Sharing Our Stories of Collaboration
Across schools, communities, and organisations, our programs have connected people through story, culture, and creativity. We’ve invited our partners to share their experiences of working alongside Tiffany Hunter Studio and Nerdu Badji Education, highlighting the impact of art, mentorship, and cultural strength in action.
Nicola Parkinson, General Manager, Community Engagement & Programs, Melbourne United
We partnered with Tiffany on the design of Melbourne United’s 2023 Indigenous uniform, and in 2024 she led an Indigenous artwork activation at our Multicultural Festival.
Tiffany’s ability to authentically embed culture and storytelling into her work was outstanding. Her creativity, warmth, and respect for community shone through in every interaction.
The Indigenous uniform became a powerful symbol for our club’s values and community, creating pride and awareness around Indigenous culture. The festival activation offered fans a meaningful opportunity to engage with Indigenous art and stories, deepening their understanding and connection.
Tiffany’s approach is guided by cultural strength and authenticity, ensuring the work is not just visually striking but also deeply respectful and educational. She took time to engage us in the story behind the artwork, which added an extra layer of meaning for both our team and our fans.
Seeing our players wear the Indigenous uniform designed by Tiffany for the first time was an incredibly powerful moment. It was more than just a uniform—it represented connection, respect, pride and Melbourne United’s club values. At the festival, watching young fans interact with Tiffany’s artwork and learning about its cultural significance was equally memorable.
Working with Tiffany Hunter Studios is an inspiring and collaborative experience that brings culture, creativity, and community to life. Tiffany’s work not only delivers stunning artistic outcomes but also creates genuine opportunities for cultural connection, education, and community pride.
"Learning the difference between an Acknowledgement and a Welcome to Country was eye-opening."
Cultural Immersion Participant
"Tiff’s vulnerability and storytelling made the session incredibly powerful."
Cultural Immersion Participant
"Hearing about Tiff’s own family history helped me understand connection to Country in a deeper way."
Cultural Immersion Participant
Cass Chalmers, People, Capability and Inclusion Manager
Tiffany has conducted multiple NAIDOC Week awareness sessions for Fulton Hogan to empower and inform our staff to create and deliver their own authentic acknowledgements with confidence and cultural understanding. These workshops provided important context on the meaning and history of both Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country — why they are important to First Nations people, and the difference between the two. By understanding the connection to Country and its role in Aboriginal identity and community, participants were better equipped to reflect on their own allyship and take genuine steps towards cultural respect.
The authenticity of Tiffany’s storytelling and commitment to First Nations people stood out most, but also her commitment to feeling like she needed to get it right for us — and she did just that.
The goal of empowering staff to deliver authentic and meaningful Acknowledgements of Country was achieved. Ninety-five percent of participants reported that the session deepened their understanding of the difference between Welcome to Country and Acknowledgement of Country. By exploring the connection to Country and its role in Aboriginal identity and community, participants were able to reflect on their own allyship and role in building cultural respect. The workshop also helped share responsibility by naming and reducing the cultural load typically carried by First Nations people, providing insight and improving cultural understanding.
It felt personalised to our business and our stage of understanding and learning. The environment Tiffany created was a safe space — without judgement — to discuss how we, as non-Aboriginal people, can do better as allies and help take the cultural load from First Nations people.
From an individual perspective, I’ll never forget the immediate emotional response when our pasts connected in a small way, and the feeling I had standing next to Tiff reading out my own curated Acknowledgement to Country in front of my peers. From a business perspective, seeing our individual contributions to the final NAIDOC Week painting created ownership and pride among those who added their part to the artwork.
Working with Tiffany and NBE is inclusive, without judgement, and grounded in kindness. NBE provides what your business needs depending on its level of maturity in this space, always with genuine intent to develop teams and make workplaces safer and better for everyone.
“The workshop helped me realise how important it is to create a personal, meaningful Acknowledgement — not just read a script.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“I now understand the importance of connecting to Country with intention.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“I loved learning how to personalise my Acknowledgement by researching the Country I’m on.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
Luke Van Rijn, General Manager, Darebin Basketball Association
Tiffany has worked with us for several years, most recently designing our senior uniforms with artwork of hers. She created an amazing piece that depicted a story aligning with the Darebin community, which was on full display during the First Nations Round where our Indigenous uniforms showcased the artwork in full.
Tiffany is extremely genuine and passionate about her work and assisted me with everything along the way. It was a great experience working with her.
For us, it was about aligning our senior program with the values of the club, given our senior program was new. The outcome has been great, with recognition and engagement with the First Nations community local to us, including several events throughout the year that our athletes became involved in.
This was our first time working with an artist, but we have no desire to look elsewhere. The willingness to educate us along the way was exactly what we were looking for as we were starting new.
The overall story of the artwork Tiffany created is really the standout for me. It captured a great representation of our story so far and the pathway we were on.
Tiffany was extremely professional and engaging with our program and has been nothing but amazing over the several projects we’ve done with her. I would strongly recommend Tiffany given her commitment to what she does and the genuine feeling of appreciation for your time when working with her. She is extremely generous with her time and goes above and beyond.
“The space felt safe and without judgement — it helped me reflect on how to be a better ally.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“Such an informative and engaging session — I left feeling more confident and connected.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“The emotional connection I felt while writing my Acknowledgement surprised me in the best way.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
Andrew McCarthy, CEO, Victorian Group Training
We partnered with NBE through our First Nations traineeship program. While VGTC employs the trainees to our Host Employers, NBE has provided the trainees with dedicated cultural support and mentorship, helping them grow personally and professionally while completing their traineeship.
The professionalism, cultural respect, and genuine care that NBE brings to their work stood out the most. Their ability to balance strong cultural identity with practical training support was outstanding.
We’ve seen our First Nations trainees grow in confidence, develop valuable workplace skills, and feel a greater sense of belonging and pride in their cultural identity while undertaking their traineeships.
NBE’s approach is unique in that it combines strong cultural foundations with creativity and leadership development. This has given our trainees not just job skills, but also personal growth and resilience that will serve them throughout their careers.
Seeing our First Nations trainees grow in confidence through the mentorship of NBE has been incredibly powerful. They have drawn strength from cultural guidance while excelling in their roles, showing us how vital cultural support is to every part of the training journey.
Working with NBE has been a rewarding partnership built on trust, cultural respect, and a shared commitment to empowering First Nations trainees.
Yes, without hesitation, I would recommend their programs. This traineeship program not only achieves tangible results but also nurtures cultural identity and provides exceptional mentorship, making a meaningful impact for both trainees and the organisations they work with.
“Hearing real stories made everything land on a deeper, more human level.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“Fantastic presentation — one of the most engaging sessions I’ve attended.”
Cultural Immersion Participant
“This workshop unlocked something for me. I’ll be approaching Acknowledgement very differently now.”
Cultural Immersion Participant