News

DYA and COVID-19

DYA Friends

On behalf of the Board and our Artistic Directors, we understand that we are facing very challenging and uncertain times ahead.

On Wednesday, 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that COVID-19 (commonly referred to as Coronavirus) has been elevated to “Pandemic”. The WHO have called for governments to take aggressive action in response. On Wednesday, 18 March 2020, the Australian Government made an announcement as to the measures it will take to combat the spread of COVID-19 within Australian borders.

As Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and as an Indigenous led organisation we know what it is like to be a vulnerable part of the Australian community. Importantly, we understand the realities that our Peoples live with poor socioeconomic outcomes around the country, where our Mobs are “at-risk” peoples with COVID-19 due to our health status.

The measures now in place by the Government in managing COVID-19 will result in our projects and “business as usual” activities being heavily impacted upon, and our ability to deliver some of our projects in the immediate future. As a result, the Board and Artistic Directors are taking steps to adjust our scheduled projects in the coming months.

Our Brisbane mural project, “Where We Stand”, will be proceeding at this stage, working with our stakeholders to put measures in place to limit the risk to the best of our ability. Keep an eye out for further information as to how we will keep the community engaged online!

However, all other activity will be postponed, and we will be coming back later in the year with The Ancient Bloods and other projects!

We thank you for your support and understanding.

The DYA Board and Artistic Directors Keep informed and up to date

Please follow the Queensland Government and the Commonwealth Government’s advice on the situation.

To remain up to date the following links will be useful:

Queensland Health (Queensland Government) https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) https:// www.naccho.org.au/

Australian Government https://www.health.gov.au/news/health-alerts/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-health-alert