Tura acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and create. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. With solidarity and friendship we say thank you.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that the Tura website contains names, images and voices of people who have passed away.

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Nulungu Talking Heads Seminar Series

Buga Yanu Junba: Strengthening First Languages and wellbeing through collaborative songwriting

This Nulungu Talking Heads Seminar shares the story behind Buga Yanu Junba, which grew from a three-year participatory arts research collaboration. The project brought together early childhood educators from the Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu Yani program in Fitzroy Crossing, facilitators from Tura, and a researcher–musician from the University of Melbourne through Tura’s SoundFX program, Dr Gillian Howell.

The research explored how songwriting in First Languages can support early childhood learning, strengthen cultural knowledge among young children, and support the intergenerational transmission of knowledge from Elders. Using participatory action research and the Most Significant Change methodology, the project also examined how creative language practices can contribute to healing and wellbeing for educators, children and families.

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Event Details

The presentation will include performances by songwriters from the Buga Yanu Junba project alongside a discussion of the research findings. It considers the wellbeing benefits of language songwriting and singing through the framework of Aboriginal Ways of Knowing, Being and Doing (Martin & Mirraboopa, 2003).

With a particular focus on early childhood educators – key contributors to sustaining intergenerational language transmission – Buga Yanu Junba highlights how creative collaboration centred on local languages can strengthen both community wellbeing and language revitalisation.

Wednesday 1 April 2026 | 12.00 – 1.30pm
The University of Notre Dame AustraliaBroome Campus, 88 Guy Street, The Hall
Light lunch and refreshments @12pm

Opening Address: Emily Carter, CEO of Marninwarntikura Women’s Resource CentrePresenters: Educators from Baya Gawiy Buga Yani Jandu yani U, Gillian Howell and Annika Moses.

This is a free event, registration is required. RSVP via email to nulungu@nd.edu.au

RSVP
View the PDF invite

Biographies

Dr Gillian Howell is a Senior Research Fellow in the Faculty of Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne. Her creative practice and applied research investigate how community music and other participatory arts can foster voice, dialogue, peacebuilding, and social repair in places impacted by war, disaster, and settler-colonialism. She has worked as a research consultant and music leader around Australia and in many parts of the world including Bosnia-Herzegovina, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Norway, Kosovo and North Macedonia. Her publications appear in journals and books addressing community music, peace and conflict studies, music education, global development, and place-based community arts collaborations.

Annika is a sound artist and facilitator who lives in Boorloo and works across regional Western Australian communities. Since 2021 she has facilitated community music, songwriting and recording projects in Fitzroy Crossing, Warmun, and the Martu communities of Punmu, Parnngurr, Kunawarritji, and Parnpajinya (Newman). Her Boorloo- based work includes the co-directorship of experimental music organisation Tone List, presenting with local community radio station RTRFM, and fostering a vibrant local scene through peer-to-peer support and organising.