Jamie-Lea Hodges

Regional Arts Development Officer -RADO

Outback Arts RADO is Jamie-Lea Hodges from Coonamble, starting the role in November 2009. Jamie-Lea was born and bred in Coonamble, after finishing school spent 5 years in Sydney where she graduated from the College of Fine Arts, University of NSW with a Bachelor of Art Education and a major in Sculpture/Photography.

Samantha Stratton

Communications, Administration and Development Officer – CAPO

Outback Arts Communications, Administration and Promotions Officer (CAPO) is Samantha Stratton from Coonamble. Samantha grew up in Coonamble and after travelling and living overseas for a year completed a Bachelor of Arts/Communications (Print Journalism) from Charles Sturt University in Bathurst, NSW.

Regional Indigenous Cultural Officers (The RICDO Program)

Lightning Ridge RICDO Karin Thurston

Karin’s family is Gamilaraay – A uniquely practising  sand artist, who also works in many other mediums – “I encourage my students to develop their own styles whilst making them aware of traditional aboriginal culture. In my tradition of teaching, storytelling becomes part of the art as each piece should illustrate a story or message.” In the time Karin has been in the RICDO position she has established a strong following for Indigenous art practice in the Lightning Ridge community, ‘The Yuluwirri Painters’ were formed in March 2010.

Walgett RICDO Susan Lawrance

Susan joined Outback Arts as the RICDO for Walgett in March 2010 and has been very busy with print workshops, delivering the Connecting Marks & Country project and providing support to the many talented Indigenous artists in Walgett. Susan is a member of the Walgett Painters group and endeavours to support both the Indigenous and the wider Walgett community in their artistic ventures. ‘Where the Two Rivers Meet‘ is the Walgett Indigenous art group that was established in 2010 and currently meet every week in the Community Centre in Fox Street Walgett.

Warren RICDO: Mary Kennedy
Mary Kennedy was been a member of the Ngemba Wailwan art group since it began in 2010. Mary is a Wailwan woman and her totem is Millimaru (swallow). Mary was born in the Warren District and has lived there all her life. One of the founding members of WNAI (Ngemba Wailwan Artists Initiative)her paintings are inspired by the tree carvings and ground markings of her ancestors, the Ngemba Wailwan.

Bourke RICDO : Angie-lee Stahl

Angie-lee joined the Outback Arts community as the Bourke Regional Indigenous Cultural Development Officer in November 2011.

Angie-lee orginally came from Melbourne and has lived in Bourke for the past two years, after spending many years living and tramping around Europe. Angie-lee currently works at 2CUZFM Radio, documenting and producing indigenous Australian language programs.