Desert Pea Media | Friendship Tree
A group of young Indigenous people sit on a wooden floor around a large sheet of paper. Several of them are writing, drawing, and talking. The scene appears to be an indoor workshop or meeting.

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A young Indigenous woman with her hair pulled back is sitting at a desk in a recording studio. She is wearing headphones and an Aboriginal-designed polo shirt, and she is smiling while looking towards the camera. A microphone is positioned in front of her.

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An Indigenous man in a black hoodie stands in a grassy area with trees in the background. He is watching a cloud of smoke rise from a traditional smoking ceremony. Another person, a cameraman, is kneeling and filming the scene.

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Four young people are gathered around a whiteboard on a table, writing on it with markers. The whiteboard is covered in handwritten words, and the young people appear to be collaborating on a project.

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A close-up portrait of an elderly Indigenous person with white hair, wearing large headphones. They are looking up and to the side with a contemplative expression.

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A large group of young Indigenous people are gathered under a tree, holding a red, yellow, and black Aboriginal flag behind them. Several people are raising their fists, and a young woman in a black hoodie is speaking into a megaphone.

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A group of seven young people are silhouetted against a bright sky, standing on a red dirt mound. Each person has one arm raised and pointed forward, as if they are superheroes.

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A group of five young Indigenous people are sitting on the ground in a circle with an adult woman in a blue top. They are in a natural setting with tall grass and trees. The woman is gesturing and talking to the group, which appears to be in an outdoor discussion circle.

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A close-up portrait of two young Indigenous women with traditional body paint on their faces and chests. They are looking up and to the side with serious expressions. The woman on the left has yellow dots on her face, and the woman on the right has white paint. A fire is blurred in the background.

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A silhouette of two people against a vibrant sunset sky. One person is on the left, holding up a camera as if taking a picture or filming. The person on the right has their arms spread wide, facing the scenic view.

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Desert Pea Media

Desert Pea Media

  • Culture
  • Education

Compelling storytelling for personal change, stronger communities and a more connected Australia

Through compelling storytelling, Desert Pea Media creates opportunities for positive personal change and social impact in Indigenous communities across Australia. For 20+ years, we have championed community-led truth-telling through dynamic creative processes such as film, music, digital media and performance and grown a powerful platform to amplify Indigenous voices to the world.

We are a cross-cultural organisation exploring the intersection of story, culture, wellbeing, education, awareness and change. We’ve worked with thousands of Elders, young people, knowledge-holders and service providers to re-connect to themselves, their Cultural Identity, their communities, and Australia as a Nation.

These stories connect us all.

$
Our Impact
200+
Projects delivered
90+
Indigenous Communities engaged
7,600+
Indigenous project participants
31
Indigenous Employment and Training
6 million+
YouTube Views
2 million+
Views of DPM Productions on Social Media in 24/25
6
National Indigenous Music Awards
Building Pride & Connection
Community-led, inter-generational conversations around country, history, cultural identity and community building a sense of cultural pride and belonging.
Education Resources
DPM productions used in schools and Universities around Australia and globally for cultural education purposes
High-Profile Presentations
DPM Productions screened in significant locations including exhibitions, awards shows and events.
Mentoring & Employment
Supporting a new generation of Indigenous creatives through mentoring and employment opportunities. Building legacy in community.
Links with Services
Connecting Indigenous young people with community services building relationships & trust through culturally safe engagements
Recent achievements
An Indigenous man in a blue t-shirt sits on a floor cushion, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. He is looking off to the side with a serious, engaged expression.

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Strategic Development 2025

For over 23 years, Desert Pea Media’s community projects and media outputs have become part of the cultural and creative fabric of Indigenous communities across Australia. The DPM Strategy Development process seeks to maximise our social impact through improvements in organisational viability & developing new funding partnerships. We are undertaking assessment/research of current models, resources, processes and partnerships, and design and develop more sustainable, impactful models, with a sequence of specialist consultants: • Impact Specialist • Fundraising & Partnerships Specialist • Marketing & Communications Specialist • Indigenous Psychotherapist (developing a new ‘Creative Resilience’ Program Model) Overall Strategy Development Outcomes: • Assessment/review of resources, processes and program models. • Development of an Impact Strategy – Developing/refining our ‘Impact Story’ – via assessment of our ‘key messaging’ and various media/public interfaces and presentations. • Identifying opportunities for maximising the social impact of DPM’s community storytelling and diversifying/accessing new audiences. • Develop a Marketing & Communications Strategy (building from Impact Strategy) • Develop a Fundraising & Partnerships Strategy - Identifying/targeting new core funding opportunities through philanthropic, government and corporate partnerships for organisational sustainability and ongoing viability (building from Impact Strategy). • Creative Resilience Program development - Collaboration with Wiradjuri Psychotherapist Tracy Lynch, developing and testing new creative resources, tools and practices to support participants and creatives to manage crisis, trauma and wellbeing. Partnerships DPM is now looking for strong funding partnerships to enable: a) The implementation and assessment of new program models and pilot projects. b) Investment in independent research & long-term impact measurement. c) Expansion of organisational model to increase Indigenous employment. d) ‘Reconnection Sessions’ – building on existing community relationships to co-design customised, long-term initiatives with a focus on building foundation and sustainability in community.

A close-up, joyful group photo of three people. The person in the center with glasses has their arms around the shoulders of the other two, and they are all smiling broadly.

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DPM Futures (2024/25)

In 2024/25 DPM formalised its mentoring framework, engaging four emerging NSW-based Indigenous Creatives through the DPM Futures Program, focusing on: • Creative Development – writing, technical skills, recording, production, PR • Personal Development – wellbeing, purpose, confidence, goals • Professional Development – networks, business, marketing, social media Participants: • Lorraine Dutton (Barkindji) – Songwriter, Bourke NSW • Coby Cochrane (Gamileraay) – Filmmaker, Coffs Harbour NSW • Stewart Kapeen (Bundjalung) – Songwriter, Ballina NSW • Keisha Mitchell (Biripi) – Filmmaker, Taree NSW Program Framework: Regular online sessions, weekly mentoring, and paid participant hours. Intensive in-person activities (Creative Camp, Dec 2024, Bundjalung Country + individual Creative Development Intensives). Creative outputs included films, songs, music videos, social campaigns, and promotional design. Challenges/Learnings: • High impact but resource-intensive for DPM; future scale-up needs more staff, equipment and funding. • Remote living challenges required increased contact time; intensives were most effective. • Camps/intensives proved the most productive and inspiring. Outcomes: • Strongest outcome: personal growth (confidence, focus, wellbeing). • Significant creative and business skill development. • In-person intensives were unanimously the highlight. Conclusion: The DPM Futures Program delivered strong cultural, social, and organisational impact. DPM is embedding these mentoring practices into long-term growth and designing a co-investment model to ensure sustainability and legacy. 

A black and white portrait of a young Indigenous man with a mustache, wearing a white baseball cap backwards and a polo shirt. A sweater is draped over his shoulders, and his arms are crossed, showing a forearm tattoo. He is standing in front of a corrugated iron wall with graffiti on it.

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Crossroads Project

CROSSROADS is a community engagement program empowering Indigenous young people through impactful workshops and creative media productions. It focuses on cultural connection, wellbeing, leadership, and skills development, enabling participants to share stories, build capacity, and inspire social change. The program pilot model was delivered in 2023-24 with the Indigenous communities of Moree and Bourke NSW. This longer-term engagement model was designed as a response to the findings of independent project evaluations and was funded by NSW Government (via Office for Regional Youth). Creative Process CROSSROADS fosters solution-focused discussions and dynamic media creation on key cultural and social issues. In Moree and Bourke, young people, community members, and Elders collaborated on projects including songwriting, films, interviews, performances, and digital media. Skills Development Young people undertook training in leadership, media production, facilitation, digital storytelling, building skills, community capacity, and job readiness. Each community received a media kit (laptops, audio, cameras) with relevant experiential training. CULTURAL EXCHANGE CAMP This intensive cultural exchange project brings selected participants to partner communities to foster personal and cultural growth. The group visited significant cultural sites around Moree and Bourke, interacting with Elders and knowledge holders building connection and cultural education. Community Events: These “Media Corroboree” events showcased the achievements of the participant during the program and provided a platform for celebration and social cohesion. These events were hosted by project participants and community leaders. They featured a mix of multi-arts including theatre, film, dance, and projections. They also included Q&A-style discussion forums discussing social issues from participants, Elders, service providers and community members. Evaluation Findings: • Stronger community relationships in both towns • Inclusive, youth-focused, culturally safe • Catalyst for creativity and change • Pride in young people, challenging stereotypes • Growth in local creative industries and enterprise DPM is currently rolling out the next phase of CROSSROADS in Kuranda NQ in 2025 & 2026.

A person with a camera is on a sandy beach, filming two Indigenous men. The men are wearing traditional body paint, and one of them is using a stick to make fire by rubbing it against the ground. They are surrounded by trees.

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Break It Down - Community Conversations Around Wellbeing

Break It Down is an Original Nations youth mental health literacy program focused on social and emotional wellbeing, and drug and alcohol prevention. The project brings together Desert Pea Media (DPM), local Aboriginal communities, Elders, young people, Aboriginal Health Services, and representatives from health and education sectors through creative workshops and digital storytelling. History Launched in 2017/18 with Western NSW Primary Health Network (WNSW PHN), the program has since expanded to 24 communities across Western NSW, North Queensland and Northern Rivers NSW. Each project uses music, film, performance and media to spark community-led conversations around mental health and wellbeing. The model evolved to include the Break It Down Road Show, sharing community-created work and opening up broader discussion around: • Access to mental health services and community support • Stigma and perceptions of mental health • Social and cultural challenges • Cultural identity and pride • Self-esteem and capacity Next Steps DPM is working with Wiradjuri psychologist Tracy Lynch to integrate Indigenous-designed wellbeing frameworks into Break It Down 2.0, creating a shared language around grief, trauma and mental health. The new phase responds to community feedback, particularly from regions with limited access to support, blending Indigenous healing approaches with western wellbeing models. DPM is seeking funding partners to help design and pilot new education tools, film content and digital resources that build local capacity and strengthen community wellbeing.

An indoor view of a modern stage with a large curved video screen on the left. The screen is displaying a close-up image of a person. The stage floor is black, and there are lights and speakers set up. The ceiling and walls have a white, modern design.

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Osaka World Expo

Desert Pea Media was approached by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to screen some of our films and music videos at the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan as part of a program of contemporary Indigenous media that showcases community perspectives and creative/cultural storytelling. The pavilion has had over 2M+ visitations and counting! Productions screened: • The Mob - Dhinawan Touch the Stars' – Walgett,NSW • KDA Crew – “Djabuganydji Bama” – Kuranda, QLD • The Lúrra Collective 'Homeland Calling' - Maningrida, NT • KAKADU COLLECTIVE - 'MAYALI ft. VICTOR ROSTRON' – Jabiru NT Congrats to all the communities involved – your stories are going global!

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