SharingStories Foundation

What SharingStories Foundation does

SharingStories Foundation is a First Nations-led non-profit organization headquartered in Toongabbie East, NSW, Australia that partners with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to document, preserve, and share cultural knowledge through digital media and educational resources. Founded in 2012 by Liz Thompson (who began working with Indigenous communities in 1992), the organization collaborates with community Elders and cultural custodians across 25+ First Nations communities spanning language groups including Adnyamathanha, Bundjalung, Gija, Jaara, Koorie, Yuin, Wurundjeri, and Nyikina. The Foundation operates with 1-10 employees under a community-led model where all projects are guided and approved by community working groups, with Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property (ICIP) protocols governing content reproduction. In 2022, leadership transitioned to a Co-CEO model with Sharon Williams (Pitta Pitta woman and educational expert) and Taz Miller alongside founder Liz Thompson's move to Creative Director. The organization employs a "Both Ways" learning approach integrating Indigenous and Western knowledge systems.

The Foundation's technology offerings span multi-touch digital books, location-based mobile applications, digital keeping places, an online education platform, interactive exhibitions, films, and animations. Key products include Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom (40 curriculum-mapped units from Foundation to Year 8, launched 2022 with 11 partner communities), the Mungo Stories: Walk Together GPS-enabled mobile app (launched September 2024 on iOS and Android), the Yuin Digital Keeping Place (launched January 2026, housing 160+ short films and three language dictionaries), and a catalog of 15+ multi-touch books. Content is distributed through dedicated digital platforms (jajoowarrngara.org, yuindkp.org, books.sharingstoriesfoundation.org), mobile app stores, museum exhibitions (Koorie Heritage Trust, WA Museum Boola Bardip), and permanent installations across Australia.

Revenue is generated primarily through Australian government grants (National Indigenous Australians Agency, Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, Heritage Grants Program, state cultural programs) and philanthropic funding (Gandel Philanthropy, Lotterywest, Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation, Australia Council for the Arts, Screenrights Australian Cultural Fund). Secondary streams include book publishing through Pearson Australia and fee-for-service community cultural programs. Most digital resources are offered free to educators and the public. The Foundation has received recognition including the 2023 National Awards for Local Government (Indigenous Recognition Category) for the Boorp Boorp Boondyil exhibition, the 2023 Maggollee Award from Reconciliation Victoria, the 2021 Pro Bono Australia Impact Awards Judges Award for Innovator, and the 2009 Australian Awards for Excellence in Educational Publishing.

Name

SharingStories Foundation

Legal name

SharingStoriesFoundation Pty Ltd

Website

https://sharingstoriesfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SharingStories Foundation is a First Nations-led Australian non-profit partnering with 25+ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to create, preserve, and share cultural knowledge through digital storytelling platforms, multi-touch books, location-based mobile apps, and curriculum-mapped educational resources for schools and cultural institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Heritage Education and Indigenous Digital Media

NAICS

Libraries and Archives (51921), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210), Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Online Learning Content & Course Publishing Platforms (BPAMAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regional/Local Market Publishers & Distributors (Territory Rights, Localization-led Publishing) (MPAFABAH), Public Media Partnerships & Content Co-productions (NGO/Cultural) (MPABADAN)

Keywords

• Cultural heritage preservation
• Indigenous educational resources
• Digital storytelling platforms
• Community-led programs
• Multilingual publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

Brisbane

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Government and Philanthropic Grants: Primary funding source from Australian government agencies including National Indigenous Australians Agency, Indigenous Languages and Arts Program, Heritage Grants Program, and various state government cultural programs. Also receives support from philanthropic organizations including Gandel Philanthropy, Lotterywest, and Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation
2. Publishing and Resource Sales: Sale of educational resources including the Sharing Our Stories book series distributed through Pearson Australia
3. Community Cultural Programs: Fee-for-service cultural documentation, storytelling programs, and skills development workshops delivered in partnership with First Nations communities
4. Education Platform Subscriptions: Free access to Jajoo Warrngara education platform with curriculum-mapped resources for schools

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SharingStories Foundation partners with First Nations communities across Australia to co-create, publish, and distribute cultural media and educational resources. The organisation produces interactive multi-touch digital books, mobile applications, online educational platforms (Jajoo Warrngara), digital keeping place archives (Yuin Digital Keeping Place), permanent and travelling exhibitions, films, animations, and radio documentaries. All content is developed under Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property protocols with community Elders and cultural custodians.

Product overview

SharingStories Foundation operates as a First Nations-led organization offering a portfolio of digital cultural heritage products and services. Core offerings include the Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom education platform and the Yuin Digital Keeping Place digital archive portal. The organization produces multi-touch digital books (such as Mukarr Djämbatj, Woonyoomboo, Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal, Dunggula, The Eagle the Crow and the Bat, Leave it There for the Next Little Fellas, Gandjaḻaḻa the Sugarbag Hunter, Wamba Wamba Storybook, Yurlu the Kingfisher Man, Birrarung, Thirringgenji, and Poppy-May Woora) and mobile applications (Mungo Stories: Walk Together app and Gija Language App). Additional products include interactive exhibitions (Koorie Culture Map, Boorp Boorp Boondyil exhibition, Gija Community installations), films and animations, and ABC Radio audio documentaries. The Yuin Digital Keeping Place and multi-touch books are accessible via dedicated subdomain platforms (books.sharingstoriesfoundation.org, yuindkp.org), while Jajoo Warrngara serves as a separate education platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom: An education platform where educators can embed First Nations perspectives, providing 40 curriculum-mapped units ranging from Foundation to Year 8 across learning areas.
• Mungo Stories: Walk Together
• Yuin Digital Keeping Place

Products and services

• Jajoo Warrngara: The Culture Classroom A free online education platform providing teachers access to place-based, community-led First Nations cultural resources, with 40 curriculum-mapped units from Foundation to Year 8, interactive multi-touch books, and pathways for teachers to connect with local First Nations communities.
• Yuin Digital Keeping Place Online portal housing more than 160 short films, three language dictionaries (Dhurga, Djiringandj, Dhawa), and cultural documentation drawn from state institutions, local archives, and personal collections, developed collaboratively with Yuin community representatives.
• Mungo Stories: Walk Together Free location-based mobile application for Mungo National Park visitors with 10 cultural stories narrated by Barkandji/Paakantyi, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa Custodians delivered via GPS story markers, available on iOS and Android.
• Woonyoomboo: The Night Heron Multi-touch book sharing the Nyikina creation story of the Night Heron ancestor who brought the Nyikina world into being, containing original artwork, animations, soundscapes, songs, language content, and an interactive map with drone footage.
• Jirraginy joo Goorrarndal: Frog and Brolga Bilingual Gija creation story about Frog and Brolga ancestors at Gawarre (Bungle Bungles), featuring an interactive map, short films, and community voices.
• Dunggula: The Murray River Bangerang creation story of the Murray River told through the journey of Gunyuk and creator being Biami, featuring the story in Bangerang language and original animations.
• The Eagle, the Crow and the Bat Jaara community story about totems and how Jaara Country came to be, exploring why the Eagle is Lord of the Highlands, how the Crow discovered fire, and the Bat's role as peacekeeper.
• Mukarr Djämbatj: The Giant Green Sea Turtle Hunters Interactive digital book sharing a Liya-Dhālinymirr Djambarrpuyŋu clan songline following the journey of Mukarr Creator Ancestors hunting Green Sea Turtles, with interactive features and cultural knowledge.
• Leave it There for the Next Little Fellas Multi-touch book sharing traditional cultural knowledge of the Baakantji, Mutthi Mutthi and Ngiyampaa peoples of the Willandra Lakes Region, relating to emu and sustainable hunting practices.
• Gandjaṉbaṉba the Sugarbag Hunter Wägilak creation story shared by late Elder Roy Ashley Waŋapuyŋu about an ancestral spirit who created features in the landscape and left law, language, and ceremonies.
• Wamba Wamba Storybook: Muyi Muir and Pondi Two tales shared by Traditional Custodian Uncle Ron Murray: Muyi Mir (Lake Boga) and Pondi (Murray River Cod), created with Swan Hill Primary School students.
• Yurlu: The Kingfisher Man Adnyamathanha creation story of the Flinders Ranges, told by Senior Cultural Custodians Noel Wilton and Cliff Coulthard with children from Leigh Creek Area School.
• Birrarung: A Story from Wurundjeri Country Wurundjeri creation story of the Birrarung (Yarra River), following Mo-Yarra, Barwool, and Yan-yan as they carve channels to create the river and Port Phillip Bay.
• Thirringgenji doo Joowijgarneny: The Owlet Nightjar and The Bowerbird Gija story shared by Senior Gija Custodian Patrick Mung Mung, teaching about ecosystems, habitats, and co-existence.
• Poppy-May Woora: a Ghungalu Story Ghungalu story shared by Uncle Steve Kemp and Milton Lawton about a mother kangaroo and her baby joey facing challenges from wild dogs.
• Koorie Culture Map Interactive map experience produced in partnership with Koorie Communities, Koorie Heritage Trust, and local primary schools, bringing together animations, films, language and stories connected to culturally significant places across Victoria.
• Boorp Boorp Boondyil Exhibition Immersive permanent exhibition in partnership with Jaara Community and Mount Alexander Shire Council, celebrating Jaara language, culture and community life through ancient and contemporary technologies.
• Same Like Yesterday: Virlkuthalypila Twenty-metre animated installation telling the story of six senior Adnyamathanha women and teenage girls travelling through the Flinders Ranges in the footsteps of Virlkuthalypila creation ancestors.
• Gija Community Language App Community-controlled language app developed with Gija Elders, supporting learning and teaching of Gija language at Purnululu School and Warmun Arts Centre.
• Sharing Our Stories Book Series Physical book series including Yulu's Coal and other titles, created in collaboration with Indigenous communities and distributed through Pearson Australia.
• ABC Radio National Documentaries Radio documentaries produced for ABC Radio National, including Yulu's Coal (two-part series), The Story of Woonyoomboo, and This Song is from Ever Since: Songs for Wägilak Country.

Quantifiable outcome

• Works with 15 communities and 17 language groups
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Yuin Project Working GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration between Yuin community representatives and SharingStories Foundation to develop the Yuin Digital Keeping Place. Working Group includes members from Batemans Bay, Moruya, Narooma, Tilba, Wallaga Lake, Cobargo and Eden. All aspects from governance to content design and film production guided by the Working Group.
• Koorie Heritage TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Koorie Culture Map interactive experience produced with Koorie Communities and local primary schools. Map housed at Canoe Table on Level 3 at Koorie Heritage Trust and available online.
• NSW Parks and WildlifecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-year collaboration on Mungo Stories: Walk Together app, bringing cultural stories to Mungo National Park visitors through GPS-enabled location-based storytelling.
• Mildura Primary SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent participation in creating illustrations and animations for the Mungo Stories app, providing educational experience in cultural storytelling.
• Purnululu Aboriginal Independent Community SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on WA Skills Development Program and Joonba Project, with Gija students developing videography skills and interpreting Texas Downs Joonba song cycle.
• Pearson AustraliacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPublisher and distributor of Sharing Our Stories book series including Yulu's Coal.
• AdobeminorOthersPro bono support provided for WA Skills Development Program.
• Simpsons SolicitorsminorOthersPro bono legal support for WA Skills Development Program.
• Mount Alexander Shire CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Boorp Boorp Boondyil exhibition at Castlemaine Historic Market Building.
• ABC Radio NationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBroadcast partner for radio documentaries including Yulu's Coal two-part series and Woonyoomboo story.
• Willandra Lakes Region World Heritage Aboriginal Advisory GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partnership on Mungo Stories app with Traditional Custodians of Mungo National Park.
• Liya-Dhälinymirr Djambarrpuyŋu clancoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on Mukarr Djämbatj multi-touch book sharing songline from North-East Arnhem Land.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• Living Knowledge Place: Indigenous-led organization developing digital cultural heritage projects and cultural keeping places for Aboriginal communities. Comparable as an emerging player in the niche of community-led digital cultural preservation platforms.

Direct peers

• Magabala Books: Aboriginal-owned publishing house in Western Australia producing books by First Nations authors across picture books, children's, young adult, and poetry. Directly comparable as an Indigenous-led publisher creating culturally authentic content for Australian audiences.
• Indigital: Australian Indigenous-owned company specializing in digital storytelling, augmented reality, and immersive technology for First Nations cultural heritage. Directly comparable in combining Indigenous cultural content with innovative digital media delivery.
• IAD Press: Indigenous Australian publishing company producing books, music, and multimedia content. Comparable as an Aboriginal-led publisher creating culturally authentic media products for education and broader audiences.
• AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies): Australia's national institution for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, operating a major research archive and publishing programs. Comparable as a First Nations cultural preservation and knowledge dissemination organization with national scope.
• Koorie Heritage Trust: Victorian Aboriginal community organization dedicated to protecting, preserving and promoting Koorie cultural heritage through exhibitions and programs. Directly comparable as both a content partner and peer Indigenous cultural institution.
• Aboriginal Studies Press: Publishing arm of AIATSIS, producing books, educational resources, and audio recordings about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. Comparable as a First Nations-focused publisher and educational content creator working in Australia.
• First Languages Australia: National organization working to revitalize and preserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages through community-led programs. Comparable as a community-focused language preservation organization working across multiple language groups in Australia.

Broad incumbents

• Australian Museum: Australia's oldest museum with significant First Nations cultural collections, exhibitions, and digital programs. Comparable as a larger institution operating cultural preservation and public education programs related to Indigenous heritage.
• National Film and Sound Archive of Australia: Australia's national audiovisual cultural institution collecting, preserving, and sharing screen and sound heritage including significant Indigenous content. Comparable as a broader institution housing Indigenous cultural media and audio productions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/sharingstoriesfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sharingstories-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 SharingStories Foundation