Murawin’s Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing

Dec 14, 2023

Murawin, at it’s core, is a family business with a deeply held belief in, and commitment to our mission of ending cycles of disadvantage for First Nations and other marginalised communities. At the heart of family are children, which is why we have put in place an official Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy at Murawin. 

Statement of Commitment to Child Safety and Wellbeing at Murawin 

At Murawin, we are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all children and young people who access our services, programs and activities. We respect the rights, dignity and wellbeing of every child and young person, and we strive to protect them from any form of harm or abuse. We uphold the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and particularly our First Nations children and young people and we adhere to the relevant child protection legislation and standards in our operations. We recognise the diversity and cultural backgrounds of the children and young people we work with, and we ensure that our policies and practices are inclusive and respectful of their needs and preferences. We also value the input and feedback of children and young people, and we encourage them to participate in decision-making processes that affect them. We are committed to providing ongoing training and support to our staff and volunteers on child safety and wellbeing, and we foster a culture of accountability and transparency in our organisation. We have clear procedures for reporting and responding to any concerns or allegations of child harm or abuse, and we work collaboratively with relevant authorities and agencies to ensure the best outcomes for children and young people. We are committed to continuous improvement and review of our child safety and wellbeing practices, and we welcome any suggestions or feedback from our stakeholders and the community. 

“Children are not a distraction from more important work. They are the most important work.” – C.S. Lewis

BACKGROUND

Murawin, is a Dunghutti word which means “to be educated, and to be responsible with that education.”

It is about not only having the knowledge but knowing what to do with it and passing it on when the time is right. Education has always been a passion for both our co-founders and is at the heart of Murawin’s work facilitating intercultural learning, respect & collaboration.

 

Our logo is also steeped in meaning and symbolism,

merging professionalism with a contemporary flair while staying rooted in Country through stylised elements of waterways and river rocks. These elements, symbolising life, healing, and reconciliation in Indigenous culture, resonate with Murawin’s client-focused approach.

Originating from river Country in regional NSW, Murawin’s founders’ childhood experiences shaped the logo’s significance, reflecting their deep ties to family and Country. The river rocks signify Murawin’s enduring connection to Country and culture, chosen for their symbolism of strength and resilience akin to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. They also represent Murawin’s commitment to positive impact and intergenerational change. Notably, the eight rocks symbolise cofounder Carol Vale’s immediate family members, while the two lines in the logo signify the intertwining of cultures by our two co-founders, Carol and Greg.

VISUAL INDENTITY UPDATE

What we wanted to do was to better reflect Murawin’s story, goals, mission and values through a supporting look and feel that elevated our branding and centred Country, our story and our values.

To do this we started with an updated colour palette.

We wanted a natural colour palette that reflects Country

and gives people a calm and clear perspective just like when time is spent on Country. Simultaneously we wanted it to reflect the professional, rigorous and forward-thinking nature of our work.

Each colour had to be meaningful and tied to Murawin’s story, so we pulled the colours directly from images of Country in areas important to Murawin and its co-founders.

Wollomombi - brand colour

Meaning “the meeting of two water ways”, Wollomombi Falls sits almost side by side with Chandler falls just outside of Armidale. The two rivers come together at the bottom of the waterfalls to become one. It represents our co-founders coming together to form Murawin

Riverbank - primary colour

Represents the banks of the Macquarie River (and other key riverways important to Murawin’s story such as the Macleay)

Peppermint Gum - primary colour

Whenever visiting Armidale, Murawin’s co-founders would collect Peppermint Gum leaves.

Red River Gum - primary colour

Red river gum trees are a favourite tree of both Murawin’s co-founders

Darling River - secondary colour

The Darling River at Bourke is another important river in the Murawin story.

Gara Granite - secondary colour

The Gara River / Blue Hole is a special place to Carol’s family- they would visit a lot growing up

Bourke Sunset - secondary colour

This colour was pulled directly from a photo of a Bourke Sunset taken by our late co-founder Greg McKenzie

Another key piece we have woven throughout this new visual identity is the contrasting black and white to visually represent the intercultural nature of our work and our story.

This duality is an important feature in Murawin’s story and in our work as the conduit between clients and communities.

This colour palette intertwined with artistic elements and the Country-centric imagery that you see throughout our website, reinforces that Country, community and culture are at the heart of everything we do at Murawin.

We are proud to present this new visual identity to the public, our clients, and the communities we work with to better reflect our story, the work we do, and our vision for the future.