Ga-Roo-Wa translates to ‘ocean’ in Gathang, Worimi language.

GARUWA holds the deep, rich stories of their people, continuing these practices across various mediums.

GARUWA is a First Nations-owned and led social enterprise that believes in the power of storytelling.

Founded by Worimi siblings Genevieve Grieves and Kieran Satour, First Nations knowledges and culture are central to GARUWA’s ways of being. Grounded in collaborative and holistic approaches we work ethically, respectfully and innovatively to amplify community voices, support the next generation of storytellers and create a better future for generations to come.

OUR OFFERING

“GARUWA brings the importance of cultural humility and the delicate nature of First Nations principles such as listening to their projects and cultivates spaces for audiences to gain insight into the fundamentals of relationship, responsibility, and accountability in First Nations cultures.”

— Dr Romaine Moreton, (Goenpul, Yagerabul, Minjungbul and Bundjalung), Director of First Nations and Outreach, Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS)

GARUWA develops culturally informed creative projects across animation, audio, film, documentary, exhibitions, installations, motion graphics, research, photography, podcasts, publishing and video.

  • High-end, powerful documentary projects designed to amplify the voices of First Nations and under-represented people and communities.

  • Strategic cultural and creative guidance for values-led organisations.

  • Decolonising and Indigenising marketing to re-design content creation for our communities and organisations.

  • Large-scale public art and infrastructure projects re-asserting First Nations narratives in public spaces.

  • Training for storytellers motivated by impact and purpose.

We come from long lineages of storytellers and continue these traditions in new forms.

OUR TEAM

We are a proudly intercultural group of creatives, unified by a shared passion for the power of imagination and a vision for change. Diversity is the core strength of our work.

GARUWA’s incredible creatives includes First Nations peoples from language groups across the Country, members of the LGBTQIA+ community and descendants with migrant backgrounds representing cultural heritage from Aotearoa, Italy, Ireland, Holland, Lebanon, and the Philippines.

  • Aimee Kepa

    Te Aupōuri, Ngāpuhi
    Scottish & Cornish

    Producer

  • Genevieve Grieves

    Worimi

    Co-Founder & Creative Director

  • Kieran Satour

    Gurindj/Malngin, Pertame Arrernte and Worimi

    Co-Founder & Creative Director

  • Laurrie Mansfield

    Aboriginal, Filipino and Irish

    Producer

  • Libby Collins

    Tiwi

    Creative Producer & Director

  • Maya Ghattas

    Lebanese

    Producer

  • Rah Dakota

    Filipino and Spanish

    Creative Producer & Cinematographer

  • Simone Mugavin

    Dutch-Irish Australian

    Communications Manager

OUR ETHOS

We believe that all stories must be told from the perspective of those with lived experience.

Our team are determined to ensure that cultural safety is upheld throughout the lifetime of all projects.

How do we do this? Together with our friends at Shifting Ground, we educate the parties we work with so they’re equipped with appropriate language to talk about colonisation and racial inequity. This supports teams to approach projects in a practical and informed manner and proactively work through any cultural literacy barriers they may face or

Interested to know more? Let’s have a yarn.

Collaboration and community are at the forefront of everything we do. We are deeply embedded in the communities that we share the stories of.