Dreamtime Swags

23/10/2026

Meet Murrwale Godden
(Mudi as he is known)

Mudi is local to the region and first completed the Dreamtime Swag Program in April/May 2025. We sat down and asked him a few questions about the program and how it has helped him. He responded saying that “the swag program has helped me develop new skills and practical experience. Having a job has improved my life in many ways. It has given me financial stability, a daily routine, and a sense of purpose. Being employed has also improved my wellbeing and given me opportunities to learn new skills and gain valuable experience.”

Since starting the program, Mudi was offered a role in June 2025 with Kalano Community Association Inc supervising and supporting the Swag workshops when Dan is in town and works well with another member of the team to keep building his skill level and growing stock levels in between training groups. In particular Dan has recognised Mudi’s attention to detail and his very specific technical skills around how the machines work, being that Mudi has developed a good understanding of how to fix and maintain them. Mudi also noted that he is learning how to train and mentor new participants entering the programs. He has also demonstrated his ability to adapt to change, with an example of this being, when the Kalano sheds were flooded during the Katherine flood recently, he has had to move machinery with the team to two different locations so far, while waiting for the new work area to be organised.

We asked him how he has been supported by Kalano RAES since starting and he responded with “they have helped me gain my white card and forklift license”, he also mentioned they provide him ongoing support, encouragement with very regular check in’s, are easy to approach, are helping to build his confidence in the workplace, and have supplied him with work clothing and personal protective equipment to ensure he is safe at work. Along with this, Dan has supplied him with some Dreamtime Swag work shirts and a cap which he was wearing that day when we spoke.

Mudi said that the swag training is inclusive and he is happy to be part of the team. His advice to participants interested in coming along is to just turn up, relax about it and just come along to take a look. Then you can see how it goes, we have two weeks to get it done which is plenty of time, you get your swag and maybe a bag if time permits. You can also be entitled to a gift certificate to celebrate your completion of the program, as well as keeping your new Swag.

When asked if he believes the Dreamtime Swags training to be culturally appropriate, Mudi commented that working with Dan we have been able to adapt our training as needed when new groups come in, depending on what the individual needs are for each person. The training groups are fun and engaging so people are continuing to come along.

When I asked Mudi what he would like to see for his own future, he commented that he would like to keep working with the Swags and see where it takes him and maybe some training might be of interest to build his skills and capability. A bit further down the track, Mudi said he would like to work as a Drone Operator and possibly work on surveying the roads as he finds this interesting and achievable for the location he lives in.

Well done on all your achievements to date Mudi, so proud of you!
All Follower's Murchison River Swags Kalano Community Association Inc Katherine Regional Arts - KRA

18/09/2026

Go NT!! 👍🏼

MEET THE ATHLETE | GEORGIA SHIELDS

Give Georgia Shields the ball in the circle and her mindset is pretty simple: get it, turn and shoot.

Born and raised in Darwin, with strong family connections to Alice Springs, Georgia is a proud Lower Southern Arrernte, Pitjantjatjara, Yankunytjatjara and Wangkangurru woman who plays GS and GA for Nightcliff Netball Club in the Darwin Netball Association.

Her ability to shoot from anywhere in the circle is a strength she brings to the NT attacking end, and former Australian Diamond Steph Wood has long been one of her favourite players. Georgia admires the calmness and confidence Wood brought under pressure, along with her ability to create space and bring teammates into the game.

For Georgia, though, this tournament carries meaning well beyond what happens on court.

“Representing the Northern Territory at the First Nations Tournament means so much more than just netball. I’m proud to represent my culture, my family and my mob on the national stage.”

Wearing the NT colours alongside other First Nations athletes is an opportunity Georgia says she is incredibly grateful for.

WATCH THE NT

Catch the NT in action live and free across the Netball Australia YouTube channel and SBS On Demand.

Follow the NT fixture and results here:

https://tinyurl.com/26fnt-fixture

11/08/2026

Introducing Orlando!
Orlando first completed the Dreamtime Swag Program in December 2024 at the young age of 16. In 2025 he then went on to complete some paid work experience during April and May and proved himself to be a real asset to Kalano so he was placed into employment in June 2025 as a Community Projects Supervisor. He enjoyed making the swags and went on to be able to sew up swags on his own when Dan was away from Katherine. These swags were given to participants who were sleeping rough or needed them at the time to commence paid work. In June this year, we sat down with Orlando and to chat about his experience with the program and with Kalano RAES.

Orlando said him and the other participants thought the program was going to be hard and it would put pressure on them, but he was surprised at how easy the program was and at how they were all supported by Dan. He said Dan follows a process and at first you just learn how to use the machine to sew, how to get it neat and right, you learn how to measure out the swags and bags, cut them all out and then each part of the process is done as a team step by step. After the first swag program Orlando said he enjoyed coming in to assist others to learn and maintained his interest in learning how to produce a quality swag. He has since been able to go onto other things and support the Kalano RAES team with day-to-day duties including doing pick ups of participants, supporting other people to get to work and interviews, Mowing and maintenance in local surrounding communities, making purchases of food and materials for other training programs and anything that comes up from day to day. He also still comes back and assists with the swags as required.

When we asked how Kalano Remote Australia Employment Service (RAES) has supported him, he replied that the team has supported him in so many ways including getting his Ochre card, Whitecard, Chainsaw ticket, Driving lessons, Licencing and some 4WD training. He said the most important thing was that he had been given responsibility and that he had earnt this responsibility and feels like an important part of his team. He also added that between Kalano RAES and Kalano Children and Family Centre working together to support him, they managed to keep him engaged and on the right path to employment when the going got tough, his words were “They really helped me by giving me more than one chance and I have really grown from this.”
When we asked what he sees for himself in the future, he responded by saying he wants to get some tickets under his belt including Backhoe, Truck Licence, Rigging and work on the Oil Rigs or at McArthur River Mine.

Before we finished, Orlando said he wanted to add something. He said “I appreciate the opportunity and that when Dan taught me to make the swag, he told me to just do it, and it does not matter if I make a mistake, he showed me its ok if you try, and that I will get better with practice. I now have this knowledge for life!” Good on you Orlando.👍🏼Kalano Community Association IncDreamtime Swags Dan Fischer All Follower's Julie Fischer

05/08/2026

Meet Mathias!
He completed the Dreamtime Swag program originally in August 2024, completed some work experience while supporting the program after this and then was placed into employment as a Community Projects Supervisor in November 2024 with Kalano Community Association Inc to help support the program and work towards it becoming a new enterprise for Kalano. He is still working with Kalano Remote Australia Employment Service, and we recently sat down with Mathias to discuss how the program and Kalano RAES has supported him in his journey of employment.

Mathias says the swag program helped him build strong daily habits, as he looked forward to coming along each morning. He said he enjoys working with Dan and that the mentoring from Dan has made a real difference. Since then, he has been part of the Swag team, spent a lot of time out at Rockhole working to support that community with clean up, maintenance and mowing as well as Kybrook to support with a project being undertaken. He has also been able to assist in a big way with getting participants in for appointments & training programs as he has strong relationships with the people in Katherine and the surrounding communities that Kalano supports.

When asked how Kalano supported him, Mathias said he was grateful for their support along the way and that they had assisted him with so much including pickup for work, personal protective wear, Ochre Card, Construction White card, Birth Certificate, Drivers Licence and he has now progressed to his P plates. They also coached him along the way through the Post Placement Support offered by his manager and other team members. When things have got hard outside work, the team have got behind him, encouraged him to keep going and he said he loves working as part of this team.

When asked what he sees for himself and his future, Mathias hopes to keep doing what he’s doing, gain his Truck Licence and eventually work in the mines.

We are proud to work alongside Mathias whether it's part of the Swag program or other duties he completes as part of his employment with Kalano.
Congratulations Mathias!
Kalano Community Association Inc Dreamtime Swags

26/06/2026

Well done guys, sorry this post is so late, it’s been a busy few weeks in Katherine. 1 more program for the end of the financial year to finish next week! Such a great team of people from Kalano who support this project!! Katherine Regional Arts - KRA thanks again for providing the space for our programs after the floods this year.

07/06/2026

It’s on at Finke!! 🔥⛺️