“The most inhumane things have been done to our people, and yet we are still here, we are still welcoming people to our country and we are still willing to share it with everybody” Mundanara Bayles

It is an honour and a privilege to bring you this discussion with the phenomenal woman that is Mundanara Balyes. Mundanara’s cultural heritage is connected to the Wonnarua and Bunjalung people on her mother’s side and the Birri-Gubba and Gungalu on her father’s side. Mundanara grew up in Redfern NSW with her 8 sisters and moved to her father’s country in the early 90’s.

Mundanara is the Managing Director and co-founder of The Australian BlackCard Pty Ltd (BlackCard), which is a 100% Aboriginal owned and operated business certified with Supply Nation. Mundanara co-founded BlackCard with Dr Lilla Watson, who is a respected Aboriginal elder, artist, educator and long-time course developer. BlackCard is a specialist consultancy providing cultural capability training and consultancy services to enable people and organisations to work effectively with members of the Aboriginal community. BlackCard’s purpose is working with people, not for people, with the genius of Aboriginal Knowledge. We talked, (well she talked, I cried!) about many things in this interview including some of the “silent forces” that Aboriginal people face and what the word "Australian" means her. We unpack some of her quotes in which she says that: 

“I come from a culture, where most of you are increasing your life expectancy…this is not the case for my culture." (Cultural education: Mundanara Bayles at TEDxSouthBankWomen)"

I am so nervous to release this episode because it is so important. Mundanara is a powerhouse, she is a gift and work has never been more significant than it is now. 

Thank you for taking the time to listen to this powerful conversation. 

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