Gonski and Roberts are new patrons for NAISDA

Rhoda Roberts and David Gonski have been appointed as new patrons on the NAISDA Foundation.

Chaired by Douglas Nicol, the Foundation works closely with NAISDA to support excellence and innovation in First Nations dance and performing arts education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.

The announcement comes at a pivotal phase of growth for NAISDA as it prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year.

Building on its national legacy of success, NAISDA is expanding curriculum offerings and student intake, and scaling services and opportunities for First Nations students and communities across Australia.

Rhoda Roberts, a Widjabul Wiabal woman from the Bundjalung nation, is one of Australia’s most respected First Nations creative leaders and visionaries, recognised for her advocacy for cultural storytelling, artistic excellence, and equity.

“It is a huge honour to be named a patron of the NAISDA Foundation, and it’s actually an obligation,” she said.

“I work in the arts and cultural space and I believe it is our space where robust conversation, truth-telling through performance has a visibility in this country, and we don’t want to lose it.

“NAISDA has a space as one of our leading training grounds, sitting alongside some of Australia’s finest institutions, but it is ours, and we have a black lens on it – and that’s really important.

“We have to provide the right environment to have a future that is not of deficit, but is of fulfilment, hope, and showing the world we are the oldest culture in the world.”

David Gonski is celebrated nationally for his leadership across education, philanthropy, and business.

His commitment to educational success and career pathways reflects NAISDA’s outstanding outcomes, with student achievement and completion rates well above national Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector averages.

“NAISDA not only provides world-class training in dance and the performing arts, but also empowers young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to connect with culture and express their stories through movement and creativity,” Gonski said.

“I see NAISDA as a place where First Nations culture can be celebrated, and where young people can be educated and inspired.

“By empowering the next generation of First Nations artists and leaders, NAISDA is helping to truly reflect the depth and diversity of our national story.

“It is an organisation that deserves our recognition and support and I look forward to working to continue its growth and sustained success.”

NAISDA Foundation Chair Douglas Nicol warmly welcomed the appointments.

“Rhoda and David bring a depth of wisdom, integrity and advocacy that will help guide the Foundation and strengthen NAISDA’s future,” he said.

“Their leadership comes as we grow into an international centre for multidisciplinary First Nations performing arts education, strong in vision, voice, and impact.”

NAISDA’s unique curriculum continues to set a national benchmark, empowering students through elite training, cultural knowledge and a First Nations-led approach to social and emotional wellbeing.

Demand for NAISDA enrolment is three times greater than current capacity, a clear reflection of the impact and relevance of its education model which privileges the depth and richness of Indigenous Knowings within a western framework of arts education excellence.

As NAISDA grows its reach and impact, the Foundation invites philanthropists, donors, and impact partners to help create even greater opportunities for First Nations young people through culture, education, and creativity.

The announcement also marks the next chapter of stewardship following the dedicated leadership of former Patron Professor Dame Marie Bashir and outgoing Foundation Chair Shane Simpson, whose contributions have helped lay NAISDA’s strong foundation for sustainable growth.