Moriarty Foundation is creating a future where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people thrive. We embrace the Aboriginal worldview to transcend intergenerational disadvantage. We are a 100% Deductible Gift Recipient, Public Benevolent Institution.

The emotional, psychological and physical health of the children in our programs is our frontline. We support parents, families and communities to unlock their children's potential."

Ros Moriarty, Founder & Co-Chair, Executive Director

Bajirru

Moriarty Foundation was established in 2012 by Yanyuwa man John Moriarty AM, a prominent Aboriginal leader and Ros Moriarty, a highly respected business and social impact leader, at the request of senior Aboriginal Law women in Borroloola, a remote community in the Gulf of Carpentaria, Northern Territory, who wanted to see their grandchildren educated.

We believe by embracing the Aboriginal Worldview, our community-led programs can create opportunities and transcend intergenerational disadvantage so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children thrive.

(pictured L-R Jemima Miller Wuwarlu, Marjorie Keighran, and Dinah Norman Marrngawi)

Bajirru in Yanyuwa language means, “there you all are, hello”, as spoken by families in Borroloola, Gulf of Carpentaria, NT.

Community co-designed and led

Moriarty Foundation is an Aboriginal-established, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) led by community voices and strong local relationships and guided by a commitment to compassion and equity.

Our programs are co-designed and led by our Community Advisory Groups (CAGs): local leaders, elders, traditional owners, families and team members who are engaged regularly, to guide and advocate for the program.

This place-based model enables us to anticipate, plan and respond in real-time to community needs and locally-identified challenges. This human-centric model has flow-through impacts from child-level through to families, coaches, schools, communities and intergenerationally, supporting broader shifts in social outcomes for communities.

Our approach

Our holistic and integrated programs close gaps in education, health, wellbeing and employment so Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children can transcend disadvantage.

Delivered through an Aboriginal Worldview that celebrates, nurtures and respects cultural identity, traditions and connection to Country, our underpinning framework is based on improved wellbeing and strong protective relationships for the staff, children, families and communities we work with.

We place the child at the centre, the family around the child, the community around the family and the nation around the community.

Our focus

Nurturing key attachment relationships: parent to child, child to elder, child to local staff, local staff to head office staff.

Supporting improved educational outcomes: supporting children to be school ready and motivating them to stay engaged with their education.

Providing a foundation for better life expectancy: influencing physical activity levels, health literacy and nutrition.

Creating safe spaces: engaging vulnerable young people with positive role models.

Delivering through an Aboriginal worldview: supporting children to be strong in family, community and culture for their wellbeing.

Creating life-changing opportunities: supporting children and youth to determine their own future and building pathways to higher and vocational education and the workforce.

Our affiliate

Moriarty Foundation is an affiliate of Australia’s leading agency for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public art, design, strategy and engagement on major projects.

An Aboriginal-owned business founded in 1983 on Yanyuwa traditions, and based in Sydney, Balarinji’s interdisciplinary work comes from authentic engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culture, art, stories and identity towards design and artistic excellence.

VISIT BALARINJI

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