For fields of light and delegate dreams different in every sense, check out Australia’s Northern Territory. World-class conference venues, unique experiences and iconic landscapes are why the Northern Territory (NT) is considered one of Australia’s outstanding business events destinations. There is also the inspiring connection to more than 65,000 years of Aboriginal culture which strengthens the NT’s tagline promise to be: ‘Different in every sense for business events’.
“Cultural experiences provided in the NT have a profound impact on business event attendees,” says NT Business Events director Rebecca McCaig. “It might be a Welcome to Country by traditional landowners, cultural performances, interactive art and culture workshops, but the cultural connections made during an NT business event will often stay with delegates long after they’ve returned home.”
Examples include a group visit to the spectacular Field of Light or the enlightening Wintjiri Wiru experience at Uluru, or a range of cultural elements scattered through a conference programme: each provides a sense of place and acknowledgement that the event is being staged in an ancient land.
Learning from the land
In Alice Springs, Desert Knowledge Australia (DKA) manages a 73-hectare precinct in partnership with the Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation. DKA has a range of small meeting venues and is home to arid zone research initiatives which champion the wellbeing and sustainability of desert communities.
The Purple House in Alice Springs is an Aboriginal-owned renal healthcare service and social enterprise. Visiting delegates can learn about how native plants foraged from the land can be used to create healing bush balms and natural medicines.
There are also many interactive cultural workshop options available in NT, including dot-painting classes delivered by organisations such as Ayeye Atyenhe Art in Alice Springs where Aboriginal artists talk about their culture and invite attendees to create their own artworks. There are traditional weaving classes and companies like Saltwater Cultural Tours invite delegates to engage with nature while learning about Aboriginal culture. A new Larrakia Cultural Centre, to open in Darwin in 2026, will also provide scope for cultural interaction.
International conference focus on culture
The World Community Development Conference (WCDC) staged in Darwin in 2023 featured inspiring Welcome to Country and Saltwater ceremonies, with traditional ‘Yarning Circles’ also part of the programme. Colourful delegate bags were made from fabric designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Dee Brooks, co-chair of the WCDC Organising Team, says insights into Aboriginal culture enhanced the conference: “The guidance and wisdom shared by the local Aboriginal organisations enriched the conference programme, infusing it with cultural authenticity. Their contributions highlighted the rich cultural heritage of the Northern Territory.”
When the 10th World Melioidosis Congress came to Darwin in late October 2024, the cultural message was conveyed via the official congress logo, designed by a young Aboriginal artist who is also an undergraduate in biological sciences. Her design combined the intricate patterns of the melioidosis microbe with a rich tapestry of Aboriginal artwork.
Visit www.ntbusinessevents.com.au for further information on culture in the NT. Northern Territory Business Events (NTBE) is a government convention bureau providing advice and information for meeting planners in the NT. Contact: Anna Stewart: anna@accesspr.com.au
