What Murrup does

Murrup is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and registered charity headquartered in Richmond, Melbourne, with operational delivery across four remote First Nations communities: Palm Island and Woorabinda in Queensland, and Galiwin'ku and Wurrumiyanga in the Northern Territory. Originally founded in 2007 as the Cathy Freeman Foundation and subsequently renamed Community Spirit Foundation, the organisation rebranded to Murrup in 2024 alongside its formal transition to ACCO status under the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC). Its mission is to support First Nations children and young people through long-term, place-based programs, and it operates with a small team of 14 staff, the majority of whom are First Nations, including locally embedded Community Managers in each region.

The organisation delivers five program streams: Early Years, School Engagement and Retention, Strong Transitions (supporting young people from school into further education, training, or work), Neighbourhood Support, and Community Development. Strong Transitions has scaled to support 80 students across Palm Island and Woorabinda. Program delivery is augmented through partnerships with specialist organisations including the Australian Red Cross (NT), Orange Sky, UNICEF Australia (via the Sprints Passport program), and PCYC, alongside pro-bono corporate support from firms such as Lander & Rogers and Bentleys Victoria. Governance and leadership underwent renewal in 2023-2024 with the appointment of CEO Shellee Strickland in September 2023 and the transition of the Board Chair role from Larissa Behrendt to Luke Searle, reinforcing ACCO-aligned governance.

The organisation is funded through a diversified mix of donations, bequests, merchandise sales, corporate partnerships, and government funding primarily via the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). It holds DGR-1, ACNC, and ORIC registrations. Following the 2024 ACCO transition, Murrup is positioned to access funding pools reserved for Indigenous-controlled organisations, which materially shapes its forward funding strategy.

Name

Murrup

Legal name

Community Spirit Foundation (Murrup)

Website

https://murrup.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Murrup is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation delivering place-based education, transition, and community-development programs for First Nations children and young people across four remote Australian communities (Palm Island, Woorabinda, Galiwin'ku, Wurrumiyanga), funded by donations, corporate partnerships, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aboriginal Community Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural, Multilingual & Immigrant Family Engagement Programs (EDACALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM), Family-School Collaboration & Inclusion Planning Support (EDAKABAK), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Aboriginal community services
• Indigenous youth programs
• Place-based education support
• Community development programs
• Charitable nonprofit services

Headquarters

HQ city

East Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual donors contribute one-time or recurring donations to support Murrup's programs. The organization encourages regular giving starting at $5 per week, fortnight, or month. Workplace giving allows employees to donate from pre-tax salary.
2. Government Funding: Murrup is proudly supported by the Australian Government, with funding administered through the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA). Government funding is a key revenue stream enabling program delivery.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Corporate partners provide financial and in-kind support aligned with their corporate values and Reconciliation Action Plans. Partners include foundations, corporations, and organizations listed on the supporters page.
4. Merchandise Sales: Murrup operates an online shop selling apparel, lifestyle products, stationery, and community-made items. The shop features artwork by Kobi Sainty and limited edition photography prints. 100% of profits support Murrup programs.
5. Bequests and Legacy Giving: Murrup encourages supporters to leave a gift in their will, offering various bequest options including residual gifts, percentage of estate, or specific monetary amounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Murrup is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation that partners with four remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (Palm Island, Woorabinda, Galiwin'ku, and Wurrumiyanga) to co-design and deliver place-based programs supporting First Nations children, young people, and families through early years support, school engagement and retention, post-school transitions, neighbourhood support, and community development. Programs are delivered by locally employed First Nations staff and supported by individual donations, government grants, corporate partnerships, and merchandise sales.

Product overview

Murrup is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation offering a portfolio of five interconnected, place-based programs supporting First Nations children, young people, and families from early years through to life after school. The core programs include Early Years Support, School Engagement and Retention (Starting Block), Strong Transitions, Neighbourhood Support, and Community Development. Additional offerings include Yangali Girls Nights and Numuriyaka Boys' Program as targeted youth initiatives, the Murrup Shop for merchandise sales, and various donation and fundraising mechanisms. All programs are co-designed with communities and delivered by locally employed staff.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Early Years Support Supports parents and carers to be their child's first and best teacher through coaching and mentoring, connecting families with services, and providing practical tools for learning and development to ensure confident parents and school-ready First Nations children in remote communities.
• School Engagement and Retention (Starting Block) Supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people on their school journey through community engagement events, in-home support, in-school programs, buddying, mentoring, attendance awards, and connections to health services across seven partner schools.
• Strong Transitions Provides young people with the tools and support to transition successfully from school to work or further education through micro-credentialing, place-based training, identification documents support, and employment preparation. Currently training up to 80 local students in Woorabinda and Palm Island.
• Neighbourhood Support Delivers after-school and school holiday programs, community events, and youth work programs to create safe, connected communities and address issues such as hunger in Murrup's remote partner communities.
• Community Development Community leadership and development programs supporting emerging First Nations leaders and ensuring children and young people have a voice of change in their communities.
• Yangali Girls Nights Targeted program for girls and young women aged 13 to 17 in Wurrumiyanga that weaves together health and wellbeing, respectful relationships, culture and community with fun activities, pampering and shared meals.
• Numuriyaka Boys' Program Safe, inclusive space for 13- to 17-year-old young men providing prosocial activities, mentoring, healthy relationship discussions, health referrals, and pathways to the Strong Transitions program.
• Murrup Shop Online store selling lifestyle products, apparel, stationery, and community-made items featuring artwork by Kobi Sainty and limited edition photography prints, with 100% of profits funding Murrup programs.

Quantifiable outcome

• 11 Year 12 graduates from four remote communities in 2025
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA)coreOthersGovernment partner providing funding support to Murrup for delivering programs in remote Aboriginal communities. The NIAA administers funding through the Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program.
• Red Cross Northern TerritorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering community programs including a new weekly mums and bubs program in Wurrumiyanga, and collaboration on the mobile laundry service with Orange Sky.
• Orange Sky AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrange Sky provides mobile laundry vans that offer free washing and drying services in Wurrumiyanga. Since February 2025, the service has completed 1580 loads and created local employment through RJED funding.
• Lander & RogerscoreOthersPro-bono legal services provider since 2010. Has supported across HR, Board governance and training, contract law and intellectual property. Recognised in Beaton Client Choice Awards as Best Australian Law Firm.
• Bentleys VictoriacoreOthersPro-bono supporter completing Murrup's financial audit and providing ongoing accounting support.
• PCYC (Police Citizens Youth Clubs)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in delivering the Four Corners Rugby Tournament in Woorabinda, providing safe, fun activities for children aged 6-12.
• Queensland Police ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Four Corners Rugby Tournament in Woorabinda, supporting community youth programs.
• UNICEF AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in the Sprints Passport Program, which supports young people in Woorabinda to obtain identification documents and access micro-credentials for employment.
• Moura Driving SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner providing driving instruction to young people in Woorabinda to help them complete supervised driving hours for their driver's licence.
• Primary Health Network Northern TerritoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealth network listed as supporter, supporting health-related program delivery.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Smith Family: The Smith Family is a large Australian education-focused nonprofit supporting disadvantaged children through learning programs and scholarships. Comparable beneficiary population (children facing education barriers) but operates at national scale and beyond Indigenous-specific programs.
• Reconciliation Australia: Reconciliation Australia leads national reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, including the RAP framework many of Murrup's corporate partners operate under. Comparable Indigenous-advocacy space and corporate engagement motion.
• Mission Australia: Mission Australia is a large community services nonprofit delivering housing, homelessness, family, and youth services across Australia. Comparable community services scope and Australian nonprofit funding model, though not Indigenous-specific.
• Save the Children Australia: Save the Children Australia delivers child welfare, education, and emergency relief programs domestically and internationally. Comparable in child-focused community services and government/corporate funding model, but with much broader scope.
• The Fred Hollows Foundation: Fred Hollows Foundation is a major Australian nonprofit focused on Indigenous and global eye health, with significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community programs. Comparable Indigenous community-controlled delivery, though concentrated in health rather than education.

Direct peers

• Indigenous Literacy Foundation: Indigenous Literacy Foundation is an Australian nonprofit that improves literacy and educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, including in remote communities. Comparable in mission and Indigenous education focus.
• Stars Foundation: Stars Foundation supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls and young women to stay in school and transition to further study or employment via in-school mentors. Direct peer given overlapping Indigenous education and Strong Transitions-style cohort work.
• AIME (Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience): AIME runs university-student-led mentoring programs that lift school attendance and completion rates for Indigenous students. Comparable in target population (Indigenous youth), school engagement focus, and Australian geography.
• Australian Indigenous Education Foundation (AIEF): AIEF provides scholarships and support for Indigenous students to complete secondary school and progress to university or employment. Comparable target cohort and school-to-transitions outcomes focus to Murrup's Strong Transitions program.
• Children's Ground: Children's Ground is an Australian First Nations organisation delivering place-based, community-controlled programs with children and families in remote communities. Highly comparable to Murrup in mission, ACCO-style model, and remote community footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/murrup
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBwN8LGzIwiP27pamn9K9xQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/murrup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/murrup
• Instagraminstagram.com/murrup_spirit

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Murrup