Over recent years, the Australian philanthropy sector has witnessed significant and much-needed progress in its efforts to authentically engage with First Nations communities on a broad range of issues. However, due to limited engagement to date, there are still only a few voices from grassroots First Nations communities strategically positioned within the sector to drive this movement toward meaningful change.

In 2021, Barmal Bijiril founded The Blak Loungeroom project to help address this gap. The initiative aims to foster greater First Nations involvement in philanthropy by providing a space for gathering, support, and collaboration.

The Blak Loungeroom focuses on:

• Promoting the principle of self-determination for First Nations communities within the philanthropy sector.
• Enhancing the agency and capacity of First Nations communities to actively participate in philanthropic initiatives.
• Developing a network of First Nations professionals who work in philanthropy or serve on boards within the sector.
• Offering mutual support to members and, where possible, sharing educational resources.
• Hosting regular forums with guest speakers to discuss issues relevant to First Nations communities, as identified by members.
• Providing a safe space for members to bring forward ideas for discussion and support.
• Welcoming non-Indigenous representatives from the philanthropic sector to share ideas for discussion within a First Nations-focused environment.
• Advocating for equity on behalf of all members, engaging with the philanthropic and government sectors to foster improved communication and informed policy decisions on both a national and international level.

This collaborative effort seeks to strengthen First Nations representation and voice within the sector while fostering relationships that enable sustainable, impactful change.