The Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship is celebrating five years of backing emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, with applications for the 2027 program opening this week.
Also known as the Djuyalgal Scholarship, meaning “the one who is telling the story” in the local Gathang language, the initiative was created by Façon Australia and is supported by principal partner Greater Bank.
It connects First Nations creatives across NSW with financial assistance, industry mentorship and opportunities to share their work with wider audiences.
To mark its fifth year, Greater Bank will award one successful applicant $10,000 to support their creative practice, while the remaining eight finalists will each receive $1,000 for the third consecutive year.
The scholarship has helped emerging artists develop their skills, build professional careers and bring their stories and perspectives into the creative industries.
Model Samantha Harris will take on the role of 2027 ambassador, helping champion the scholarship and its mission to support the next generation of Indigenous storytellers.
The mentoring program will feature creatives across a range of disciplines, including dancer Damian Smith, fashion designer Melissa Greenwood of Miimi & Jiinda, accessory designer Cassie Leatham of Yanggurdi, photographer Warren Taggart, digital artist Gerard Black and writer Jake Gablonski, with more mentors to be announced.
The impact of the scholarship is reflected in the experience of 2026 recipient Jasmine Christie, whose multidisciplinary practice explores storytelling, connection and shared experience.
The support has helped her access supplies and suitable working equipment while continuing community-based art initiatives for women, including spaces for postpartum mothers to connect and share their experiences.
The program aims to provide more than financial support, creating a network that encourages artists to keep developing their practice and sharing their voices.
Applications for the 2027 Indigenous Storytellers Scholarship open on Thursday, 22 October 2026. Emerging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives across NSW can find eligibility information and application details through Façon Australia.
