Who is Belinda Mason OAM?
I am someone who uses art as a platform for people with lived experience of multiple discriminations to share their knowledge with others, and I am driven by a real commitment to amplifying voices that are too often overlooked.
What would you do differently from what you do now?
I am doing things differently from how I once worked, and I am really enjoying creating opportunities for marginalised artists to build their creative practices.
Who inspires you and why?
I do not particularly like the word inspire, as it can feel a little uncomfortable at times. Stella Young summed this up beautifully in her TED Talk when she said, “I am not your inspirational porn.” For me, it is more about what drives me. I am driven by the remarkable people I meet and work beside who have survived traumatic events and who choose to share their knowledge so others can learn and be part of the solution.
I also admire Uncle Frank Dooley (Riverbank Frank), who once said, “Reconciliation cannot be a government-driven process because that is doomed to failure. It has to live in the hearts and minds of the men and women of Australia.”
What would you do to make a difference in the world?
I think the greatest difference any parent, carer or guardian can make is to raise our children to value family, to be honest with themselves, to understand that kindness is not weakness, that strength is not only physical, and that love is both unconditional and without borders. I am very proud that my sons now carry these values and share them with their own children.
Favourite holiday destination and why?
Because of my work, I travel a lot, both nationally and internationally, from Paris and New York to Thursday Island and Tailem Bend. So my favourite holiday destination is simply home, where I can spend time with my family.
When friends come to town, what attraction would you take them to, and why?
When friends come to town, I ask what they are interested in and then plan something around that. Even though they are family and friends, they all like different things, and I am always open to discovering something new about the city I live in.
What are you currently reading?
I am undertaking a PhD, so I am currently reading about women’s access to testimonial justice and the ways their knowledge is recognised, challenged or dismissed.
What are you currently listening to?
I am currently listening to the television programme The Voice and the ABC documentary The Piano. I cannot sing or play an instrument, so I really enjoy watching people who can, and I am always moved by the talent and heart they bring to their performances.
Happiness is?
Happiness, for me, is family. I was a young mother and I am now a grandmother, and we are lucky to have five generations living, from one hundred and one years old through to five years old. It is a rare gift, especially as many of us have faced serious health challenges.
What does the future hold for you?
Hopefully good health. Everything after that feels like a gift, and I know my dad, who passed away twenty-five years ago, is still watching over and protecting us.
Belinda has created (with her sons Dieter and Liam Knierim) the powerful exhibition, Unfinished Business, which is currently on display at the Australian Museum, Sydney, until 19 April 2026.
Image: Belinda Mason OAM – photo by Dieter Knierim