Binalmalmal – Listening and Learning

Binalmalmal students spotlighted on a stage dancing
Binalmalmal – Listening and Learning – Skills for Theatre is a First Nations–led micro-credential program designed to provide training in core areas of theatre practice, including stage management, lighting, sound, and production.

Description

Delivered through a combination of online sessions and intensive face-to-face workshops, the program aims not only to build practical skills but also to contribute to broader sector change by creating culturally relevant, inclusive, and accessible employment pathways for First Nations peoples in the theatre industry.

The associated research investigates the impact of Binalmalmal on participants’ perceptions of career readiness, career pathways, and skill development. It asks: How effective is the program in enhancing career opportunities for First Nations individuals? How do participants, facilitators, and industry stakeholders experience the program’s content, structure, delivery, and cultural safety? What recommendations emerge for strengthening future iterations of the program?

By addressing these questions, the research seeks to provide evidence of the program’s effectiveness, contribute to the co-design of more inclusive training models, and inform long-term strategies for strengthening the theatre sector in regional and remote contexts.

Binalmalmal student sitting at a theatre technical equipment desk smiling at the camera

Impact Statement

The Binalmalmal – Listening and Learning – Skills for Theatre program reflects CQUniversity’s Stretch Reconciliation Action Plan by creating culturally safe, accessible, and industry-aligned training pathways for First Nations peoples. Co-designed with community, the program strengthens regional creative capacity while generating research that informs inclusive training models and long-term sector growth.

Chief Investigators

  • Dr Linda Lorenza
  • Patty Preece
  • Monica Stevens

Project Partners

JUTE Theatre Company

Other Project Partners

Cairns Regional Council

Sustainable Development Goals

At CQUniversity we are committed to embedding sustainable practice in our operations, interactions and relationships underpinned by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Sustainability is one of our strategic pillars within our Strategic Plan 2024-28.

This project aligned with the following SDG Goals:

  • SDG 4 – Quality Education
  • SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
  • SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities
  • SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
Sustainable Development Goal Logos for 3 Good Health and Wellbeing, 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, 10 Reduced Inequalities and 17 Partnerships for the Goals