NSW Treasury releases First Nations Women’s Economic Participation Review: Pathways to Prosperity  

Feb 9, 2024

In August the NSW Treasury released the First Nations Women’s Economic Participation Review: Pathways to Prosperity. As a First Nation’s and female co-founded and led company, Murawin is deeply invested in the topics discussed within this document and commend the NSW Government for this first step into researching and dissecting the multi-faceted reasons behind the disproportionate gap seen between First Nations and non-Indigenous women’s economic participation in NSW. 

Prosperity is a word that can mean different things to different people and cultures, and it is refreshing to see it defined within this document as more than just economic wealth but in a fuller, more expansive, and well-rounded sense that is “broader than just economic, its social and cultural and interlinked with wellbeing.”* 

“Everyone having enough and there being enough for everyone.” * 

The document outlines many stark statistics in relation to First Nations health, home ownership, employment, education, incarceration and more, whilst acknowledging how all these issues are interlinked and products of colonisation, dispossession, racism, and cultural differences. It also acknowledges and outlines key themes of “self-determination, sustainability and independence” that came out of extensive community consultation as pathways forward to prosperity for First Nations women, families, and communities. 

It has long been our view at Murawin that one of the key levers we can pull to close the gap and lessen the cycles of disadvantage that we see in our communities, is to empower our young women and girls to achieve their entrepreneurial, business, and educational goals. We know (and it is backed up in this document) that if we ensure First Nations women are empowered to have financial freedom, as key caregivers, this will have a broader positive affect not only on themselves as individuals, but on their children, family, and community at large. 

“Employment can dramatically change the life of not only a woman, but also her family.” * 

 Supporting an Indigenous woman with her business, provides her with the opportunity to generate wealth and economically empowers her, her children, her family, and community. This is why we started Tiddas in Business, a program that provides Indigenous women with a range of tools to help build and grow their businesses through intensive, culturally appropriate training, workshops, mentoring, networking and leadership development. Tiddas in Business supports Indigenous women to become economically empowered, so that they can become a driver of change for their families and contribute to closing the gap in Indigenous economic disadvantage. 

 We are also invested in supporting our young girls in a holistic manner, through the transition between primary and secondary, to obtain a well-rounded education including formal education and schooling, as well as cultural and community education, as it goes hand in hand. It is about building their confidence, self-belief and equip them with the tools to succeed in life, in whatever way they choose.

“First Nations people thrive when self-determination is at play.” * 

 At Murawin we always choose hope and positivity. It is exciting to see others working towards the mission of ending cycles of disadvantage that affect Indigenous people in this country and doing it in a way that is respectful, collaborative and in consultation with the communities it effects. It is only through large scale systems change, alongside self-determination and community led approaches, that we will see the changes we so desperately want and need.  

We encourage everyone to read the full document below and hope to see this approach followed through on by the NSW government. 

*All quotes taken from the “First Nations Women’s Economic Participation Review: Pathways to Prosperity“ https://www.treasury.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/trp23-05_first-nations-womens-economic-participation-review_pathways-to-prosperity.pdf  

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.