Biography

Resonant poet, Robbie Batzke, made his poetic debut in 2016 at the State Library of Victoria in The Malthouse’s Native Dignity as part of the inaugural Blak & Bright Festival. A proud Miriam Torres Strait Islander man originally from Cairns but now based in Melbourne, is the founding director of Soul4GIVE, a not-for-profit Indigenous advocacy for the advancement of Indigenous wellbeing. Robbie has previously acted as artistic director for musical events in Queensland and provided music management for various performing artists. He now shares his story and social views through the medium of spoken word and poetry. Other recent performance engagements include a special feature alongside wife, Wiradjuri Soprano Shauntai Batzke at the Yalukit Willam Ngargee Festival, St Kilda Festival 2017.