"My creative journey has been a lifelong passion which truly began at age 16 when I started working at a non-profit Indigenous women’s catering service on Dja Dja Wurrung Country. I learnt about bush foods and experienced the joy they brought to our community. I was fortunate to learn from Aboriginal women and elders in my community, who passed down traditional knowledge about growing and preparing bush foods. At age 18, my wish was to preserve this knowledge and combine my love for tea with bush foods. I handmade loose leaf blends which were enjoyed by my family." - Sharlee Dunolly-Lee, Founder.

BEING AN INDIGENOUS BUSINESS FOUNDER AND OWNER IN CENTRAL VICTORIA REQUIRES CARE AND RESPECT FOR THE LAND, AND IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO THINGS ETHICALLY.

Our core values: Cultural Integrity, Sustainability and Quality continue to guide us on a journey that not keeps our culture alive but also challenges us daily. Our biggest challenge, but also a source of strength, has been staying true to our values which guide everything we do and push us to keep growing.

"I have seen how tough it can be for Aboriginal-owned businesses in this space. I started my business young and the competition has grown significantly over the years, especially as climate change and a lack of support for Aboriginal enterprises continues to present ongoing challenges. Sourcing ethically grown bush foods is difficult as the Indigenous bush foods sector is largely underrepresented"
- Sharlee Dunolly-Lee, Founder.

THERE'S BOOMING INTEREST IN NATIVE INGREDIENTS IN THE LAST 5 YEARS, BUT ONLY 1% OF AUSTRALIA'S BUSH FOOD COMPANIES ARE INDIGENOUS-OWNED.

This makes it difficult to source from Aboriginal suppliers, and our communities often miss out on the profits from the exploitation of our traditional knowledge.

Discovering flavours like river mint and wattleseed connects me to my culture, and I strive to honour this connection. Elders and Aunties in my community have passed on the traditional ways of growing and nurturing bush tucker without pesticides, and I’ve carried that knowledge into my business practises" - Sharlee Dunolly-Lee, Founder.

AT DJA-WONMURUK, COMMUNITY IS THE CENTRE OF OUR JOURNEY.

We focused on health and wellness, striving for authenticity and cultural enrichment in every sip.

By supporting local causes and ethical practices, we empower Aboriginal growers and suppliers, and build strong community relationships.

OUR COMMITMENT TO CULTURAL REPRESENTATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALLOWS US TO PRESERVE AND SHARE TRADITIONAL BUSH TUKKA KNOWLEDGE THROUGH SUSTAINABLY SOURCED ORGANIC TEAS CRAFTED IN CENTRAL VICTORIA.