First Nations Sub-Committee
The First Nations Sub Committee are currently developing their first Strategic Plan and need your input.
The Sunshine Coast Creative Arts Plan 2023 – 2038, council's strategic blueprint for the arts, has a key action to develop a First Nations Strategic Arts Plan.
In partnership with UniSC, the FNSC will be leading its development through respectful, community-led engagement, aiming to support self-determination by providing a platform for Indigenous voices, perspective and leadership in the arts sector.
Have your say - online survey
Please complete the online survey.
This survey will take approximately 20 minutes to finish. Not all questions are mandatory and if you’d like assistance or have questions or concerns, please email [email protected].
Have your say - community gathering
Come along to one of the First Nations community consultation gatherings, registration is essential for catering purposes.
| Location | Venue | Date and Time |
| Caloundra | Lantana, 15 Allen St, Moffat Beach | Saturday, 6 September 2.30pm - 5.30pm |
| Nambour | Old Ambo, 80 Howard St, Nambour | Wednesday, 17 September 5pm - 8pm |
| Coolum | Big Deadly Day Out, Jack Morgan Park, Coolum | Saturday, 27 September 10am - 2pm |
First Nations arts and cultural expression is a powerful source of strength, resilience, pride and wellbeing. The plan can contribute to cultural preservation, reconciliation, support healing and wellbeing as well as setting out self-determined priorities and principles.
Project Timeline
| Date | Milestone |
| July 2025 | Extensive review and distillation of existing current local, state, national and international documentation on the First Nations arts sector and creative arts sector. |
| August – October 2025 | Community Consultation Period. |
| October – November 2025 | Feedback on the draft First Nations Strategic Arts Plan. We will be asking the First Nations Sub Committee, consultation participants and the region’s First Nations arts sector to respond, review and provide feedback. |
| November - December 2025 | Final draft presented to the First Nations Sub Committee. |
| March - April 2026 | Council Ordinary Meeting for endorsement. |
Members
The Sunshine Coast Arts Advisory Board’s (SCAAB) First Nations Sub-Committee (FNSC) was established in 2023 and acts as an advisory group to SCAAB on First Nations interests, including cultural protocols that inform the strategic delivery of the Sunshine Coast Creative Arts Plan 2023 – 2038.
The FNSC provide advice connected to First Nations programming; provide a forum for discussing First Nations community engagement, and existing issues faced by communities within an arts context; a mechanism to provide advice for First Nations arts development in the region and provide advocacy for First Nations artists and arts in the region.
Helena Gulash (Chair)
Helena Gulash is a Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi) woman who brings strategic leadership experience from her work with First Nations within both government and community. Helena is also a SCAAB FN arts industry member.
Lyndon Davis
Lyndon Davis is a Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) man and internationally acclaimed artist, educator and cultural performer.
Jason Murphy
Jason Murphy is a Dungidau man of Jinibara descent and visual artist whose work critiques social, political and cultural issues affecting First Nations peoples.
Jennifer Kent
Jennifer Kent is an Arts Practitioner advancing cultural capability through education and reconciliation projects. Jenny has ancestral connections to various Nations including the Jinibara and Quandamooka.
Deline Briscoe
Deline Briscoe is a Yalanji woman of song whose practice explores Wulgkubadi (Yalanji traditional singing) with jazz, hip-hop and soul infusion.
Nicole Reilly
Nicole Reilly is a proud queer Wiradyuri woman, whose work spans the roles of creative producer, director, performer and teaching artist.
Sasha Parlett
Sasha Parlett is a Malyangapa and Barkindji woman who has been a part of the Sunshine Coast community since the age of four. She is a multi-disciplinary artist with a background in film production. Her work is about educating on First Nations experiences and highlighting our histories.