Birdgirl Is Walking 3,125km Across Australia

And It’s Bigger Than the Journey…

In May 2026, Melbourne-based musician Birdgirl will embark on an ambitious and deeply personal journey: a 3,125km walk from Perth to Melbourne, undertaken entirely on foot and solo.

Camping along the way and crossing the country step by step, the walk is more than a physical feat… it’s a call to action. Birdgirl is using the journey to raise awareness and funds for equitable access to the arts across Australia, challenging the idea that creative expression should be limited by geography, background or financial means.

“Access to the arts should be a right, not a privilege,” Birdgirl says, a belief that sits at the heart of the project.

Throughout the journey, Birdgirl aims to raise $20,000, with funds split between two grassroots organisations working to break down barriers in creative communities.

Grow the Music, a social enterprise, delivers instruments, education and mentorship to Indigenous communities and people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, helping foster creative opportunities where they are often hardest to access.

Meanwhile, Slamtidote Inc., a Naarm (Melbourne)-based not-for-profit, champions poetry and music within ethnic, femme and queer communities. Known for its grassroots approach, the organisation runs open mics, workshops and self-published zines, all under a “pay what you can” model. Funds raised will directly support venue hire and printing costs, ensuring their events and publications remain accessible to the communities they serve.

The walk comes at a time when many artists and organisations continue to feel the impact of arts underfunding across Australia. For Birdgirl, the journey is both a protest and a platform, highlighting the systemic barriers that prevent many from participating in the arts, and advocating for a future where all stories have the opportunity to be heard.

As Birdgirl makes her way across the country, supporters are encouraged to follow the journey and contribute to the fundraising goal, helping turn each step into tangible support for communities that need it most.

Donate now via https://www.gofundme.com/f/birdgirls-walk-across-australia-for-access-to-the-arts