Congratulations to the AIC (Australian Indigenous Coffee) Creative Grant recipients, Aaliyah Jade Bradbury and Haylee Escalante.

This year Magabala received over 40 outstanding applications to the AIC Creative Grants, where two winners were selected.

Aaliyah-Jade Bradbury is a proud Indigenous woman from the Larrakia Nation of Garramilla (Darwin) and Erubam Le peoples of Meriam Mir. She is the first Indigenous woman to win an Emmy Award, for her work as a producer on the film Harley & Katya. She brings a “very Indigenous” approach to filmmaking, maintaining and creating intergenerational relationships on each project she touches. She believes in learning from those who have come before her in order to make pathways for those to come in, and strives to inspire the next generation of filmmakers to dream bigger and bolder. Her work has been recognised by Screen Australia and Screen NSW as one to watch for the way she highlights intricate storytelling through the humanity of our First Nations peoples. She has also held various roles across NGOs and government at organisations such as Creative Australia, the ABC and SBS. 

Aaliyah will be supported to continue development of her manuscript ‘Yellow Hibiscus’.  

Haylee Escalante is completing her Masters of Writing, Editing and Publishing at The University of Queensland. She is currently working on her first novel, "Our Yesterday", which was awarded a highly commended placement with the black&write! Indigenous Writing and Editing Project in 2023. Haylee is a writer of British, Wiradjuri, and Indian heritage. She weaves her family stories, histories and her journey through motherhood into her poetry and fiction works. 

Haylee will be supported to continue to develop her manuscript ‘Our Yesterday’.

Magabala Creative Grants are made possible thanks to the generous support of our philanthropic program. For more information or to donate, see Support Us.