ARTS & CULTURE DEVELOPMENT
Cultural Development in Kiama plays a vital role in supporting, strengthening and celebrating arts, culture and creativity as part of everyday community life. The Creative Kiama 2025–29 provides a strategic framework to guide this work, with four key focus areas that underpin delivery:
- First Nations First.
- Creative Learning.
- Opportunities & Partnerships.
- Creative Infrastructure.
A range of initiatives were delivered that demonstrate the impact of these pillars, increasing the visibility, accessibility and participation in arts and culture across the municipality. Highlights for this period include:
First Nations First
Engagement of a local Traditional Owner artist to deliver a mural on a bus shelter in Gerringong, as part of the Art in Unseen Spaces curatorial initiative, embedding First Nations storytelling within everyday public environments.
Creative Infrastructure
- Partnership with West Wollongong TAFE (Certificate IV Photography and Digital Imaging students) engaged students to produce and install photographic artworks on bin shelters across Kiama, contributing to the Art in Unseen Spaces project and activating undertilised infrastructure.
- Continued delivery of the Old Fire Station exhibition program, which remains fully booked year-round with a waiting list. 12 exhibitions were hosted during this period, attracting approximately 12,000 visitors, demonstrating strong demand for community exhibition spaces.
- Commenced the digitisation of Council’s art collection, including the documentation of 130 artworks to support the development of a publicly accessible online database.
Opportunities & Partnerships
- Collaborative delivery of the Kiama Seniors Festival program, including art and wellbeing workshops, an outdoor concert and BBQ, a seascape painting workshop, and a yoga and meditation session.
- Supported the Sounds of Jazz & Blues initiative through coordination of solo artists and activation of local venues, including Kiama Library, Gerringong Library and the Old Fire Station.
Creative Learning
- Contribution to the Library School Holiday Program through delivery of two creative workshops for children: Ceramic Plates and Mixed Media Underwater Worlds. All workshops booked at full capacity.
- Ongoing involvement in the Library’s Makers & Creators program, including facilitation of workshops such as Watercolour Feathers & Found Objects workshop.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
The Community Development team functions include operation of SENTRAL Youth Service, deliver community events, administering Council’s Grants Program, deliver programs and initiatives to build and/or enhance inclusivity, participation, access and inclusion, safety, advocacy and social cohesion across target groups. This is done by tapping into community networks and resources to strengthen connections, build partnerships and collaborate on initiatives that support social, economic, cultural, and environmental sustainability. Staff work with residents, businesses, and community organisations to identify build partnerships, address challenges, and create opportunities for meaningful engagement on community-led solutions. Highlights for this period are as follows:
SENTRAL Youth Service
Summer School Holidays, funded by Office of Youth, Summer Break – Staff delivered diverse activities with a total of 87 young people engaged in the Summer School Holiday program. The program evaluation found 78% were Kiama LGA and received a 100% satisfaction rate for experience and feeling safe and welcomed.
Reel Connections Fishing Camp, funded by Department of Primary Industry – 12 young people attended the Reel Connections fishing camp, where they built practical fishing skills, learned how to set up rods, and developed awareness of environmental factors when fishing. The camp also had a focus on mental health and connecting with nature.
Drop-in (excluding January due to school holidays) – The drop-in service recorded 543 attendances, continuing to provide a consistent, safe, and supportive space for young people to engage with each other and youth workers. The highest attendance of 57 young people was recorded in March 2026.
Amplify Kiama, funded by Create NSW – This was a two-day songwriting and sound production workshop for young people, engaging 15 participants. Th workshop was found to be highly successful, with overwhelmingly positive feedback from both participants and facilitators.
Dungeons & Dragons – 19 young people participated in Dungeons & Dragons sessions across two program days in the past three months, encouraging creativity, teamwork, and social connection. This is a partnership with Kiama Council Library Services.
School Representative Council – Youth workers attend SRC on weekly basis, engaging with around 15 participants. This period staff have discussed plans for Kiama Youth Fest and how young people can help shape the day based on needs of young people in Kiama.
High School Presentation – 150 participated in a presentation by youth workers to raise awareness on available services and access pathways.
Successful Grants – This period, staff were successful to secure funding for Youth Week and Autumn/Winter School Holiday Break. Sourcing and securing grants are a key priority to allow provision of diverse programs and services to young people.
Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP)
During the quarter, a partnership was established with Uniting’s Local Area Coordination (LAC) Program to explore collaborative opportunities for delivery of Kiama Municipal Council’s DIAP. This federally funded program, delivers on behalf of the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), supports people with disability to access the NDIS and builds community capacity for inclusion and accessibility. The collaboration areas will be across key DIAP priorities, including disability awareness training, supporting inclusive community programs, making Council events more visibly accessible, and improving employment opportunities for people with a disability.
Aboriginal Heritage Project
Funded by the Department of Communities and Justice, staff have worked closely with Traditional Owners to deliver this meaningful project. A total of 11 signs were fabricated and installed across the Kiama LGA, featuring the work of local Traditional Owner, Elder, and artist, Aunty Jodie Stewart. Aunty Jodie developed a collection of original artworks; each inspired by and are deeply connected to Dharawal Country. The signs are located at various entry and exit points off the Princes Highway within the Kiama Local Government Area, as well as at cemeteries and culturally significant sites, helping to educate and foster awareness to the wider community in regard to Dharawal heritage of the area. This project has gained positive media attention at a local, state, and national level.
Reconciliation Action Plan Update
The draft Reconciliation Action Plan has been re-submitted to Reconciliation Australia following the initial feedback the first round. It is anticipated this will be the final round of changes before finalising the RAP and presented to ELT and Council for feedback and public exhibition. As a first, RAP is a landmark document for Council and Kiama LGA that will consolidate programs, services and approaches toward meaningful and sustainable relationships, engagement and collaboration. This Plan has been developed in close partnership with the Aboriginal Advisory Group and various Council departments.
Community Grants Program
Round 2 of the Grants, Donations and Sponsorship Program was delivered this round. A detailed report is provided outlining the engagement levels and recommended applications for funding.
Community Events
Australia Day 2026 – Staff were successful with a $15,000 grant from the Australia Day Council to run three Community BBQ’s, partnering with Jamberoo Red Cross/Jamberoo Rural Fire Service, Kiama Downs SLSC, and Gerringong Lions Club. The grant also enabled the Community Development team to partner with Gerringong Housing Aboriginal Corporation to deliver a series of cultural activities across the LGA. The community-led commemoration included a series of smoking ceremonies and blessings that were held simultaneously at Kiama Downs SLSC and Werri Beach. These ceremonies symbolised the smoke signals once sent along the East Coast to warn of the arrival of the tall ships of the First Fleet during settlement. The day was also accompanied with cultural workshops, biodegradable wreath making and First Nations musicians.
Seniors Festival 2026 – The 2026 Seniors Festival ran between 2-15 March. This year, the Community Development Team, Library team and Kiama Leisure Centre collaborated to deliver a series of workshops, programs, and community concerts to celebrate our seniors in the LGA. This collaborative approach resulted in hosting various activities including painting workshops, wellbeing workshops, a free Community Concert and BBQ at Hindmarsh Park, Seniors Friday Flicks at Kiama Library, Yoga in the Park, Joyous movement for seniors and free classes and morning team for seniors at Kiama Leisure Centre.
Networks and Forums
Staff co-convened and participated in a number of networks and inter-agencies withing the LGA and Illawarra region. They included platforms for youth workers, Aboriginal community liaison workers, people with disabilities, homelessness, domestic and family violence, health and wellbeing and community services sector.
Illawarra Interagency – The Illawarra Interagency held its first online meeting of the year in March with 47 attendees. The session focused on Disability Inclusion Action Plans, attended by guest speakers from the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), National Disability Services (NDS), NDIS Uniting Local Area Coordination with lived experience perspectives, and Wollongong, Shellharbour, and Kiama Councils. The meeting also provided opportunities for questions and interactive discussion, supporting sector learning and information sharing. A combined review of the interagency commenced earlier this year, in collaboration with Shellharbour City Council. As a result, a refreshed model has been identified, including a shift to quarterly meetings with a flexible format incorporating guest speakers and sector updates, while discontinuing blog and training functions to reduce administrative burden and avoid duplication. This revised approach aims to ensure the Interagency remains practical, sustainable and responsive to evolving sector needs.
