Cerisa Grant is a proud Walpiri, Gurindji and Jawoyn woman, born and raised in Katherine NT. Already, Cerisa has increased the engagement of first nations people in music accessing the support act services and with her focus and attention on growing Support Act to be more culturally sensitive and inviting to First Nations People in Music.
Cerisa has previously produced 14 shows for First Nations people in music with the Barpirdhila Foundations and is currently managing Kootsie Don, an aspiring up and coming rap artist.
Support Act is pleased to present an information session for First Nations musicians, crew and music workers.
Hosted by Cerisa Grant, Support Act Community Engagement / Social Worker, the presentation will touch on First Nations Mental Health issues and strengths and will inform our First Nations music community of the Support Act services available to those in need.
Support Act is a unique charity helping Australian artists and music workers who are facing hardship due to illness, a mental health problem, injury or some other crisis that impacts on their ability to work in music.
We help by providing different kinds of support, which include financial relief, advice and practical assistance. We also contribute to funeral costs. We help artists and music workers of all kinds, across Australia. Our services are provided in confidence, with sympathy and no judgement.
Our goal is to provide a culturally safe place for First Nations People to come and comfortably ask for support. Cerisa will be joined for the presentation by Dallas Woods and Carissa Nyalu who will, at the end of this session, having a brief discussion around the barriers of access to Mental Health for First Nations People in Music.
Please join us on the 18th of June, Friday from 7 pm. Register here.
We welcome all First Nations Artists, Crew and Music Workers so please share around to anyone who may benefit from hearing this information, or would like to attend to know what supports are available if there is an issue in the near future.
For further information please contact:
Cerisa Grant First Nations Community Engagement and Social Worker Support Act Phone: 1300 731 303
“Providing services to First Nations music workers in a culturally appropriate and safe environment has long been a priority for Support Act,” said Clive Miller, CEO.
Dallas Woods is a Noongar man raised in the E.K. [Wyndham – East Kimberley]. Dallas dropped out of school at age 14, however this didn't stop him from finding his feet, travelling around Australia teaching young people Hip Hop which eventually lead Dallas on the path of recording his own music. Dallas developed the uncanny ability to find humour in the most unlikely places. Poverty, suicide, abuses of all kinds are a common theme in his life yet its relentless exposure has provided him with the mettle to cut-through society’s demons so he can apply words to his tsunami of feelings and thoughts. Dallas writes with a wealth of humility, knowledge and experience; it’s his coping mechanism.
Carissa Nyalu is a Yorta Yorta Dja Dja Wurrung singer/songwriter living on Boonwurrung Country on the Mornington Peninsula.