Billabongs Not Silos & Djaa Djuwima: Beyond Symbolism

The launch event marks the opening of the exhibition and provides a space for reflection, connection and recommitment — moving beyond symbolic gestures toward shared responsibility and action in education and health.

Guests are welcome to arrive from 5pm to view the exhibition, connect with colleagues and community, and enjoy light refreshments. A Smoking Ceremony and Welcome will take place at 6pm, formally opening the exhibition and grounding the space in cultural protocol.

The evening will be co‑hosted by the exhibition’s Artistic Director, Troy Firebrace, and Curator, Michellie Charvat, and will bring together First Nations leaders, artists, educators, health practitioners and organisational partners.

Program highlights

• Arrival and exhibition viewing from 5pm
• Smoking Ceremony and Welcome at 6pm
• Official opening of Beyond Symbolism
• Opportunity to engage with artists, curators and participating organisations
• Light catering and refreshments provided

About Beyond Symbolism

Beyond Symbolism reframes Indigenous cultural objects often held by institutions as living sources of knowledge, responsibility and action. The exhibition invites organisations to move their cultural items from siloed, symbolic spaces into a shared “billabong” — a place of reflection, reciprocity and renewed commitment.

Through respectful display, soundscapes from Country, and artist voice recordings, the exhibition creates a transformative space that centres Indigenous knowledge holders and strengthens collective purpose across education and health systems.

Djaa Djuwima is a dedicated, permanent First Nations gallery located within the Bendigo Visitor Centre on Pall Mall, on Dja Dja Wurrung Country.

The name Djaa Djuwima means “to show, share Country” in Dja Dja Wurrung language, reflecting the gallery’s purpose as a culturally safe space for First Nations to express their identity, culture, connection to community and connection to Country. Owned and managed by the City of Greater Bendigo, the gallery presents a rotating program of exhibitions showcasing traditional and contemporary art created by local First Nations artists contributing to truth‑telling, cultural visibility and reconciliation in the region.