This episode of the Picnic Podcast Sessions was recorded online with Lusi & Oumi both residing on Wiradjuri/Wiradyuri Country (Lusi in Cowra and Oumi in Griffith). It was recorded a few months prior to this being published but life happened! Although belated in getting this out into the world, it is a joy to listen back to this conversation had with my friend Oumi – Lusi x

ABOUT OUMI:

Oumi Karenga-Hewitt is a Burundian-born, British writer, director, impact producer and community advocate based on Wiradyuri Country in Griffith NSW. With a background in marketing, digital content, and community engagement she has spent the last 10 years in regional Australia applying her practice to community arts. Oumi is vice-chair of Western Riverina Arts, a regional arts development organisation under Regional Arts NSW. She was selected for the 2024 Screenworks Regional Producer Elevator Program and more recently, Diversity Arts Australia’s Shifting the Balance Leadership Program.

In 2023, Oumi co-produced a regionally-shot film, Lords of the Soil, which premieres in Griffith this November. Also in 2023, Oumi coordinated the inaugural Griffith Screen Industry Forum which featured guest speakers from Screen Australia, Screenworks, Screen NSW, EndemolShine Australia, ABC, and Media Mentors Australia. Oumi was the Stage Manager for TEDxWagga Wagga 2023, and Curator of TEDxGriffith 2024. Oumi was selected as a teaching artist for NIDA Connect – delivering Acting and Writing for Performance workshops for regional young people.

Oumi’s script, “When All Is Said and Done”, was selected as a finalist in the Voices of Women Short Film & Script Festival 2025 and she has also been published in print and online across fiction and non-fiction. A passionate performer, Oumi completed her directorial debut with Griffith Regional Theatre’s 2025 production of Mamma Mia! in September 2025.

SHOW MENTIONS & SHOUT OUTS:

* Learn more about Diversity ArtsHERE.

* To learn more about the Frontier Wars, as mentioned in this episode by Oumi, you can read THIS SBS ARTICLE HERE about it (distressing content warning is given on the page).

* Dhuluny Project [Bathurst] 2024 was a series of events and works commemorating 200 years since martial law was declared on Aboriginal people in Bathurst. Learn more HERE.

* Although we didn’t write this, I found this article online listing things NOT to say to a person of colour. You can read it HERE.

* Go HERE to try making Oumi’s delicious sombe recipe.

Thanks again Oumi for sharing your time with me, for opening up your heart and discussing your vibrant lived experience with us all. Thank you for your patience in me getting this episode to air.

Logo: Lusi Austin

Intro/Outro Music: Lusi Austin

Mentoring: Kris Schubert

Audio Sound-boarding Assistance: Shane Kerr & Nigel Christensen

Funding and Project Support:Diversity Arts Australia – Shifting the Balance Stage 2 Leadership Program

A full transcript PDF of this episode can be found on our Substack.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit lusiaustin.substack.com