Billabongs Not Silos & Djaa Djuwima Presents: Beyond Symbolism

Event Listing: Exhibition Launch

Billabongs Not Silos presents: Beyond Symbolism

Exhibition Launch Event

Date: Thursday 18 June 2026
Time: 5:00 – 7:00pm
(Smoking Ceremony and Welcome commence at 6:00pm)
Location: Djaa Djuwima Gallery, City of Greater Bendigo. (The gallery is located within the Bendigo Visitor Centre 51-67 Pall Mall, Bendigo.)

About the Event

Join us for the official launch of Beyond Symbolism, a statewide exhibition presented by Billabongs Not Silos and Djaa Djuwima, bringing together Indigenous material culture held by education and health organisations across Victoria.

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 5:00pm to view the exhibition, connect with colleagues and community, and enjoy light refreshments. A Smoking Ceremony and Welcome will take place at 6:00pm, 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.

The Billabongs Not Silos Art Symposium forms part of a broader exhibition and program running across June to September, including La Trobe student guided tours.

Program highlights

• Arrival and exhibition viewing from 5:00pm

• Smoking Ceremony and Welcome at 6:00pm

• 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.

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.

Who should attend

• Participating education and health organisations

• First Nations community leaders and artists

• Educators, health professionals and policy partners

• University and regional stakeholders committed to meaningful action