Living Culture strives to empower, educate and engage

We have a story to share with you. It’s the backstory of how Living Culture began formalising its much sought-after engagements of diverse cultural experiences for our community. Living Culture is more than a catchy business name for us; it was and is the basis of everything we do.

During Reconciliation Week from May 27-June 3, Living Culture will celebrate 10 years since its inception, providing programs and services to our community and beyond. Lionel Lauch, the cultural lead and co-founder, has spent his life immersed in learning, honouring and teaching culture, first for himself and, as he grew older, with his family and friends, and now to our multicultural community.

“Our mission is to educate people about the importance of keeping Aboriginal culture alive. Indigenous knowledge is a live link to the past, present, and future,” Lionel said.

Becoming a cultural educator was not something he set out to do; however, elders encouraged him to share his insight and understanding as the wider community began wanting to listen to and learn from Indigenous voices. These teachings offer an opportunity for our multicultural society to work together, connecting to what always was and always will be. We have an obligation to our shared Mother Earth to keep the interdependence of Country, People and Culture central in our cultural society today.

As the demand to connect with Indigenous teachings grew, the community reached out to walk and talk with Lionel and now with our young team who generously share how to see the land through a cultural lens.

The team at Living Culture has immense respect and gratitude for the elders, knowledge holders, and those who seek, protect and share these teachings with whom we have worked alongside and partnered. One of the best things about our job is building friendships and kin relationships, where we help one another make a real difference to the people and places we love.

Something we don’t often get to do is publicly acknowledge that our team is Deadly.  A decade ago, we had no idea how hard it would be to bring this dream to life. Together we have forged lifelong friendships, pumped keyboards, travelled countless miles, learnt so much, called each other hundreds of times a day, and found ways to agree on how best to navigate all the curve balls that came to us with lots of humour and tenacity. Living Culture had a straightforward business plan – Empower, Educate and Engage – and this underpins everything we do.

We welcome you all to reach out to our friendly team via our website www.livingculture.com.au to find out how you can walk, talk and connect with us.

HEIDI DUELL, Living Culture co-founder