Winyama and Yarnda Foundation Announce Partnership to Expand Access to Indigenous Mapping Workshops Across Australia
BOORLOO PERTH, AUSTRALIA—July 3rd, 2026—Winyama and newly launched not-for-profit Yarnda Foundation have announced a strategic partnership to boost access to digital mapping training by acquiring the Indigenous Mapping Workshop (IMW) Australia.
After years of development under Winyama, the Indigenous Mapping Workshop Australia has reached a scale where it requires its own dedicated team and strategy to continue growing. Yarnda Foundation has been established as that next step. As an independent not-for-profit organisation, Yarnda has been designed to ensure the long-term sustainability, accessibility and cultural integrity of the program, as well as to expand into other areas of digital literacy and artificial intelligence.
Winyama joins Yarnda Foundation as a delivery partner, continuing its role in delivering high-quality geospatial services while supporting the broader vision of the foundation.
Winyama Managing Director, Andrew Dowding, said that the idea for the Yarnda Foundation began in 2021.
“We ran some really successful workshops even in those early years. The demand was there. Looking back on the reasons we didn’t launch then, we felt the program and the team were doing well. Last year we reached a realisation point that the growth of the program had outpaced the structure it was under. It was time for it to have its own dedicated home.”
In the years following those early workshops, the IMW program has delivered free workshops across the country, empowering Indigenous communities with geospatial skills and tools. Throughout this growth, one persistent challenge became clear: as a commercial organisation, Winyama faced limitations in accessing certain funding streams required to keep the program free and expand its reach.
Yarnda is an independent foundation that grew out of Winyama’s social impact work. As a not-for-profit organisation, Yarnda Foundation can overcome these limitations to continue providing accessible training for Mob.
Yarnda Foundation officially launched operations on July 1st, and has been working to bring together a network of approved delivery partners, with Winyama among the first.
Through this partnership, Indigenous communities, organisations and individuals can expect:
Continued access to accessible, high-quality training programs
Expanded reach of workshops and initiatives across Australia
Greater investment in expanding culturally appropriate program delivery
A clearer pathway from learning to real-world application
By separating the program into a dedicated not-for-profit, Yarnda Foundation ensures that funding can be directed entirely toward community impact, expanding on social initiatives that a commercial business couldn’t reach, and enabling future growth.
Executive Quotes
“We launched the Indigenous Mapping Workshop program the same year we launched Winyama. They’ve been melded together for so long, and it made sense to us because we really see geospatial as part of the solution for Mob to have equitable opportunities in the digital economy. But over the last few years, we’ve seen demand grow for two distinct needs: mapping training and organisation-level application for those ready to take it further. It’s the right time for these needs to have their own dedicated entity to meet them.”
Andrew Dowding, Managing Director, Winyama
“Reflecting on my time as the Program Manager for the Indigenous Mapping Workshop Australia at Winyama, I am deeply proud of what we have achieved.
Expanding this work into a dedicated not-for-profit with Yarnda is an exciting milestone.
While our structure is evolving, our core mission remains to support Mob with equitable opportunities that utilise technology to its full potential.
We're moving forward guided by our past successes and fully dedicated to delivering meaningful outcomes for our Mob.”
Kass Boladeras, Chief Executive Officer, Yarnda Foundation
Yarnda Foundation will announce further details on workshops, programs and opportunities for Mob in the coming months. Governance updates, including board meeting outcomes and public minutes, will also be made available as Yarnda Foundation progresses.
Winyama will continue to be available to Indigenous organisations seeking guidance and support with their geospatial data and infrastructure.
About Yarnda Foundation
Yarnda Foundation exists to provide culturally grounded, accessible training and programs for Indigenous communities across Australia. Its purpose is to remove barriers to participation, ensuring that communities can build the skills and confidence needed to manage, protect and represent their Country through participation in the digital economy.
About Winyama
Winyama is a leading, 100% Indigenous-owned geospatial consultancy specialising in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), data strategy and capability building. As a delivery partner of Yarnda Foundation, Winyama will continue to play a key role in delivering training and supporting organisations to build robust geospatial infrastructure.
Media Contacts
Yarnda Foundation
Amelia Speirs
Operational Support and Project Officer
