Kiah Patterson as Walama Muru 2019 Coordinator

KIAH PATTERSON


WALAMA MURU

Walama Muru means “return to path” and captures the spirit of reconciliation that this Arc Volunteering Program is all about. In understanding more, we had a chat with Kiah Patterson (5th year Bachelor of Social Work (Honours)/Arts at UNSW), the upcoming Walama Muru 2019 Coordinator. 

When asked to run us through the program, Kiah explains that the selected student volunteers start by organising multiple fundraising events including bake sales, sausage sizzles and the biggest event of the year, Walama Muru Trivia Night. 

The funds raised enables the student volunteers to then travel to Indigenous communities across Australia and participate in volunteer projects to help the communities. 

“Through these cultural exchanges, the volunteers learn more about Indigenous communities and the cultural issues that affect them. At the end of the trip, the volunteers will reflect on their experiences and and share them with each other”. 

Kiah’s been on two of these exchanges - the first one to Gilgandra, NSW in 2017 and the second one to Ngalla Wul Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Doonside, NSW in 2018. 

At Gilgandra, meaning “long waterhole”, she was involved in two garden projects; one at Jinchilla Gardens and one at the Elders property. Here she learnt about Wiradjuri culture with their traditional dances, close-to-distinct language and the issues that this Indigenous community still faces, including racism. 

For her second exchange at Ngallu Wal Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Western Sydney, Kiah participated in another garden project, as well as collecting recipes from the Elders to create a cookbook. From her conversations with the Elders, she was able to gain a better insight to their story and struggles.

In thinking back at her time with Walama Muru, Kiah describes it as a very rewarding. 

“You get to meet an amazing Indigenous community that is excited to have you there not just for you to help them with a project that will increase their living standard, but to share their experiences and culture with you. This helps foster relationships and understanding between different communities, which I hope ripples back to the wider Australian population”. 

It is evident that Kiah will bring a genuine interest in the purpose of the program and in helping Indigenous communities for her upcoming coordinator role. 

“I hope to make the Walama Muru experience as great as mine was for future volunteers, and hopefully to build even stronger relationships with the Indigenous communities to work towards reconciliation”. 

Want to get involved with this program? Read more here.

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