Commitment to Connection

In April 2021, IPAA ACT commissioned an artwork from local Indigenous artist, Sarah Richards. Sarah's brief was to create a piece that represents a core IPAA purpose - to build connections.

ABOUT THE ARTWORK 

Commitment to Connection tells the story of IPAA ACT and its commitment to Canberra and community, including their ongoing journey of reflection, respect and reconciliation. The overall concept reflects connection with the private, public, peak bodies and academic sectors and relationships with the other state and territory IPAAs coming together to share expertise and knowledge. Debating, collaborating, innovating, communicating and building capability in public administration. In particular it shows IPAA ACT as a conduit to connect. The colours and elements of Commitment to Connection are inspired by those seen in the Canberra region. The leaves of a eucalyptus, the most common native tree in the region but also common in other regions of Australia, represents IPAA ACT and the other sectors coming together in an abstract royal bluebell shape to represent Canberra.

The royal bluebell’s yellow centre represents IPAA ACT and the sectors coming together, the royal bluebell petals represent each of the sectors and the outside of the royal bluebell represents the ACT community. Surrounded on the outside by IPAA QLD, NSW, VIC, TAS, NT, WA, SA to represent their connection to IPAA ACT but also connection to the Australian community.
 

ABOUT THE ARTIST | SARAH RICHARDS

Sarah is a Ngiyampaa woman born on Gadigal land (Sydney) who grew up on Wiradjuri (Griffith) and Yugambeh (Gold Coast) country before moving down to Ngunnawal country in 2012. Since she was a young child, she loved to be creative, particularly through painting. In 2018, she turned her passion from a hobby into a small business and created Marrawuy Journeys. In Sarah's ancestors’ language of the Wongaibon people, Marrawuy (Mar-ra-way) means Red Kangaroo. Marrawuy Journeys is a Supply Nation registered, 100% Aboriginal owned business with a vision of healing as individuals so we can heal as a country.
 
Further details about Sarah and her art can be found on her website - www.mjourneys.com.au.