We acknowledge & pay our respects to First Nations peoples & recognise the role of intergenerational song practitioners in establishing rich & diverse music practices that exist today.
We acknowledge & pay our respects to First Nations peoples & recognise the role of intergenerational song practitioners in establishing rich & diverse music practices that exist today.
First Nations people have been calling for change across the contemporary music industry. The First Nations Music Review is the next step. Building on the recommendations of the 2022 Raising Their Voices report, Support Act is partnering with independent First Nation led social change agency Cox Inall Ridgeway and a First Nations Steering Committee to lead a national review of the experiences of First Nations people working in Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Whether you’re an artist, producer, crew member, manager, programmer, or someone working behind the scenes, your experiences matter. Together, they’ll help build one of the strongest national evidence bases on what it’s really like to work in Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Share your experience to help strengthen cultural safety, representation, leadership and wellbeing for First Nations music workers working across Australia’s contemporary music industry.Â
Throughout August to November 2026, there will be multiple ways to have your voice heard.Â
Building on recommendations from the 2022 Raising Their Voices report, Support Act in collaboration with independent First Nations Change Agency Cox Inall Ridgeway and a First Nations Steering Committee, is leading a national review of the experiences of First Nations people working in Australia’s contemporary music industry.
There are multiple ways to participate in the review, including in-person yarns, online surveys, and written, audio or video submissions.
The First Nations Music Industry Review isn’t just about documenting experiences. It’s about creating the evidence that’s needed to influence policy, improve industry practice and future investment in First Nations music. Every story strengthens the case for change.
Together, we’ll explore:
Whether your experience has been positive, challenging or somewhere in between, we want to hear from you.
Your experiences will help us:
We value the time and knowledge people share through this review.
Please stay tuned for venue confirmations.
We understand that everyone communicates differently. If completing a survey or attending a workshop isn’t the right fit for you, you’re welcome to make a submission in the way that feels most comfortable.
Submissions can include:
To make a submission, email your written submission, recording or other material to [email protected].Â
Alternative submissions close Friday, 13th November 2026.
The review is open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 18 years and over who work, or have worked, in Australia’s contemporary music industry.
This includes people working in a wide range of roles, including:
If you’re unsure whether your role fits, we encourage you to get in touch.
You can choose the option that feels most comfortable for you.
You can participate by:
That’s completely okay.
 We recognise that everyone has different experiences and comfort levels. If attending a workshop isn’t right for you, you can still share your experiences through the anonymous survey. It is a confidential submission.Â
 Your voice matters regardless of how you choose to participate.
Yes. Your privacy is important to us.
Information shared through the review will be analysed alongside feedback from other participants to identify common themes across the industry.
Unless you specifically choose otherwise, your responses will be de-identified and individuals will not be named in the final report.
If we would like to use a direct quote or identify you, we will always ask for your permission first.
Yes. You’ll be able to choose what you’re comfortable with.
For example, you may choose to:
You can decide what you’re comfortable consenting to.
Yes. Participation is voluntary.
You can stop participating at any time. If you have submitted a survey, interview or written submission and later decide you no longer want it included, you can contact the project team before analysis of the data begins.
The cut-off date for withdrawing submissions is Friday, 13th November 2026.Â
Only with your consent. If a session is recorded to help ensure accuracy, you’ll be asked for permission beforehand.
No artificial intelligence (AI) will be used to record, transcribe or summarise workshop conversations. Project facilitators will take notes during sessions.
Some people may wish to share experiences that are personal or difficult.
Our facilitators use a trauma-informed approach, which means we aim to create an environment where people feel safe, respected and in control of what they choose to share.
You never have to answer a question you don’t want to answer, and you can take a break or leave a session at any time.
Information about support services will also be available if discussions raise difficult emotions.
Where appropriate, yes. We recognise that some participants may feel safer sharing their experiences in particular groups or settings.
Where possible, we will offer different engagement options that support cultural safety and encourage open conversations.
Eligible participants attending workshops will receive a participant honorarium in recognition of their time and expertise.
Details, including eligibility and payment arrangements, will be provided during registration.
The review findings will be combined into a national report identifying key themes, opportunities and recommendations for change across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
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The report will:
Individual participants will not be identified unless they have provided explicit permission.
This review is a First Nations-led exploration of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
It is designed to identify patterns, themes and opportunities for change across the sector.
The review is not:
If participants disclose experiences of harm, those experiences will help inform the broader evidence base unless they request otherwise.
This review responds to Recommendation 12 of the Raising Their Voices report, which highlighted the experiences of First Nations women in Australia’s contemporary music industry, including sexual harm, sexual harassment, racism and systemic discrimination and the compounded disadvantage from their intersecting experiences.Â
This review builds on that work by creating a broader national evidence base about the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working across the contemporary music industry.
The findings will support practical recommendations for change and help strengthen accountability across the sector.
The review is being delivered by Cox Inall Ridgeway on behalf of Support Act.
It is guided by a First Nations Steering Committee made up of leaders from across Australia’s contemporary music industry, helping to ensure the review remains culturally grounded and informed by lived experience. This aligns with the project’s First Nations-led governance approach.
First Nations Music Industry Review Steering Committee Members are Kaleena Smith (Music NSW), Matty Mills (SBS/NITV&NOVA FM), Genise Williams (Clapsticks Productions), Kelly Hellmrich (Bad Apples), Naomi Pigram (Pigram Productions & Publishing), Jarred Wall (Boox Kid), Letisha Ackland (Balya Productions), Nancy Bates (Deadly Management), Leah Flanagan (APRA), Nathaniel Andrew (APRA), Julia Robinson (ARIA + PPCA), Mayella Dewis-Koroi (Cultural Producer), Fred Gesha (Music Event Programmer) and Neil Morris (Cultural Advisor).
Yes. We welcome participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who currently work, or have previously worked, in Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Whether you’ve recently left the industry or your experience was many years ago, your perspective can help us understand what has changed, what hasn’t, and what needs to improve.
Absolutely. We want to hear from First Nations people right across Australia, including those living in regional, rural and remote communities.
There are several ways you can participate:
Regional and remote voices are essential to ensuring the review reflects the diversity of experiences across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Yes. You’re welcome to participate in more than one way.
For example, you might attend a workshop and also complete the survey or make a written submission if there is something you’d like to add afterwards.
Every contribution helps build a richer picture of First Nations experiences across the industry.
Yes. Once the review is complete, a final report will be published by Support Act.
The report will present the key findings, themes and recommendations for strengthening cultural safety, representation and opportunities for First Nations people working across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
No individual participant will be identified unless they have provided explicit permission.
Yes. Once the review has been completed, the final report will be made publicly available on the Support Act website.
Participants who register their interest or provide contact details (where appropriate) will also be notified when the report is released.
We want everyone to be able to participate in a way that works for them.
If you have accessibility requirements or need additional support to take part, please let us know when registering or contact the project team before your session.
We’ll do our best to accommodate your needs wherever possible.
We recognise that English may not be everyone’s first language.
If you have specific communication needs or would like to discuss the best way to participate, please contact the project team before your session.
We’ll work with you to find an approach that supports your participation wherever possible.
Many people have experienced difficult or harmful situations while working in the music industry. You are welcome to share these experiences as part of the review if you choose to do so.
However, this review is not an investigation into individual complaints or allegations, and it cannot resolve individual workplace disputes or legal matters.
Our facilitators use a trauma-informed approach and will create a respectful environment where participants can choose what they share. You never have to answer a question you don’t want to, and you can take a break or stop participating at any time.
If discussions raise difficult emotions, information about appropriate support services will also be available.Â
We understand that some people may feel hesitant to participate because they’ve shared their experiences before.
This review builds on earlier work, including Raising Their Voices, to create the strongest national evidence base to date on the experiences of First Nations people working across Australia’s contemporary music industry.
Every story, survey response and submission helps strengthen the evidence needed to advocate for meaningful, industry-wide change. While we can’t promise the outcome, we can promise that every contribution will be treated with respect and help inform practical recommendations for the future.
If you have any questions about the review or participating, please contact:
Support Act First Nations Team
Email: [email protected]
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