Roselle Tenefrancia

Roselle Tenefrancia is a Filipino-Australian multidisciplinary artist, community connector, and social advocate living and working on the lands of the Kombumerri people (Gold Coast). With a background in communication, human rights and law, she has utilised various creative forms – theatre, drawing, singing, dancing, writing, and poetry – to educate and empower marginalised communities. Born and raised in the Philippines, Roselle earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Juris Doctor degrees and worked in the alternative law sector before migrating to Australia in 2012. She has since established herself in the local community, using her art and community practice to promote diversity, inclusivity, and social justice.

Roselle’s community initiatives include her Art+Potluck Project, which brings people together through food and art, and her involvement in the Multicultural Queensland Advisory Council and the Palm Beach Neighbourhood Centre Management Committee. She has written and directed two theatre plays that reflect contemporary Filipino-Australian culture, and continues to write and perform poetry in English and Filipino. Her personal research focuses on decolonisation and multiculturalism, and she is passionate about promoting human rights and culture, especially among the youth, diasporic communities, and marginalised groups. Roselle’s vision is a society that embraces and finds strength in the differences of each member of the community, amplifying the collective contributions of people from diverse backgrounds and abilities