The Song Room Web Site

Creative Arts Indigenous Parents Engagement (CAIPE) program launched at Brisbane Powerhouse

On Thursday 31^th March, 2011, over 350 children from Inala, Durack, Richlands East, Redbank and Carole Park State Schools, along with Elders, parents and invited guests joined an Official Launch celebration for The Song Room's Creative Arts Indigenous Parental Engagement (CAIPE) program at the Brisbane Powerhouse. Students participating in the Song Room’s workshop program performed a taste of their achievements to date alongside performances from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers from various communities across Australia.

The event commenced with a traditional Welcome to Country performed by Uncle Hughie Kirk, a well respected elder of the Inala community for over 30 years.  Following Welcome to Country the Alani Dancers from Inala State School performed a number of traditional dances for the audience. 

Interspersed amongst the performances by Song Room participants and Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander entertainers, Catherine O’Sullivan, the Queensland State Manager of DEEWR spoke on the exciting possibilities that the pilot Song Room Creative Arts Indigenous Parental Engagement program created for new and innovative ways of engaging Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander parents and children in their local education communities.  Yvette D’Arth, federal Member for Petrie (representing the Minister for School Education, Early Childhood and Youth), also spoke on the importance that programs like the Song Room CAIPE played in achieving the Government’s ‘closing the gap’ and Indigenous engagement and justice policies.

Gina Archer,Chairperson of the Queensland Indigenous Education Consultative Committee (and member of the CAIPE project Steering Committee) officially launched CAIPE  in a ribbon cutting ceremony.

The launch concluded with a spectacular performance by a group from the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts.  Students, parents and community members were treated to a BBQ lunch on the lawn and entertained by a group of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Dancers.

Photography by Marcus Thomson