Artwork: “Gurung Wellama” Acrylic on Canvas, 2022

Artist: Balgarra Designs, Joanne Cassady

Gurung Wellama Logo design: Lani Designs

About: Gurung Wellama (Children come home) in Gadigal language was developed by First Nations employees to communicate specifically with First Nations audiences.

This artwork visually represents the vision and meaning of the Aboriginal Cultural Unit called Gurung Wellama. It is uniquely symbolic to the work that they do with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families and is an artwork that is relatable across different country and mob. The blue curves around the semi-circle represent people gathering together. The curves with one line next to it, represents a woman and the curve with two lines represent a man. The smaller curves represent children. The semi-circles represent a gathering place usually a campfire, waterhole or campsite in this case it is home. It represents at home and outside of home. The blue, aqua and white dots throughout the middle represent peace and harmony flowing through, giving peace to children coming back.

We crafted a distinctive artwork, explainer video, and logo to establish a strong visual identity for the cultural unit. Additionally, we conducted a photoshoot featuring First Nations staff and students, creating an authentic and relatable photography collection to enhance the branding. This holistic approach ensures that the cultural unit’s identity is both engaging and representative of First Nations culture.