Media Release
23 July 2025
Indigenous Australian museum professionals Dakota Dixon from the Australian National Maritime Museum and Madeline Poll from the Powerhouse Museum are visiting Makassar and Jakarta from 21–26 July 2025 as part of the Embassy’s NAIDOC Week celebrations. They are in Indonesia to share stories and knowledge about Aboriginal scientists, artists, and communities who care for Australia’s marine and coastal environment, known as ‘Sea Country’.
NAIDOC Week is held in July each year in Australia to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Australian Chargé d’Affaires Gita Kamath said, “NAIDOC Week is a time to celebrate the culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This visit is an opportunity to share Australian Indigenous cultures and histories, the long-standing ties between our countries, and how Indigenous knowledge can shape today’s approaches to marine conservation.”
As they journey through Makassar and Jakarta, Ms Dixon and Ms Poll will exchange knowledge and experience with cultural professionals, local government representatives, and students from Al-Izhar School, a participant in the Australia-Indonesia BRIDGE School Partnerships Program.
The visit coincides with the Australian Embassy’s exhibition "Ghost Nets: Awakening the Drifting Giants" which is currently on show at Museum Bahari Jakarta. This installation display features 18 hand-woven sculptures crafted from discarded fishing nets, known as ‘ghost nets’, by the Torres Strait Islander artist collective, Erub Arts. Drawing inspiration from the oceans that connect Australia and Indonesia, the exhibition highlights contemporary Torres Strait Islander art while raising awareness of shared environmental challenges in marine conservation.
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