Instruments For The Outback

IFO 2023

Instruments For The Outback is a project launched out of a desire to tackle youth suicide, depression and crime in remote Australian communities. After years of touring and performing across regional Australia, founders Andy and Levi saw the hunger for music in remote communities and realised what a difference it could make.

Through years of fundraising and travel the IFO team has been able to provide multiple Indigenous communities across the Northern Territory, South Australia and beyond with musical instruments, recording equipment, sound gear and music education resources. Trips are held yearly taking teams of professional musicians to work with kids and adults who want to learn to play guitar, drums, write songs or have a chance to perform.

In 2023 we are launching into a new season and reaching into a part of Australia we've never gone before. This coming May we'll be heading to the Kimberley region of Western Australia. We're excited to visit some very remote communities who are isolated from larger towns and especially musical resources. Its going to be a very special trip, working with some wonderful kids and teachers.

We'll be donating instruments, delivering workshops and putting on concerts where everyone can join in and have a singalong. We've got some great support this year from YV Financial Services plus UniHill Church and Jack Atkinson Surveying and we're really excited to be getting the team together to make some music.

BACKGROUND

Beginning in 2017, Instruments for The Outback has taken teams of professional musicians to run music workshops and engage with indigenous communities in Outback Australia. With the help of generous supporters we've raised more than $50,000 to get musical supplies into Outback schools and community organisations. Our aim is to develop the skills of young indigenous musicians by providing opportunities to perform, record, and be mentored by music professionals.

After succesful trips in 2017 and 2018, this year we will visit two locations. In Woolaning, Northern Territory we will be continuing to support the establishment of a music camp with local music teacher Roger Latham. The camp offers music tuition and performance opportunities for indigenous young people, neighbouring community groups and school camps.

We will also be taking team of professional musicians to Gawa Christian School on Elcho Island in East Arnhem Land. There we hope to help create a performance space plus put together a small recording studio. This provides an opportunity to keep language alive, giving elders and students the chance to record music – both traditional and contemporary in an endangered language.

The team, alongside local musicians also hopes to co-facilitate workshops on a range of musical instruments and offer mentoring for the use of recording equipment throughout the week.

As a team we are excited by opportunities to learn from aboriginal elders through song, dance and story and to see students talents expressed as they perform and create songs in Djambarpungu and Warramiri languages.

Our aim is to build strong, ongoing relationships through shared cross-cultural musical experiences for both indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

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Cheryl commented 2019-04-11 16:38:33 +1000
God is with you and the team as you prepare to go and help the kids in the Centre. They will be blessed by the experience as much as the team going will be. Our church will be praying for you all involved