We want to offer our sincere and unreserved apology to Jumbunna Research, First Nations colleagues, and creative communities for a critical and harmful mistake in the communication of our recent Shifting the Balance (STB) desktop survey.
Jumbunna Research was wrongly identified as being involved in the creation and distribution of the survey. This was incorrect. Jumbunna’s role in the Shifting the Balance project has always been focused solely on conducting interviews and yarning circles with First Nations leaders in the arts and creative sectors, and in contributing to the drafting of the final report. They were not involved in the design of the survey. Jumbunna’s role in the project is to conduct interviews with First Nations participants to ensure we are providing a culturally safe and appropriate research environment, and to support the development of the report.
The misrepresentation has led to confusion and concern within the sector and has caused reputational harm to Jumbunna Research. We are truly sorry for this.
In addition, we acknowledge that the survey itself failed to include culturally appropriate and accurate options for identifying First Nations peoples, requiring participants to identify as
“Oceania” in order to mark Indigenous heritage. This is unacceptable, and we apologise for the harm and erasure this has caused.
This has been a serious learning moment for us. Diversity Arts is committed to building a more equitable and inclusive sector, and that includes acknowledging our mistakes, understanding how they happened, and working to change the conditions that allowed them to occur.
We have paused the survey while we work with partners to address the issues raised and ensure cultural safety and accuracy in all future stages of the project.
We thank Jumbunna Research for the generosity and care they have shown in addressing this matter directly with us. We take full responsibility for the impact of our actions, and we
are working to make this right.
—Diversity Arts Australia