Round 1 Recipients
Five First Nations Women have been named the recipients of Ember Connect’s first round of Game Changer Grants for 2024.
Ember Connect received an amazing 91 applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women seeking financial support across a variety of professional, cultural and personal enrichment activities. Our Game Changer Grants are made possible through our partnership with BHP.
| Recipient Name | Location | Funded Activity |
| Kalani Ives | Qld | Iron Woman Series |
| Shanae McGuire | WA | Berry Street Education Model Training |
| Patricia (Trish) Ratajczak | WA | Midwifery Conference |
| Rosie Lang | QLD | Trauma EMDR Training |
| Samala Cronin | VIC | Fashion Award Nominee – Attend Awards |
Meet the Game Changers...
Click here to find out more about these five inspiring women.
Round 2 - Side Hustles
Wamba Wamba woman Taleesha Davis received a $5,000 Game Changer grant towards her small business Lash and Beauty by Taleesha. Taleesha will use the funding to undertake specialist training and expand her services.
“I feel as an Aboriginal woman there isn’t much support for women like us,” Taleesha wrote in her application. “We deserve to be successful women, to provide for our family, and I want to be the change to build financial freedom for my future.
“This grant would change my life as I’ve been working so hard to be the change for my future and my little family, by showing my daughter that nothing comes easy, and you must work hard. With it starting with me I can share this successful business with her one day.”
Banjima woman Keshi Moore and Palawa woman Maggie Blanden also received a $5,000 Game Changer Grant, which will support their co-founded initiative, Naarm Law Students. Keshi and Maggie are recent graduates of Melbourne Law School and established Naarm Law Students to provide free community legal education to young people.
“By equipping youth with knowledge about their rights and the legal resources available to them, we empower them to make informed decisions and advocate for themselves effectively.” Keshi and Maggie wrote in their application.
“Educating young people also fosters a culture of legal literacy from an early age, helping to build a foundation for more informed, engaged, and resilient future citizens. In the next 12 months, Naarm Law Students aims to facilitate at least 40 educational sessions, building on topics such as protest rights, renters’ rights, and an introduction to the court system.
“Our goal is to collaborate with other organisations offering similar services, such as Melbourne Activities Legal Support, to create a unified network of legal education for youth.”
Round 3 Recipients
Larrakia and Wadjigan woman Dr Carmen Cubillo will use her Game Changer grant to help cover travel costs to attend the 2025 Neuroscience of Play Therapy Summit, which will be held in Florida in February. In her role as a registered play therapist working with families in Darwin, Tiwi Islands and Katherine, Dr Cubillo has been invited to present at the 2025 Summit on neuroscience, art and culture in play therapy.
Amber Ugle-Hayward is a proud Noongar woman with connections to Mineang, Ballardong and Wilman country, who will use her grant to mentor youth across Western Australia as part of her Yarning Tour. Amber will visit schools across the state between February and October 2025 to share her own story of resilience and engage in meaningful conversations about overcoming obstacles and pursuing their dreams. Amber will use storytelling, workshops and open discussions to empower teens to recognise their potential and build a supportive community.
Noongar woman Rosalyn Bynder will use her grant to grow her stationery and fashion brand Chartay Creations. Rosalyn started sewing facemasks, scrunchies, and headbands from home during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since expanded her range to include textiles and merchandise like mugs, drink bottles, coasters, and lanyards, all featuring her original designs. Rosalyn will purchase a sublimation printer and sublimation oven, allowing her to take full control of her production process, reduce expenses and offer greater flexibility for customers.
All shortlisted applicants are considered by an independent review committee. We thank all those who applied in 2024, and encourage you to apply for future Game Changer Grants and other Ember Connect opportunities.
