We began as an Indigenous performing arts company, and over time taking much of what we learned in that arena then transitioning to facilitative engagement around the often-difficult things to talk about.
At Natjul, we believe Margaret Mead was right when she said, 'never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world, indeed it's the only thing that ever has'.
Our philosophy when working with people around the often-difficult things to talk about is that, 'those who have to live with the outcomes should be the ones making the decisions'. Our practice is to remain decentred yet influential and solution focussed where possible. And while we encourage everyone to express themselves, and we try hard to ensure the often unheard have opportunity to be heard; our commitment to our engagement means we will raise, and at times challenge to make space for those difficult, often overlooked or seemingly too hard to deal with subjects to be acknowledged and discussed if they are important pieces to an outcome. |
Didgeri and Birlinka men's engagement regional and remote:
Natjul 2024
Continuing from December 2023, Didgeri; previously facilitated over six years will again invite Indigenous Australian men to meet each fortnight in Brisbane, learn the didgeridoo and share space and time together, finding support's and comaraderie as Indigenous men. This is an unfunded, drug free, alcohol-free initiative; simply people in a community supporting each other. Birlinka. Over past years Natjul - Anthony Newcastle have delivered Birlinka, a method for engagement among Indigenous Australian men to stop and reduce domestic and family violence in regional and remote areas. In 2024, we will continue this work in partnership with an international development agency, and a north Queensland domestic violence intervention agency among four regional and remote areas in Queensland. Grief and Loss - Remembering Conversations. Some of the regional and remote communities we work among have very little available in-community, in-person supports for people who have experienced grief and loss. In 2022, and 2023, Natjul partnered with local elders (unfunded) in one remote community to grow the idea of grief and loss gatherings as 'remembering conversations' around the person(s) lost to us. As a result of these group conversations, in 2024, Anthony Newcastle - Natjul and elders on two communities will host regularly scheduled Grief and Loss Remembering Conversations and will support the development and facilitation of the 'Grief and Loss - Remembering Conversations' framework to mentor and support local people to have grief and loss support conversations in their own communities. |
"From what I saw, people came thinking they were going to be told something - again, then as Natjul used the theatre and facilitation method they use, a change came over people when they realised they - the community - were being asked what they thought were the main issues for them in their community, then asked what they themselves thought they could do to overcome those"
Luana - Sydney, NSW
"From what I saw, people came thinking they were going to be told something - again, then as Natjul used the theatre and facilitation method they use, a change came over people when they realised they - the community - were being asked what they thought were the main issues for them in their community, then asked what they themselves thought they could do to overcome those"
Luana - Sydney, NSW