We have now successfully developed and launched the Awabakal Seasonal Calendar - an online digital interactive resource and educational resource for use by community. 

Funded in partnership with Create NSW and Newcastle Libraries (City of Newcastle). 

The Awabakal Language Team was able to acquire funding through AusPost's People of Post Grantt to deliver Awabakal Language Merchandise to the Community through NAIDOC Week to raise awareness of the Awabakal Language and the work we do within it.

We were able to design and deliver several products to the community, free of charge throughout the numerous NAIDOC events we attended.

Miromaa partnered with public art consultancy The Creative Ingredient to provide the content and design of the Tiddalik story for Scentre Group Ltd to be installed at Westfield Kotara Shopping Centre, next to the playground at The Rooftop.

Miromaa staff member and Awabakal woman Terri-Lee Darcy worked with Awabakal Elder Aunty Phyllis Darcy, and Aboriginal artist and linguist Donna Gayford McLaren to provide the images and words for the installation. 

The artwork - made of a sheet of laser cut stainless steel in front of a sheet of Corten steel - was launched to of a happy crowd of Newcastle Primary School students where Aunty Phyllis and Terri-Lee told the story of 'Tiddalik The Greedy Frog'.

Carrying on from the Awabakal Seasonal Calendar, Miromaa and the Awabakal Language Program is currently working to develop the Awabakal Mapping Project.

The aim is to build an interactive map of the Newcastle/Lake Macquarie region for community to use and understand important locations and sites around Awabakal Country.

We aim to launch by the end of 2024.

Aboriginal language is an oral tradition, so it is logical for the Awabakal Language Program and Miromaa Aboriginal Language & Technology Centre (MALTC) to develop a podcast channel focusing on understanding Aboriginal Language.

The first series of eight episodes are hosted by the Awabakal Language Program language researchers and educators, interviewing respected, experienced Aboriginal language representatives from the state and nation.

The project is in its early stage of planning - so keep visiting this page to follow our progress.

Funded in partnership with The Aboriginal Languages Trust (Department of Premier & Cabinet NSW)

City of Newcastle partnered with Miromaa Aboriginal Language and Technology Centre to create virtual reality experience: Niiarrnumber Burrai, or Our Country, transporting viewers back in time to when Awabakal and Worimi people lived traditionally within the local lands of Newcastle.

Funded in partnership with the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, the project also involved assistance from Aboriginal linguist Donna McLaren, the University of Newcastle, Wylaa Buuranliyn and Virtual Perspective.

Using a virtual reality headset or a smart phone, the Niiarrnumber Burrai, or Our Country, video immerses the viewer in Newcastle's landscape prior to European settlement with Elder characters sharing knowledge of their significant places, their traditional names and cultural stories. The video's two Elders are voiced by Worimi man Luke Russell as Wayila (Black Cockatoo) and Awabakal woman and Miromaa staff member Terri-Lee Darcy as Buuyaan (Bellbird).

As part of 2018 NAIDOC Week's opening celebrations, Niiarrnumber Burrai / Our Country was launched. The VR package launch followed the trial of the first of eight interactive signs that will be placed at these locations to increase the visibility and usage of dual names.

Available for download from Council's YouTube channel.**

**For best viewing experience use on the YouTube app with VR headset such as Google Cardboard, Google Daydream, Samsung Gear and Oculus Go. For desktop viewing watch using Chrome, Firefox, MS Edge, and Opera Browsers.