Shortly after the new year rang in, our teams were back to work delivering programming and activities to support the children and young people of our four partner communities.

As our Palm Island team offered support and relief to their community which was battered by a tropical storm, our staff in our other communities delivered another hugely successful school holiday program. This provided children and young people with fun, pro-social activities in safe and supported environments and, importantly, filled their bellies with nutritious and delicious food. It warmed my heart to travel to Wurrumiyanga in February to officially launch the Murrup-Orange Sky laundry, which is delivering a free washing service to the whole community. And I’m so proud that our Woorabinda team is delivering even greater impact in the Bill Thaiday Centre (you can read more about these below). It has been such a joy to watch our Neighbourhood Support stream grow from strength to strength.

Another highlight has been seeing the growth of the Strong Transitions program, which is now operating in three of our four partner communities. This program is providing young people with the tools and assets they need to successfully transition into a life of their choosing.

Of course, our school-based programs continue to support children and young people thrive in their education journey, and we congratulate all the students for their efforts in Term 1, and thank our partner schools for all their support.

Wishing you and your families a safe and happy school holiday period.

Shellee Strickland CEO Murrup

Improving community health, one load at a time

Murrup has partnered with Orange Sky Australia to provide free washing and drying facilities in Wurrumiyanga.

A specially fitted van, equipped with three hot-water washers and three dryers, rotates throughout the week to different locations around the community, serving about 1,400 community members.

The laundry truck offers local people a safe space to do their washing for free. And, the partnership with Murrup has provided employment opportunities for local community members. The service also serves as a point of community connection, and facilitates referral pathways to health and other service agencies.

The initiative supports skin health and aims to reduce rheumatic heart disease and other serious health conditions, particularly for those with compromised immune systems.

Murrup CEO Shellee Strickland said chronic health issues such as scabies, crusted scabies, and impetigo cause significant distress in many remote First Nations communities.

‘This not only impacts the entire community but also creates additional barriers for children and young people, making it harder for them to thrive in school and beyond,’ she said.

‘Being able to wash clothing and bedding using the free laundry facilities, will provide a solutions-based approach to these issues.’

In the first day of operation, the laundry service did 50 loads of washing and, in a two-week period, more than 15% of households in Wurrumiyanga had used the service.

Investing in our staff; strengthening our practice

Thirty staff gathered from Murrup’s four partner communities on Wurundjeri Country in Naarm as part of Murrup’s workforce learning and development program.

Staff received training in practice excellence, workshopped solutions for their communities and explored data and theory to inform program design. They also forged connections, shared knowledge and engaged in storytelling.

The energy and vision sparked during these sessions will continue to evolve and strengthen our programming, and lay the foundation for continued success and positive change.

This symposium is part of a comprehensive learning and development strategy that we have employed to upskill and empower our staff.

Empowering youth to thrive through Strong Transitions

Murrup’s Strong Transitions program breaks down the barriers and obstacles that young people face when transitioning into life after school, by guiding them towards greater independence and opportunity. And the program has got off to a flying start in 2025 in Woorabinda.

Nine young people have obtained essential identification documents, including their birth certificates, Medicare cards, bank cards, and even their learner licences.

The program is also operating with strength in Wurrumiyanga and Palm Island.

Community unites to raise awareness and end violence

Murrup led a community movement against violence at the Unite Against Violence event in Wurrumiyanga in February.

The event brought together key stakeholders, including service providers, police, community leaders, and local community members, to discuss strategies for addressing domestic and family violence. It also provided a platform for open discussions, shared experiences, and a collective commitment to creating a safer environment for everyone.

Murrup’s Wyndell Puruntatameri, who initiated the event, expressed the urgent need to address the issue facing his community.

‘It's something that needs to be stopped around here; it's been going on for ages now.’

You can read more about the event HERE

Confidence and connection for girls and sistagirls in Wurrumiyanga 🌟

A program in Wurrumiyanga is proving to be transformative for girls and sistagirls.

The Yangali program, which takes its name from the Tiwi word for young women, combines personal development with self-care, wellness, friendship, communal connection and food in a safe, nurturing space.

The program also fosters supportive relationships, strengthens the girls' bonds and connects them to community resources that support their well-being and journey into womanhood.

And this is translating into increased confidence, more engagement with other group activities, stronger social networks, and the ability to better integrate better into school and community life.

Training for our HIPPY team

Murrup’s HIPPY team, Tiara Friday and Derri Burns (pictured with Queensland Program Manager Mercedes Reed), travelled to Melbourne to take part in HIPPY coordinator training.

HIPPY, which stands for Home Interaction Program for Parents and Youngsters, is delivered in Palm Island in partnership with the Brotherhood of St Laurence and is designed to empower parents and carers of three and four-year-olds to be part of their child’s early learning.

The training provided a great opportunity to connect with other HIPPY programs, and to practice the content so the team can adapt it for Palm Island families.

Shop your support with our new handcrafted range

The latest offering from the Murrup Shop is a beautiful collection of authentic weaving pieces, handcrafted in Wurrumiyanga. Choose from earrings, necklaces and intricate baskets.

Each one-of-a-kind piece carries the rich cultural traditions and artistry of its makers, and comes with information about the artist.

One hundred per cent of the purchase price goes directly to the artist and supports women in remote First Nations communities.

The pieces would make a beautiful gift, addition to your home or wardrobe, or Mothers’ Day gift. ✨

SHOP YOUR SUPPORT

Stretching our wings in Woorabinda

Murrup has expanded its footprint in Woorabinda, going from one room at the Bill Thaiday Centre, to occupying the whole building.

The building, which is named in honour of the late Bill Thaiday, a respected First Nations leader, advocate, and role model who dedicated his life to fighting for the rights and recognition of First Nations peoples, will serve as Murrup’s community youth hub.

The space will provide individual areas for each program and act as a safe and welcoming environment for the community.

A gathering in early February was a wonderful way to bring the community together, and to celebrate our continued investment in the children and young people of Woorabinda.

Welcoming Simone and Ikanau to our Wurundjeri Office

As part of Murrup’s workforce and development program, two of our community-based staff - Simone Munkara and Ikanau Conway - have relocated to Melbourne to spend 12 months embedded in our Wurundjeri office.

During their time in Naarm, they will be a part of the new Learning and Development team. Their job will consist of assessing the training needs of staff in our partner remote communities, developing and facilitating training and ensuring they have the skills and support to best serve their communities.

Have you explored our Murrup collection yet?

Every purchase directly helps Murrup to deliver programs in our four partner communities, with 100% of profits going towards supporting children and young people, and their families.

Join us on our journey - your support helps turn our vision into reality.

SHOP YOUR SUPPORT