About the Artist
Our brand artwork, titled Voice of Empowerment, was created by artist Emmarita Brown, a descendant of the Warlpiri Mob from Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory. A mum, aunt, sister and friend, she completed her first public mural for TAFE SA, at the Port Pirie campus in 2024. Since then, she has done consultancy as well as taken on a few more commissions centred around community engagement and advocating for young people.
“As a single mum, I want to follow my dreams and show my child all the possible things you can do to achieve greatness and reach success. Be determined and keep going even when things get tough. I cannot wait to see what is next to come on my art and craft journey.
I am also wanting to connect with a lot of organisations and get out more in the Community. My vision is to inspire young people to reconnect and learn through culture derived in art.
As someone who was brought up through the Department of Child Protection system, I want to inspire and be a role model for young people, and spread positivity through my art. That you too can achieve good things, no matter what your upbringing is. ”
Artwork Story
The National Commission aims to protect and promote the rights, wellbeing and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and children. This painting represents the power of children’s voices, and how the Commission can help to empower, protect and connect those voices to encourage positive change. How are we going to make a difference and encourage a positive change if we won’t allow ourselves to understand the needs of young people and their families? Our children and young people are our next generation. By listening to their voices, we can have a profound influence on their wellbeing across Australia. Strength, staying connected, embracing integrity, and most importantly, positive change, is represented strongly in this artwork. The power of voice is depicted in the centre of the artwork, with young people represented around and above, to protect their rights. The connection of families, young people and children is represented by a series of lines drawing out of the centre to represent connecting in different directions across Australia. These lines take the form of rivers, flowing together, strong and bold. The healthy wellbeing of young people is promoted across the artwork with different connections all spreading from the centre. The wildflowers covered at the top represent values. And more connections spread at the bottom corners, feeding back information through consultations with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people and families, governments, non-government organisations, commissions, advocates and guardians. Patterns of the country then fill the remainder of the artwork to tie everything together.
