Activism, Events, & Us
Roxxi’s Tattoo uses social platforms, big mouths, a bit of swagger, a touch of clout, and on-point collaborations with like minded radical people to assist in raising much needed funds and awareness for charitable organisations, grassroots crews, and activists who also amplify marginalised voices. We raise our energy for those who need it most!
Roxxi’s Tattoo acknowledges that we make a living on Aboriginal land, and that sovereignty was never ceded. This is our way of paying our gratitude and recognition forward.
Solidarity
Invasion Day
Paying the rent feels natural to us, and important because of the land and history of where we conduct our business. Before we set up shop on Johnston Street, Roxxi’s originated on Gertrude Street in Fitzroy – a meeting place for Mob – then, now, and into the future – but especially between the 60s and the 80s, when people were trying to trace their families after the Stolen Generations. So, it’s an honour to work here, on this land. Paying the rent simply honours the sovereignty of First Nations Australians.
Colette and met with Kristy Dickinson, a Wiradjuri woman and creator of the wildly popular statement-making jewellery Haus of Dizzy, Like stars colliding, an instant and passionate collaboration was borne. This powerhouse brand’s IG clout and incredible energy helped connect us to thousands of like-minded people.
Tattooing on Invasion Day isn’t tokenistic to us and we’ve always proudly shown up: we’ve stocked merch from Clothing the Gaps, and sell Black Flag t-shirts. We hung a picture of Uncle Archie Roach and a poster recognising First Nations people as the traditional custodians of this land in the front window, hosted benefit gigs with Virus Sound System and donated the funds to community via Black Rainbow (positive health and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+SB community) and Change The Record (End imprisonment of Indigenous youth and children, raise the age!)
Or mob-only tattoo flash sheet includes the Aboriginal flag, has included the Māori flag as well as showing our solidarity with the people of Palestine. Each moment of the day is a conversation, because the idea of opening our doors on Invasion Day leads to a lot of talk, but conversation starters are a deadly way to chat to the wider community about the diversity and history of Australia – Blak history.
The Roxxi’s Poolroom clan take the leap and put themselves out there publicly. The online response is always overwhelmingly heartfelt, and although a few people decide to flex negative comments on our social media, most offer us support and thanks.
The first year we tattooed mob was insane, overwhelming – and incredible! At 9am The Southern Warriors Motorcycle Club got tattooed and we stood tall with our Aboriginal community on Gertrude Street to send them off to rally in the CBD. What an honour.
Mob show up to Roxxi’s to get tattooed on Invasion Day. The first year we stayed open until 1am: conversations were had, tears were shed, hugs were shared.
If you are First Nations person – see you on so called Australian Day. What we refer to as Invasion Day.
BARKAA LISTENING PARTY - FK OFF LIVE NATION
From venues to festivals closing down it’s time we spoke out! Four Corners revealed who is maximising the profit to be had and who is killing the vibe!
Musicians have been too afraid to speak out in fear of their career and life being jeopardised. So, join the ABC tonight (and I’m sure you can jump on later) to hear what Avanti Dias reports. Key players in the industry are shouting loud, including our homegirl, BARKAA and it was fitting Barkaa got to TALK HER SHIT while hanging out at ROXXI’S POOLROOM. Mum and Dad, we were on TV.
Roxxi’s Poolroom once hosted a ticket agency, ROXXTIX. It become big, why wouldn’t promoters want to use a ticketing agency who supports community and culture: Live music, raves, sound-system culture, stand-up comedy, burlesque, theatre, underground electronica, sound baths, festivals and more. ROXXTIX was designed to represent it all while paying it back, fair and square. ROXXTIX contributed to grassroots organisations and the money was dished out to those who needed it the most.
Alas, ROXXTIX was put to bed for a while due to ticketing agency fees costing a lifetime of smokes and tinnies. We had to stop giving (rather than taking) from the music industry. The Roxxi gang, along with VIRUS SOUNDSYSTEM decided to leave it for another time and capitalism continues to thrive (gross).
ROXXTIX was direct activism! And so was Barkaa getting LAND BACK tattooed on her hands while our tattooer wore a FREE PALESTINE cap while being filmed by the ABC. Love my people!
Gaza Cola at Roxxi’s
Roxxi’s Tattoo is stoked to be stocking Gaza Cola.
Caffeinated soft drinks have always been part of tattoo culture, keeping artists moving through long sessions and helping clients who suddenly need a hit of sugar mid-tattoo. But after years of personally boycotting Coke, seeing it slowly creep back into daily life at the shop on a summers day never sat right. I figured we could do better.
Gaza Cola is Palestinian-owned and reinvests profits back into Palestinian communities. Think of it as a genocide-free alternative for your caffeinated cravings, with proceeds supporting humanitarian aid and the rebuilding of essential infrastructure, including hospitals.
At Roxxi’s, 100% of profits we receive from every Gaza Cola sold will be donated to the Gaza Soup Kitchen, an incredible grassroots organisation doing vital work on the ground.
So whether you need a sugary pick-me-up, a pre or post-tattoo beverage, or you’re simply thirsty for change, swing by Roxxi’s and grab a Gaza Cola.
And yes, the Sugar Free absolutely slaps too.
NAIDOC WEEK 2026
Every year during NAIDOC Week, Roxxi’s Tattoo releases a new flash sheet available exclusively to Mob. Each design is inspired and created by an important Aboriginal person from our community and extended network. We simply bring those ideas to skin.
This year, we’re honoured to feature designs by local Queen of Bling, Kristy Dickinson of Haus is Dizzy, a proud and deadly Wiradjuri woman.
Her artwork forms the heart of this year’s flash sheet, and we’re grateful to collaborate with her in bringing these designs to life.
These tattoos are offered for $100 during NAIDOC Week, despite normally being priced between $250–$300. This is available to all First Nations people, regardless of income, status or circumstance. It’s one small way we acknowledge that we live, work and make a living on Aboriginal land. While we pay rent and land tax to governments, we also recognise the truth that this land was never willingly surrendered. Sovereignty was never ceded. We see this as one small act of paying respect, paying gratitude, and paying our rent in the only way we know how, through our craft.
In previous years we’ve offered a pay-it-forward option, allowing people to contribute towards tattoos for Mob. While the generosity has always been appreciated, we’d now encourage anyone wanting to give back to instead donate directly to people and families experiencing crisis, or to Aboriginal-led community organisations doing important work.
We also continue to offer free tattoos to Mob on January 26, so called Australia Day, to us, Invasion Day, as another way of standing in solidarity.
Roxxi’s Tattoo acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and create. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and recognise that sovereignty was never ceded.
Always Was. Always Will Be. Aboriginal Land.
Where the money goes
Grassroots Support
Sisters Inside
Complex factors lead to women and girls’ entering and returning to prison. Criminalisation is usually the outcome of repeated and intergenerational experiences of violence, poverty, homelessness, child removal and unemployment, resulting in complex health issues and substance use.
First Nations women and girls are massively over-represented in prison due to the racism at the foundation of systems of social control.
Roxxi’s donates a tener a week towards the FIVE TO FREE HER Sisters Inside campaign and we encourage for you to stand in solidarity too.
Change The Record
Change the Record runs entirely on donations – not government funding – to power the incredible work they do.
Roxxi’s Poolroom Tattooshop, along with Virus Sound System, felt privileged and proud to be able to donate a tidy sum to CHANGE THE RECORD. Thank you to all our awesome mates and clients who came to our benefit gig.
Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASCR)
For 23 years, ASRC has been a lifeline for people seeking asylum, in fact ASCR are Australia’s largest human rights organisation
The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Is a not-for-profit organisation who runs amazing programs to support and empower people seeking asylum to maximise their own physical, mental and social wellbeing.
They also actively expose the cruelty of our nation’s inhumane refugee policies.
Volunteers and donations are becoming more difficult to attain due to the increasing cost of living, let’s change that!
Black Rainbow
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+SB people deserve to thrive and enjoy quality of life through whole-of-community acceptance and love and live free from discrimination and have access to positive wellbeing.
Black Rainbow bring community engagement, partnerships, better health, stronger mental health, togetherness, strength of advocacy, representation and quality of life to the table every day and through Roxxi’s Poolroom tidy donation – we were able to support this!