My name is Susie Klein. I am a Jaularoi [pronounced ‘joo-la-roy’] woman born on Mandandanji [pronounced ‘man-dan-dan-gee’] traditional lands to which I whole-heartedly pay my respects. The Town of Roma is found on this land in South West Queensland, Australia.
I am married to Brent and we have two adult children, Rebecca and Myles, both of whom are adored. I am very grateful to my mother, the historian of the family, who has worked tirelessly in connecting me to my people. My parents are Cliff and Ann Collins (nee McPherson) belonging to Jaularoi, Kamilaroi [pronounced ‘ka-mill-a-roy’] and Gungarri [pronounced ‘goong-ga-ree’] peoples between them.
I am one of six kids – Tony, Patsi, Kay, Leona and Mark all of whom I am proud and lucky to be friends with and share our talents inherited from our parents, who by the way, say they “can’t even draw a stick man.”
Art…I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, ART…in all its forms! Nurturing my creativity to inspire others suits my personality and perseverance. This is the reason behind my catch phrase ‘engaging communities creatively.’
I am dedicated to an array of mediums and accept I am an artist who thrives on the impact art has on others. A quote from Susan Jeffers “feel the fear and do it anyway” has allowed me the confidence to work through perceived mistakes for personal growth.
I really enjoy sharing all I learn…. I paint with acrylics, oils, watercolours, ochres and draw with pastels, pencils, charcoal and sculpt with plaster, tin, wire, clay, fabrics and digitally with camera and computer programs to name a few.
Among these pages you will find a list of commission works, workshops I’ve facilitated, some products to buy and lots of photographs to enjoy.
And as always, a special thanks to all my caring friends, inspiring role models and supportive mentors. To you I am forever grateful.
Projects I am currently working on:
- Creating and Designing Body Wear for Traditional Celebrations
- Showcase Artwork at Greenup Meeting Place
- Art Activities for Bamba Gii Festival
- Artwork for Mick Kearns
- Studying with PESI an on-line training service
- Studying with the Entrepreneural Business School for Professional Training and Coaching
- Member Maranoa Pride Group
- Member True Colours Youth Group
- Member Little Rainbows Youth Group
- Artwork for Selwyn Price
- Creative and Self Expressive Arts Workshop for Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Corporation for Health celebrating NAIDOC
- Creative and Self Expressive Arts Workshops for CatholicCare Migrant Youth Program
- Bremer SHS Mental Health Day Art Project
Projects completed in 2021
- Mural at Harlaxton State School for NAIDOC Celebrations
- Drumbeat Therapy Training
- Facepainting for Roma State College P&C Fillies Race Day
- Winner of Mandandanji Artist of the Year Award 2021
- Art for Relaxation: An Indigenous Perspective Workshop for USQ – University of Southern Queensland’s CISER – College for Indigenous Studies, Education and Research Unit Business Manager’s Team
- MC for DVAC – Domestic Violence Action Centre for their Gala Ball
- Artwork for DVAC: Domestic Violence Action Centre’s Reconcilation Action Plan
- Toowoomba Regional Council’s Arts Program: Home Project on the Road – delivered to Youth at Highfields, Crows Nest, Goombungee, Cecil Plains, Kingsthorpe,
- Facepainting at SWIN – South West Indigenous Network’s Western Rivers Cup Cricket Carnival
- Safe Growth Project with Griffith University
- Pastel Painting activities for CWAATSICH – Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health at Charleville and Mitchell
- Art for Relaxation: An Indigenous Perspective Workshop for
- Created and Supported LGBTIQ+ Youth in Roma with painting a banner to walk in the Easter In The Country Parade
- Thirteen Artworks for HeadSpace in Roma and engaging youth to assist
- Artwork for Suicide Intervention program CALM
- Studying with PESI an on-line training service
- Board Member for the Community Advisory Network for the South West Queensland Hospital and Health Service
- Australia Day Temporary Tattooing at Roma Pool
Projects completed in 2020
- Artwork for Shari & Hoey
- An art activity for a booklet and on-line: an initiative of Toowoomba Regional Council
- 3 murals for CatholicCare Social Services Toowoomba Office
- Walkway art for CatholicCare Social Services Toowoomba Office
- Board Member for the Community Advisory Network for the South West Queensland Hospital and Health Service
- Commenced study with the Entrepreneural Business School for Professional Training and Coaching
- Art for Relaxation: An Indigenous Perspective Workshop at the 2020 Australian and New Zealand Addiction Conference
Projects completed in 2019
- Artwork painted on a Yarning Circle seating structure at Goodstart Early Learning Toowoomba, Glenvale Road
- A pastel drawing activity “Henry the Echidna” for Goodstart Early Learning Toowoomba, Glenvale Road
- Training in Indigenous Suicide Intervention Skills Training with University of Queensland, Rural Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine Research project
- Bollon State School Mural
- Wandoan State School Mural
- Art Exhibition at Injune in March 2019
- SMArt Kids program for 2019
- Art lessons assorted ages
- Yuleba Markets face painting
- Artwork for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander factsheet -WQPHN
- Artwork for Ricky Ikin
Projects completed in 2018
- Budburra painting for Jorgi
- The ABC: Suicide intervention program trains Aboriginal communities to ‘ask the question’
- Graphic Recording for the Whaddup Program
- Face painting for Drought Angels at Goodstart Early Learning Roma Centre
- Face painting for South Western Indigenous Network (SWIN) Western Rivers Club
- Face painting for the Yumba Reunion at Mitchell
- CatholicCare Social Services Float cutouts for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
- Saturday Morning Art sessions with SMArt Kids – Term 2 and 3
- Painting the Pickinjinee Tortoise
- National Protective Behaviours Conference
- NAIDOC celebrations painting at Creative Garden Early Learning Centenary Heights
- NAIDOC celebrations painting at Surat Early Childhood Education Centre
- NAIDOC celebrations face painting at Roma State College Junior Campus
- NAIDOC celebrations t-shirt painting at Yuleba State School
- NAIDOC celebrations face painting for Maranoa Regional Council’s Cultural Day
- NAIDOC celebrations face painting for South West Indigenous Network (SWIN)
- Under 8’s Roma State College Junior Campus face painting
- CatholicCare Social Services Yarning Circle pole painting
- NAIDOC celebrations art activities Taroom ChildCare
- Mural for Ricky
- NAIDOC celebrations painting at Highfields Gardens Childcare Centre
- Painting with Multicultural Development Australia (MDA Toowoomba) Yazidi Community
- CatholicCare Social Services pole painting the 5 values and beliefs
- Dinawaan painting for Rebecca and Jorgi
- Harmony Day Roma Country Markets face painting
- Queens Baton Relay event face painting Maranoa Regional Council
- Kirstin Albeck Memorial 9’s Day face painting
- Kirstin Albeck Memorial 9’s sponsorship
- Artist invite to Injune State School
- CatholicCare Social Services pole painting
- Muslim’s Down Under artwork
- Cultural Awareness through Art with St George SHS staff
Projects completed in 2017
- Painting PVC pipes/poles with Christmas Theme at CatholicCare Toowoomba Office
- Organising an Art Club to commence in 2018
- Facepainting at South West Indigenous Network’s Western Rivers Cricket Carnival in Toowoomba
- Facepainting at Roma’s Mud Derby Meet
- Facepainting at Australia’s Grande Country Carnivale
- Created two Giant Puppets
- Painted PVC pipes/poles with Carnival of Flowers theme at CatholicCare Toowoomba Office
- Facepainting for Maranoa Regional Council in Roma on Australia Day
- Muralling for Maranoa Regional Council in Yuleba on Australia Day
- Awarded a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment with the Cedar Centre in Toowoomba
- Provided Children’s Entertainment for Cully Fest in November for 2017
- Created 3-face cut out paintings, painted a 10m x 1.8m canvas mural, updated 4 x 3m x 1.2m banners for Cully Fest
- Providing job opportunities for job seekers
- Competed at the Australian Bodypainting Festival in Cooroy in April 2017
Projects completed in 2016
- Mitchell State School: Community Education Counsellor working with disengaged youth and families
- Bodypainting practise
- Art for Relaxation Workshop for Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network: Maranoa State ConferenceCreated Artworks for 40 boomerangs
- Studying to acquire National Mediation and Family Dispute Resolution Practitioner Accreditation
- Submitted an expression of interest to produce an artwork for USQ’s Engineering Sector to promote Healthy Soils
- Exhibition: Roma on Bungil Gallery opened the 5th August 2016
- Mural: painting an autumn theme with children at Maranoa Kindy
- July NAIDOC celebrations at Cunnamulla providing Children’s Entertainment
- Facepainting & Children’s Entertainment at Wallumbilla and Injune for Farm Safe Project with Maranoa Regional Council and their guest speaker, Shane Webcke.
- Registered to compete at the World Bodypainting Festival
- Bodypainting practise runs to try out ‘blending in’, ‘clothing’ and self-expression on models
- Cully Fest: Childrens Entertainer
- Exhibition: Surat on Balonne Gallery – ‘Susie Klein’s 11’
- Injune Kindergarten and Childrens Centre: Indigenous Education, Muralling and Staff Training
- Australia Day Facepainting at Wallumbilla
- Wallumbilla Show Facepainting
- Mural: “Fun at Balonne” for Youth Week at Surat with students in prep to yr 10
- Lynne Chapman filmed my bodypainting efforts
Projects in 2015
- Commissioned: cartoon Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander characters
- Bright Futures Childcare Centre: Australian animal cutouts with Indigenous traditional and contemporary designs
- Bright Futures Childcare Centre: Rainbow Serpents Dreaming Mural
- Exhibition preparation for Surat and Roma galleries
- 2016 World Bodypainting Festival in Austria: Preparation
- Presented Art for Relaxation – An Indigenous Perspective to Healing Our Spirit Worldwide in New Zealand.
- Upgrading this webpage and changing the domain to ‘susieklein.com’
- A new venture called ‘Studio 8′ primarily offering creative mentoring
- ‘Get Pinkt’ Family Fun Day: balloon twisting, loom bands and a paint pour
- Face-painting for Australia Day Celebrations in Yuleba
- Surat Seniors portraits
- Australian Body Art Festival: “Encouragement Award”
- Endeavour’s Reconciliation Action Plan: Commissioned painting
- Commissioned: two artworks for Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Centre (IROC)
- in-training for the World Body Painting Festival in Austria 2016
- Member of the World Bodypainting Association.
- held training in balloon twisting, temporary tattooing and face painting
- LP State Conference
Projects in 2014
- Deadly Sports Cunnamulla
- Deadly Sports Charleville
- Roma NAIDOC March
- Exhibition: Surat on Balonne Gallery
- Surat Junk Art Sculpture 2-Day Workshop
- Commission: IROC – painting
- assisting youth on an artwork at the TITANS visit to Roma
- USQ DARE program: Art for Relaxation Workshop
- Arts Link Qld: Roma’s Heart – Mural
- Art in the Park: Toowoomba
- ALP State Conference
- Commission: assorted painted boomerangs
- Winner ‘Artist of the Year’ Award: NAIDOC (Mandandanji Limited)
- Face painting – Charleville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health Community Christmas Party
- Body Art – wound on Renae
- Pastel Painting – assisted Surat Senior Citizens
- Mural: 2 panels – assisted Maranoa Kindergarten children
- Donation x 2 for Salvation Army
- Donation x 2: ‘Kookaburra’
- Donation: ‘Purple Dinawaan’
- The Brown Wolf by the Lake exhibition project – The Walk of Art space
- Mural: “Rainbow Serpent’ – Bright Futures Early Education Centre Eight Miles Plains
- Mural: ‘Injune Dreaming’ – Injune Kindergarten and Childrens Centre
- Harmony Day – Roma Walk of Art 5 miniature paintings on canvas
- Harmony Day – Art for Relaxation
- Facepainting – Clearview Rise Markets
- Chairperson – Aboriginal Family Legal Service Southern Queensland Indigenous Corporation
- Art for Relaxation “An Indigenous Perspective” – World Indigenous People’s Conference on Education – Honolulu
- Makeke Markets Honolulu
- Governance Training – Bourke
- National Youth Week – St George
- Graduation Ceremony – James Cook University
- Commission – IROC painting
- UChoose Mural – Injune
- Family Tree – NAIDOC St George
- Our School, Our Family Mural – St George
- DARE Mentor Training – USQ
- It’s All About Me Mural – Roma
- NAIDOC Street March Organising Team Roma
- Nominated for Queensland Reconciliation Award
- Art for Relaxation 2 day workshop at Fresh Hope for 4 groups ie. staff, volunteers, clients and children
- Art for Relaxation for Mitchell State School staff
- Cultural Awareness Workshop “Big Picture….. Hidden Histories” for Mitchell State School staff
- Facepainting – Australia Day celebrations in Roma
- Facepainting – Australia Day celebrations in Wallumbilla
- Facepainting – Lane Brookes’ Fundraising Football Day
- Gnibi Futures Executive 2 Day workshop at Southern Cross Unversity
Projects in 2013
- Diploma in Counselling – Community Training Australia
- Bachelor of Education Studies – James Cook University
- Mural – Thallon State School
- Commission: DARE
- Mural – Mitchell State School
- Commission: Indigenous Outreach Respiratory Care (IROC) x 2
- Painting of 6 Poles with Goondiwindi State High School students
- 2-day Workshop Gallery 107 Dalby
- Maranoa Regional Council – Family Tree Project for Santos Food and Fire Festival in Roma
- Facepainting: Toowoomba Languages and Cultures Festival
- Presented Art for Relaxation at the 2nd Indigneous Voices in Social Work Conference, Winnipeg manitoba, Canada.
- Balloon twisting at Sunshine Mitre 10 Roma
- Donation of a Poddy Purse from the Roma Cowtown Handbag Range to the Anything But Straight Committee’s fundraiser
- USQ McGregor Campus – Donations of 2 paintings for fundraising event
- 3 x A5 sized acrylic on canvas paintings: Indigenous themed for a 4 year old
- Commissioned: 1m x 0.8m acrylic on canvas for Katie’s young son
- Art for Relaxation Workshop at St George
- Art for Relaxation DVD by Ignition Films
- Art for Relaxation promotional vignette by Ignition Films
- Board of Director: Link-Up (Qld) Aboriginal Corporation
- Anything But Straight Committe Member
- Yuleba Personal Development Day
- Chairperson, Aboriginal Family Legal Service Southern Queensland Aboriginal Corporation
- Mentor and Counsellor for DARE Indigenous Secondary School Student’s mentoring program
- Facepainting at the South West Indigenous Network: Western Rivers Cup in Toowoomba
- Link-Up (QLD) Aboriginal Corporation 5 year Apology Anniversary at ACPA Brisbane with Stolen Generations People’s and Mr Kevin Rudd
- Arty-time with Disha and Harry
- Arty-time with Marcus
Projects in 2012
- PCYC Toowoomba: Indigenous Artwork on Ten Pins, Cricket Bats, Hockey Sticks, Tennis Racquets
- Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care Program Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network based at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane commissioned a 1m x 1m acrylic painting for an Influenza and Pneumococcal Immunisation poster
- Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care Program Statewide Respiratory Clinical Network based at Prince Charles Hospital in Brisbane commissioned a 1m x 1m acrylic painting for the lung signs of breathlessness and persistent cough (or a cough that won’t go away)
- Kids Don’t Smoke Poster – Indigenous Respiratory Outreach Care (IROC) Program Statewide Respiratory Clincial Network
- Mural: Thallon State School “Thallon Dreaming”
- Diploma in Community Services with Brisbane Institute of TAFE
- Face Painting for Angel Flight Fundraiser at Wallumbilla
- Face Painting for Condon & Treasure Christmas Party
- Billy Lid Tour to Surat, Mitchell, Charleville and Cunnamulla
- Mural: St George State School – “River of Life”
- Fundraiser – ‘Womens Business’ Acrylic Painting’ 900mm x 600mm
- Commission: 1m x 1.2m Acrylic Painting for Jai
- PCYC Toowoomba: Indigenous artwork on Tennis Racquets x 5
- South West Indigenous Network (SWIN) – Billy Lids Program: Logo and Polo Shirt Design
- Art for Relaxation Workshop: Dulacca State School
- Mural: Thallon State School – “The Thallon SS Way”
- Mural: Condamine State School – “The Happy Garden”
- Toowoomba Base Hospital: Pregnant Belly Plaster Casts painted for NAIDOC Celebrations x 2
- Sustaining Connections Workshop 1, 2 & 3: Roma Region – Link Up Queensland
- Sustaining Connections Workshop 2 & 3: Dalby Region – Link Up Queensland
- Australia Day Face Painting – Roma: Maranoa Regional Council
- Airport Opening Face Painting – Roma: Maranoa Regional Council
- ‘Lets Paint’ Workshop in Roma
- One of the 8 paintings on the front cover of the Stolen Generation Education written by Dr Norman Sheehan
- Director on the Board of Link-Up QLD Aboriginal Corporation
- Pilot program for Diploma in Social and Emotional Wellbeing to be rolled out by Swinburne University
Projects in 2011
- Sustaining Connections Workshop 1: Dalby – Link Up Queensland
- Face Painting – Parents and Community Engagement – Roma
- Face Painting – Yuleba Community Christmas Celebrations
- Mural – Condamine State School – ‘Magical’
- Mural – Teelba State School – ‘Reflections’
- Mural – Thallon State School
- Food & Fire Fest: Face Painting – Roma
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Stanthorpe
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – St George
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Goondiwindi
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Gatton
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Warwick
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Charleville
- Deadly Sports: Traditional Aboriginal Art – Ipswich
- Mural – Roma State College – ‘Working All Together’
- Solo Exhibition ‘On the Inside’ – Gallery on Balonne Surat
- Art for Relaxation – Stanthorpe Community
- Mural: Cunnamulla State School – ‘Family’
- NAIDOC – Roma State College
- Queensland Studies Authority – P-12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Languages Syllabuses and the connected Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community curriculum
Projects in 2010
- Mural: Roma Bush Gardens – ‘What’s in the dam?’
- Mural: Roma Bush Gardens – ‘No Swimming!’
- Deadly Sports – Roma
- Deadly Sports – Toowoomba
- Deadly Sports – Warwick
- Mural: St George State High School – ‘School of Learners’
- Art for Relaxation – Surat Community
- Mural: Dulacca State High School – ‘Monster Wall’
- Mural: Dulacca State High School – ‘Signage’
- Art for Relaxation – ‘Dinawaan’ – Lorraine Muller BSocSc, BSW (Hons) – Indigenous Australian Social-Health Theory
- Bachelor of Education 3rd Year
Projects in 2009
- Art for Relaxation: Charleville State High School, all students in years 8 – 12
- Art for Relaxation: Mungallala State School, all students in Prep to Years 7
- Mural: St George State High School – ‘Together We Achieve’
- Art for Relaxation: Pinaroo Aged Care Roma
- Art for Relaxation: Department of Communities – Toowoomba, Roma & Charleville
- Front Cover Feature for White Pages Telephone Book Creative Australians: Inspiring Our Communities – Dalby, Roma, Charleville andMiles Districts
- Mural: Roma State College – Senior Campus – ‘Scarenine’
- Mural: Yuleba State School
- Mosaic: Arcadia Valley State School
- Mural: Peek-a-Doo State School – ‘Four Seasons’
- ‘Generations of Dreaming’ Art Exhibition Cunnamulla
- Bachelor of Education Townsville External Student
- Attuned Level 2 Reiki
- Art for Relaxation: James Cook University – 2nd Year Social Worker Students
- Art for Relaxation: Mitchell Pamper Day
- Art for Relaxation: Charleville & Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander for Community Health – Women’s Pamper Day
- Art for Relaxation: individual lessons across SWQ
- Mentor/Tutor: Indigenous Artist – Laurie Nilsen
- Bachelor of Education 2nd Year
Projects in 2008
- Centacare: South West Family Centre – Counsellor, Skills Trainer & Educator
- Mural: Arcadia Valley State School – ‘Activity Wall’
- Mural: Arcadia Valley State School – ‘The Valley’
- Art for Relaxation: Arcadia Valley State School Students
- Mural: Wyandra State School – ‘Students Welcome’
- Mural: Wyandra State School – ‘Wyandra a History’
- Art for Relaxation: Mitchell State School Students
- Art for Relaxation: Queensland HealthSt George Women’s Support Group
- Art for Relaxation: University of Newcastle – 5th national Family & Community Strengths Conference
- Art for Relaxation: Murumali-Li Mari Domestic Violence Outreach Service
- Women’s Support Group Mitchell
- Mentor/Tutor: Indigenous Artist – Laurie Nilsen
- Mentor/Tutor: Creative Artist – Bonnie Bombach
- Bachelor of Education 2nd Year
Projects in 2007
- Commissioned: Education Queensland – Central Office – Cover Page: ‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment Framework For Action 2007 – 2010
- Art for Relaxation: Tambo State School – students
- Mural: Muckadilla State School – ‘Muckadilla Dreaming’
- Mural: Surat Community (with Artist Marilyn Williamson)
- Mural: Dulacca State School (with Artist Marilyn Williamson)
- Mentor/Tutor: Creative Artist – Dr Irene Amos
- Mentor/Tutor: Creative Artist – Bonnie Bombach
- Mentor/Tutor: Indigenous Artist – Laurie Nilsen
Projects in 2006
- Education Queensland: Roma District Office – a/g Community Partnerships Officer
- Commissioned: Education Queensland – Central Office – Artwork for Xmas Card
- Commissioned: Education Queensland – Central Office – Artwork for Xmas Card
- Solo Exhibition – Imagine
- Commissioned: The School Of Arts – Arts Inn
- Sculpture – Dirranbandi State School
- Mentor/Tutor: Dr Irene Amos – McGregor Winter School
- Toowoomba Tutor: Graham Girle – Hebel Sculpturing
- Mentor/Tutor: Laurie Nilsen – Sculpture
Projects from 1997 – 2005
- Education Queensland – Roma State Middle School – Teacher Aide
- Certificate in Education – University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba
- Diploma in Education – Far North Queensland TAFE Cairns
- Mural: Roma State Middle School library – ‘Gathering at the Bungil’
- Mural: Roma State Middle School library – ‘Colourful Language’
- Our Sort of Art, Art Exhibition Roma
- Commissioned: Roma Aboriginal Corporation
- Mural: Roma Salvation Army – ‘Animals go marching 2 by 2′
- Mural: Yuleba Blue Light
- Commissioned: Yuleba Blue Light 10 Paintings 800mm x 1000mm
- Art for Relaxation: Murumali-Li Mari Domestic Violence Outreach Service Staff
- Art for Relaxation: Charleville State School Staff
- Art for Relaxation: Queensland Health Men’s Group
- Art for Relaxation: Queensland Health Women’s Group
- Tutor: Belinda Cameron
Projects from 1990 – 1996
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission – Roma Regional Office – Administrative Officer, Project Officer & Women’s Issues Officer 1985 – 1990
- Department of Aboriginal Affairs – Roma District Office: Administrative Officer