First Nations Workshops
Connecting Culture, Learning, and Community
At Younga Yarns, our First Nations Workshops invite educators, students, and community members to experience Aboriginal culture in a respectful, engaging, and authentic way.
We work in partnership with schools, kindergartens, and organisations to share deep knowledge of Aboriginal history, lore, language, and people.
Education is the path to reconciliation.
Through these workshops, we aim to nurture cultural identity, respect, and understanding — creating spaces where every learner can connect with Country and community.
Early Learning and Playgroup Sessions (Ages 3–8)
Our early learning workshops are hands-on, sensory, and story-rich. They are designed to introduce Aboriginal language, art, and Country to younger children in age-appropriate ways.
Playgroup Storytime Sessions
Children sing familiar songs with Yuwi words, hear Dreaming stories, and learn about animal behaviour and connection to Country.
Activities include:
Emu Playtime: Create emu crowns using real feathers and learn about the emu’s life and significance.
Ochre Painting: Crush and paint with natural ochre while learning the meaning behind Aboriginal symbols.
Hunting and Animals: Explore tools such as nulla nullas and animal skins to understand hunting traditions.
Early Years Program (Kindy – Year 2)
Four 30-minute sessions designed for foundational learning:
Introduction to Language: Animal names, Dreaming stories, and family names.
Show and Tell: Hands-on exploration of artefacts such as dilly bags and wooden tools.
No Shops Around: Songs and stories about food gathering and bush medicine.
Let’s Get Creative: Artmaking using ochre, seeds, emu feathers, and Aboriginal flag symbolism.
Interactive Workshops for Schools and Adults
Each of these sessions runs for one hour and can be tailored for primary, secondary, or community learning.
Bush Medicine Talk: Discover native plants and their healing uses, including soap bush and other traditional ingredients.
Bush Food Tasting: Taste Lemon Myrtle tea and learn how Aboriginal people sourced nutrition from the land.
Artefacts and Tools: Handle stone and wooden artefacts and learn sustainable resource collection techniques.
Weaving Workshop: Create your own woven item using traditional techniques.
Fire-Making Workshop: Learn traditional fire-starting practices and their cultural meaning.
Ochre Crushing and Painting: Experience the preparation and use of ochre in ceremony, storytelling, and art.
Educational Presentations
Designed for primary, secondary, and adult learning audiences, these talks bring Aboriginal history and perspectives into the classroom:
Law vs. Lore: Understanding Native Title and Cultural Heritage.
Local History: Mackay’s Aboriginal history, including reserves and significant events.
Kinship and Totems: Exploring Aboriginal family systems and identity.
Resin Yarns: Learning about resin and natural materials in cultural life.
Wayfinding and Borders: How First Nations peoples navigated Country.
Wellness and Professional Development Sessions
Our Wellness Workshops combine cultural awareness, mindfulness, and creative expression.
Soap Making Workshop: Create natural soaps while learning about Aboriginal medicinal plants and healing practices.
Weaving Workshop: Use ancient weaving techniques to calm the mind and foster focus.
Tasting Session: Experience the flavours of Country through First Nations-inspired foods.
Embedding First Nations Knowledge: Practical training for educators to bring Aboriginal perspectives into classrooms.
Native Garden Consultation
Local native gardens or so important to the ecological systems and we love love love talking trees!! First Nations Information on the plants will also be shared on the uses of the plants that can be displayed for future learning! We can also do a planting session with the young people explaining to them and the educators or even families! We guide educators and children in creating thriving local native gardens while teaching the cultural uses of native plants.
Cultural Awareness and Embedding First Nations Knowledge
- Educator Cultural Awareness Sessions Time: 1.5 hour
- Embedding First Nations Knowledge in Classrooms Time: 1 hours
Bookings and Enquiries
To book a session or discuss custom workshop options, please visit our Contact Page or email our team directly.
All programs can be tailored to suit schools, community groups, and corporate learning environments.
First Nations Walk-n-Talk
Take learning outside with our First Nations Walk-n-Talk experiences.
Walk alongside local Yuwi Custodians to learn about Country, seasonal changes, and the stories of the land.
Explore our First Nations Walk-n-Talk page for full details.