What an exciting, intense and fulfilling year it has been, full of big wins, busy schedules and so much connection.
As Murawin’s 10th year in business, 2024 has seen us continue to create impact through our work – providing our clients with high quality services and communities with culturally safe, Country centered engagement, facilitation and advice/strategies. We’ve stuck to our values, methodologies and mission, realising the vision that both co-founders, Carol Vale and Greg McKenzie, had for Murawin. This commitment has ensured Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are involved in projects across the country from inception to completion and into the future, so that Country, Culture and Indigenous Knowledge are deeply embedded in the projects we work on.
Our staff have been hitting the road, traveling around the country for our projects, attending tradeshows and conferences and connecting with clients, Community and Country along the way.
We want to thank each and every one of our clients and all the community members we have engaged with throughout the year. It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside you this year and we can’t wait to re-connect in 2025.
Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year
At Supply Nation’s Connect 2024, our CEO & Co-founder Carol Vale took out the prestigious award for Indigenous Businesswoman of the Year and we could not be prouder. Carol’s vision, drive and determination is a constant source of inspiration within Murawin and we’re excited that she received this glowing recognition of her hard work and leadership.
“I plan on leveraging this platform to amplify even further First Nations women in business”
Carol Vale, CEO and Co-founder of Murawin
Tiddas in Business Wraps Up
In June this year our highly successful Tiddas in Business Program, supported by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, wrapped up after 3 years supporting First Nations female entrepreneurs in business. The program provided culturally appropriate mentorship that introduced entrepreneurial, business, and leadership skills and wellbeing practices to participants and was delivered by other Indigenous Businesswomen including Carol Vale, Kat Henaway, Leesa Watego, Michelle Deshong and Sarah Hyland.
“It’s been an empowering journey for me. I love being my own boss and working flexibly for my family needs.”
Program Participant
We want to thank and congratulate all our participants, facilitators and delivery team. The success of this program comes down to all your collective dedication, resilience and active participation.
Guwiyal | Connect. Reflect. Reignite
Guwiyal (Dunghutti for fire or flame) is a Country-centred retreat, providing an immersive experience for women who’ve dedicated decades to work and family, and are now seeking a meaningful, transformative experience to shape their future.
In March 2025, join highly experienced facilitators Carol Vale and Michelle Howard on beautiful Gumbayngirr/Anaiwan Country as they share their experiences and passion for working interculturally and building capacity for change and together create an experience that nourishes your sense of purpose and reignites your inner fire.
Look to Country to move forward
The year has also been one of reflection. The devastating no vote in the Voice to Parliament Referendum appears to have opened the flood gates to further back peddling on First Nations agendas. This can be seen in Queensland with the recent election of the LNP party who wasted no time in ceasing any Treaty progress and pausing the recently established Truth Telling Commission. Similarly in the Northern Territory where the CLP Party has brought the age of criminal responsibility back down to 10 years old, a change that disproportionally affects First Nations children and families.
Though truly disappointing, this news only reaffirms Murawin’s commitment to sustainable, long term systemic change. Even with these recent back steps, there has never been so many opportunities for embedding First Nations knowledge, experience and participation, particularly in infrastructure and construction where there is huge demand for authentic engagement of community and a real desire for projects to genuinely Connect with Country. This is perhaps also shaped by the recent passing of additional Environmental, Social, and Governance regulations which provide a framework for evaluating the sustainability and ethical impact of a company or investment, with First Nations issues high in this agenda.
At Murawin, we firmly believe in the power of the Indigenous Business Sector as a key driver in closing the gap and providing community, families and individuals with the opportunity to break cycles of economic disadvantage that will benefit all. We know this because it is part of our story.
In response to the need and desire for change, we have implemented Barri Marruma, our own signature Country-centric methodology that provides a constant anchoring to Country and ensures that our services are rooted in context, deep listening, participatory engagement, exploratory co-design and ambitious vision.
By centring Indigenous worldviews, this methodology creates space for the authentic representation and self-determination of First Nations Peoples, ensuring that the unique and diverse experiences of Indigenous Peoples and Communities are heard, honoured and integrated into the heart of our work.
Featured Projects
Healing Country and Building Totemic Practice Framework
Client: CSIRO
Service: Research & Evaluation
The framework was co-designed by Wakka Wakka Nation Elders, knowledge holders and community members, alongside Murawin and CSIRO. As a pilot project, the framework presents a model that other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nations can adopt and contextualise when looking to heal, and rebuild totemic practices with their Countries affected by mining activities.
Green Square Integrated Community Facilities & School Cultural Engagement and Heritage Report & Rooftop Artwork
Client: Department Of Education & City of Sydney
Service: Place Strategy
Murawin was engaged by the Department of Education with the City of Sydney to examine, interpret, present and represent Aboriginal heritage and culture across the design of the facility to ensure the first stories were being told, that the facilities are connected to Country and are welcoming spaces for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In addition, Murawin was engaged to invite an Aboriginal artist to create an artwork for installation to the school’s rooftop play area.
Murawin Updates Visual Identity
In March, to celebrate ten years of creating impact through our work, we rolled out a new look and feel for the consultancy that reflects our story, our approach, and our future and appropriately centres Country, culture, and community at the heart of everything we do.
The roll out included an updated Country-centric colour palette, an all-new website, videos and additional assets that transformed our deliverables to clients and community and better represented what Murawin is all about.
The year to come
As 2024 comes to a close, we have been reflecting on the year and the many wins and challenges we went through as a company, personally and as a community. We’re filled with pride at the achievements but also have moments of quiet reflection as we consider the current state of the world.
What we do know is that at Murawin we will always choose to be hopeful and continue our work facilitating intercultural collaboration by being the conduit between our clients and community and working to empower and advocate for Country, Community and Indigenous Knowledge to be embedded in all our work.
With many exciting projects already on the horizon, 2025 is looking to be another exciting year and we look forward to working with all our valued clients and communities again as well as making new connections, expanding our network and creating as much impact as possible.
So, thank you again to all our clients, to all our communities and to everyone we have had the pleasure of encountering in 2024.
Finally, in the lead up to the festive season, we encourage you to #BuyBlak this summer holidays and support First Nations businesses. Happy holidays to you all!
