We love and throw our support behind the theme of this year’s NAIDOC week!

Our practice operates through a prism of truth-telling, restitution and reconciliation. We don’t just talk these words, we try our best to embody them in the way we practice. COVID has limited our usual NAIDOC celebrations and instead we have thrown ourselves into a week of online listening and learning. Thanks to the National Indigenous Centre of Excellence, Parlour and COX for hosting some fantastic and provocative podcasts over the course of the week.

On a side note, we are chuffed with our connection to this year’s NAIDOC poster designer, Tyrown Waigana (aka Crawlin’ Crocodile ).

Tyrown has turned our headshots into the world’s cutest cartoon illustrations. We can’t wait to share them with you soon!

TF.A Partner, Kieran Wong, has been appointed to the Board of Shelter WA , a peak body that advocates for social and affordable housing and an end to homelessness. Shelter WA is overseen by a coalition of people with diverse experience who are united in their commitment to improving the lives of vulnerable West Australians. Kieran’s motivation for joining the Board is found in his enduring commitment to ‘be useful’.

I am always on the lookout for ways to leverage my design skills for social impact. I’ve long been interested in housing models, housing typologies and the often-strange systems that conspire to exclude or limit a person’s ability to access safe, secure and quality housing. It has always struck me that in a place like WA there can be such challenges to ensuring everyone has a place to call home. I hope that through Shelter WA, I can assist to amplify the voices of those in the sector to provide equity, choice and availability of housing for all.

TF.A is delighted to be a Project Partner in an important new study of remote community infrastructure.

Congratulations to Tess Lea, Associate Professor at the University of Sydney and recipient of an Australian Research Council grant to study the infrastructural requirements that support Indigenous residents to stay on country.

This study will continue the great work of the Housing for Health Incubator and will provide an enhanced understanding of infrastructural issues and climate readiness in remote communities as well as improved policy strategies for Indigenous corporations, NGOs, and Government.

We will share more as the project progresses.

How had we not seen Babakiueria, a short satirical film that flips the story of colonisation in this country? Made in 1986, the film examines the customs of white natives from the perspective of the black colonisers. What starts off as funny, quickly becomes a distressing indictment of the impact of colonisation on our First Nations people.

Nick was introduced to the film at the Danjoo Koorliny Co-Design Masterclass, held last week as part of UWA’s Social Impact Festival. Led by Noongar Elders, Noel Nannup, Carol Innes, Colleen Hayward and Richard Walley, the theme for the day centred on ‘dahni’ – a Noongar word for deep listening – the essential starting point for meaningful engagement and authentic co-design.

Nick says it was an emotional day, one that he was privileged to join. Everyone was seated in a huge yarning circle and everyone was given a chance to share stories and thoughts.

We recommend laying off Schitt’s Creek for the night and watch this instead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqcFg4z6EYY

TF.A Founders, Emma Williamson and Kieran Wong, are chuffed to be the first participants in Brickwork’s new The Power of Two podcast series.

The inimitable Tim Ross , led a thoughtful and funny conversation that covered everything from their first date to how they got to where they are today.

You can listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/brickworks-building-products/id1274849640

Always a truthteller; this is how Kieran began his contribution to the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce’s recent panel discussion on culture and diversity in our workplace and communities.

Joining him were Tony Shaw from Indigenous Services Australia, Tui Raven from Reconciliation WA and Tim Muirhead from CSD Network Services.

Listen to a recording of the thought provoking discussion here .

Last Thursday we kicked of a series of lunches that we’ve (somewhat provocatively) titled Radical Incrementalism.

We can’t tell you who was in the room, but we can tell you that the delightful Ron Bradfield (Jnr) from Yarns R Us is joined us to spark the conversation!

Last month we proudly began our involvement with CareerTrackers , a national partnership program placing Indigenous students in paid internship positions.

Their website says this: ‘employers take note: CareerTrackers Alumni represent a generation of Indigenous professionals who will change the landscape – not only of corporate Australia but of the wider Australian society.’ Based on our recent experience, this couldn’t be closer to the truth.

We have been delighted to welcome Alan Pigram to our studio. Alan is a first-year Curtin University student, studying graphic design. We quickly recognised his skill in drawing and put him to task creating a series of digital illustrations that explain some of the work we have been doing in the Northern Territory.

We’ll share some of Alan’s work in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, this is his reflection on his month with us.

I’ve spent the last few years in Perth working and studying and am currently undergoing a degree majoring in graphic design at Curtin University. I enjoy the outdoors, the arts, sport and am very passionate about music.

And just like that, I have found myself at the end of my 4-week winter internship at The Fulcrum Agency. This time has been beneficial in a multitude of ways. Not only have I been able to find myself some paid work as a student, I’ve also had the experience of working alongside some inspiring people doing inspiring work.

My time at Fulcrum has been invaluable as a first-year graphic design student. Finding my footing as a designer has been difficult and trying to stand out in a sea of talent is a real struggle but having this experience has been two steps in the right direction.

Seeing architectural plans, hearing conversations, watching problems being solved, all in a real-world workplace, these are things they don’t teach in the classroom. Working around architects has given me different perspectives on handling design problems and the importance of communication. During my time here, I’ve been involved in the GAHP and SRODI projects and I’m proud of the work I have produced.

With the help of CareerTrackers, and my advisor Melissa, I had the opportunity most students seldom encounter. One of my first conversations with Melissa talked about my niche goal of working for a small, boutique design firm, preferably in Fremantle. Ask and you shall receive, I guess.

I am eternally thankful to the whole team for their hospitality, knowledge, and the experience I’ve gained. I have found myself, after only four weeks, being more curious and conscious of how my contributions to design can affect others. Looking forward to finishing the semester ahead so I can return for summer!

We are thrilled to announce that TF.A Principal, Nick Juniper, has been awarded Level 1 Practitioner status by Social Value International.

Nick recently sat down with SVA to describe the impetus behind his interest in social value, and how he sees his new skills benefitting the communities with whom we work. Find out what he had to say here .