Testimonials | Tjungu Project

We also had the opportunity to share our own stories and take the steps to deepen the connection within ourselves and with each other as we came together as a newly formed team. We reaffirmed our values and challenged them from a very different perspective. We were also taught some of the leadership lessons that have kept Anangu culture strong for all those years.

Such an experience is difficult to describe in words as it touched each of us on a very deep and special level. The generosity, warmth, trust and beautiful humanity in the way the family shared their proud story with us was both deeply humbling and inspiring.

Each of us now carry a profound respect and responsibility towards Aṉangu that will remain a precious part of each of us. There are no words in our language that can express the gratitude and the way our hearts, minds and souls were moved by our experience.

Matt Foster
General Manager, Royal Canin

We completely 'switched off' all devices and disconnected from the outside world for the week so that we could fully immerse ourselves in this experience. We were able to learn about and connect with this sacred culture. We spent time on values, tradition, and storytelling.

As a HR professional, this was a lesson in real-life succession planning and the importance of intentionality when thinking about the culture you want to create and leave behind. I've returned home with an amazing sense of calm and am truly grateful for this experience.

Bree Robinson
HR Director, Royal Canin

Rita asked us to come prepared to listen with our heads and listen with our hearts, but not to take photos or write. She wanted us to learn about her culture, customs and tjukurpa (Anangu lore/stories dating back to the creation period when ancestral beings created the world) in the traditional way - through song, stories and dance. And for the stories to be told On Country where she could show us the songlines across the land. Rita and her family thought it was also a great opportunity to share the tjukurpa with their children and grandchildren, and allow them to also learn about their culture in the traditional way on their homelands.

Tjungu means coming together in pitjantjatjara, with the purpose of the project to bring different cultures together to learn from each other. But those on the trip from western backgrounds knew that we learnt more from the oldest continuous culture than they did from us. And we still have so much to learn.

Stephen Longely,
Partner, PWC

We learnt about this sacred culture and how critical story telling is to inform future generations of these traditions and culture, we learnt about ourselves and we connected as a team. It is actually quite a challenge to sum up this experience in words.

I feel I left with a better understanding of this amazing culture, I left with a better sense of what really matters and I left with a renewed motivation to ensure I keep my story and our work story alive through story telling and the transfer of knowledge.

Darren Dempsey,
Director of Sales & Marketing, Royal Canin

We completely 'switched off' all devices and disconnected from the outside world for the week so that we could fully immerse ourselves in this experience. We were able to learn about and connect with this sacred culture. We spent time on values, tradition, and storytelling.

Kelly Quirke,
Advocacy Business Director, Royal Canin

"Words fail to capture the unique mark that the Tjungu Project has left on me. This journey has given me a deeper insight of our Indigenous culture and an authentic understanding of what connection to Country really means. Their strong values of sharing and taking everything as it comes has helped me identify what truly matters in life. After slowing down for 5 days and focusing on storytelling, I am inspired to go deeper, share my own stories and listen more. Personally, I am thinking more about the generations before me and the legacy I want to leave for my future generations. This experience will inform the way we continue the inclusive culture we share at Hickory and has instilled a new appreciation for our groups' mission to create better places for future communities."

Ema Grima,

Marketing & Digital Media Manager, Hickory

"the Tjungu Project gave me a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start understanding Aboriginal culture and heritage unbiased from media. I enjoyed seeing the family's love and connection passed down from generation to generation. Listening to and being shown their stories was moving and gave me a different perspective on their culture and the journey they have been on.

I felt really disconnected from society and connected to Country; this gave me an opportunity to stop and reflect, challenge my life and put into perspective areas I can improve on and share with others."

Warren Green,

Site Manager, AKD