A collection of Indigenous art by a group of inmates from Fulham Prison was on show at the Rosedale Neighbourhood House to celebrate NAIDOC Week and educate the community about the impacts of white settlement on Australia’s Indigenous population.
Rosedale Neighbourhood House manager Heather Shaw said the art on display during the week-long exhibition could function as an alternative form of income for the inmates when they leave prison.
“This is a good way to start a conversation about white settlement and how that is still impacting a culture that was never broken in the first place,” Ms Shaw said.
“There needs to be a whole lot more information about Aboriginal heritage and history in our education system.”
Ms Shaw said she was “blown away” by the interest in the work from not only the local community but right across Gippsland.
“We’ve had people in [to view the art] from Bairnsdale, Omeo, Morwell and Moe,” she said.
“The reaction from the guys was so good … it was really pleasing [the inmates] were so into it.
“Here at the Neighbourhood House we are about empowering people and helping them use skills to improve themselves so this is the start of that conversation and hopefully it will lead to bigger and better things next year.”
Ms Shaw said Indigenous people were disproportionately represented in the Australian prison system.
“It wasn’t that long ago when [Indigenous people] were only recognised under the flora and fauna Act,” she said.
“Rosedale Neighbourhood House wants to help the Indigenous community in any way we can.
“We are really honoured and grateful that they allowed us [to show the artworks] and we’d like to thank the prison as well.”
