The City of Fremantle and Centre for Stories are proud to announce the return of the Backyard Truth-Telling Series-a multi-sited storytelling program that brings truth-telling into the backyards of Walyalup/Fremantle residents this May.
Backyard Truth-Telling is looking for emerging and established Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian storytellers to share their lived experiences-in their own voices, in their own way.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend three storytelling workshops in April facilitated by the program's mentor Ron Bradfield Jnr, a Bardi and Jawi saltwater artist and storyteller, who supports people to share their stories in ways that feel safe and empowering.
Across three weekends in May, selected storytellers and community members will be invited into backyards in and around Walyalup/Fremantle to listen to stories that speak to the tough truths of our often untold past, growing accountability and belonging from non-Indigenous people, and the resilience and self-determination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Fremantle Mayor Ben Lawver said this City program brings together First Nations storytellers alongside non-Indigenous and culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) community members to create safe spaces for powerful and critical truth-telling around the impacts of colonisation.
"Backyard Truth-Telling is an opportunity to connect, learn, and listen deeply as truth-telling involves truth listening. It's an inclusive community event, in intimate settings around Walyalup, which will allow individual stories of truth and resilience to be heard in a calm and respectful space," Mayor Lawver said.
"We use storytelling as a way to create space for truth-listening and hope. The Walyalup community members who attend the events become the holders of these stories and by the end, we are all united in looking towards the future and dreaming up the kind of nation we want to become-this is a healing and empowering process for everyone involved," said Centre for Stories Project Manager for First Stories, Luisa Mitchell.
Backyard Truth-Telling first began in 2024, and featured 13 storytellers from both Indigenous and non-Indigenous backgrounds sharing stories on diverse topics such as personal family colonial histories; the experience of teaching Aboriginal kids in the Kimberley; finding belonging on Nyoongar Boodja as a new migrant; not being taught Australia's true history in school and finding out about Aboriginal missions and reserves; reconnection to one's own Aboriginal identity; swimming to Wadjemup through the Rottnest Island Channel Swim; and experiences of forcible removal from their parents (Stolen Generation).
"These intimate backyard events are an opportunity to deep listen to brave Fremantle folk willing and wanting to share their stories," said City of Fremantle Senior Aboriginal Engagement Officer, Brendan Moore.
An information session is being held at the Walyalup Fremantle Arts Centre on Saturday 7 March 2026, from 10am to 12pm, where interested storytellers can find out if this opportunity is for them. The three storytelling workshops will be held at the Walyalup Aboriginal Cultural Centre.
Expressions of Interest are now open via the City of Fremantle website and close on Wednesday 25 March 2026, 5pm.
Selected storytellers will receive a fee for participating in the workshop series and sharing their story at one of the May backyard events.
Backyard Truth-Telling is an opportunity to strengthen our community through shared understanding and is delivered through the City's dedicated Truth-Telling Program and Centre for Stories' First Stories Program.
Key Dates
- Information Session: 7 March, 10am-12pm – register here
- Storytelling Workshop #1: 11 April, 10am-1pm
- Storytelling Workshop #2: 18 April, 10am-1pm
- Storytelling Workshop #3: 2 May, 10am-1pm
- Backyard Truth-Telling Series: 9, 16 and 23 May
