The Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE) and the Whittlesea Tech School (WTS) partnered again in 2024 to offer KAE students the opportunity to participate in a digital design workshop for NAIDOC week. In this two-day workshop that took place in the first week of the Term 2 holidays, students created an apparel and/or accessory line for NAIDOC week.
Led by Indigenous artist Tarni Jarvis (who also designed of the 2023 Collingwood and 2024 Western Bulldogs indigenous guernseys), students were guided through the design process and developed artwork based on their interpretation of the NAIDOC theme “Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud”.
With the support of the Tech School, students had the opportunity to use digital design software and technologies such as laser cutting, garment printing, and sticker printing to create t-shirts, tote bags, accessories, and stickers showcasing their designs.
The program concluded with an afternoon tea and marketplace where students showcased their design journey from sketch to final product. Families and members of the community joined the KAE students to celebrate their achievements over a cup of tea and sweets.
Special thanks to Tarni Jarvis and KAE staff for helping bring this program to life.
