Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members are encouraged to apply for the three NATSIMO categories of the 2024 Professional Development Awards
Expressions of interest are open for the following categories: NATSIMO General, NATSIMO Youth (under 25 years) and NATSIMO Senior (50+ years)
Applications close 11:59pm AEDT on Thursday 12 October.
Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander songwriters and composers from any genre are warmly invited to apply for the NATSIMO Professional Development Awards 2024.
The APRA Professional Development Awards exist to provide support to emerging songwriters and composers. Three NATSIMO recipients will each receive a career-changing $10,000 cash prize to support their development.
There are three NATSIMO categories in the 2024 Professional Development Awards:
It is expected that the funds will help recipients attend workshops, music education courses, composer seminars, co-writing sessions and other relevant activities - locally or internationally. The Awards are not intended to fund recording.
Andrew Gurruwiwi - NATSIMO Senior 2023 PDA winner
Yirrmal - NATSIMO General 2023 PDA winner
Jem Cassar-Daley - NATSIMO Youth 2023 PDA winner
To apply, applicants are asked to provide:
Entrants in the NATSIMO categories must also comply with the three working criteria as confirmation of your Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage. These are:
You'll also be asked to answer some questions about your musical career to-date, what your ambitions are in songwriting or composing, and how winning a PDA award will help you achieve your goals.
If you still have questions, check out this FAQ piece.
“It’s important work that APRA does, and this award is going to help me to keep working towards my own vision and my own dreams. Creating music the way that I feel it. Culture is life, and I am culture. And I am thankful for your support on my journey. “ - Yirrmal, NATSIMO General 2023 PDA winner
To learn more and submit an EOI, please visit this link.
Brendan Boney (former PDA winner) explains why you should apply!
Applications close 11:59pm AEDT on Thursday 12 October. For questions or assistance, please contact [email protected]