare, share resources, bounce ideas off each other and discuss political perspectives and national policy issues.
- Exchange culture, unwind together, and learn ways to prevent and heal burnout in themselves and in community.
- Build unity.
Here’s some snapshots from the first in-person retreat which took place at Old Leura Dairy in NSW during August 2022.
Photography by Josh Howlett
“I’ve felt comfortable with everyone on the retreat and would have no hesitation to ask for support especially since we have all now become a part of Blakollective.”
Participant
Frequently Asked Questions
There is a selection panel of existing Blakollective members. All new participants will be assessed on the following criteria:
- Aged between 18-35 years
- Must be Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- Established in their community and work across advocacy, activism and organising
- Mob who are building / leading organisations, campaigns and movements committed to social justice and transformative change
- Committed to building unity within the Blakollective
Our trainers are members of the FYA First Nations team:
- Johnathan Binge (he/him) Gamilaraay, Dunghutti and Gumbaynggirr man, FYA First Nations Program Coordinator
- Meriki Onus (she/her) Gunai and Gunditjmara woman, FYA Director of Programs & Movements, First Nations.
- Roxy Moore (she/they) Noongar person, FYA Executive Director, First Nations.
- Tallulah Brown (she/he/they) Gomeroi and South West Asian person, FYA First Nations Program Coordinator.
We work to make all our events as accessible to as many people as possible. If you have any other accessibility needs or questions, please email Meriki at meriki.onus@fya.org.au
Auslan Interpreters / Live captioning
All webinars will be AUSLAN interpreted and live captioned. You will need access to a computer or phone, internet connection and ability to access Zoom to participate.
Cost
Blakollective is run at no cost to participants and is designed for young First Nations people established in their community and work across advocacy, activism and organising.
Blakollective is fully funded by FYA. FYA is investing $2.3 million into our dedicated First Nations work over 3 years (2021-2023).
Some projects like Blakollective are run by the First Nations team and some are run jointly with our team + other teams at FYA.
If you have questions or want more information about Blakollective you can email them to Meriki Onus (they/them) at meriki.onus@fya.org.au.