The Ripple Effect...
The idea for Starwin was ignited in 2009 after conversations on Tiwi Islands with leader Maurice Rioli who was passionate about women having access to opportunities in sport and enterprise.
We set up in April 2010, and one of our first consulting projects was to service map and design a women's centre network for the Tiwi Islands. Sadly Maurice passed away Christmas Day in 2010, but in so many ways we have continued on the path he set out to create...
In following this dreaming to establish a collective, to grow a 'Made with Kindness' economy (MK Eco), we have been making herstory.
Our team of women in enterprise have a dream to design one-of-a-kindness solutions for you, for enterprises and for community and continue to pay it forward.
From little things, big things grow. Over a decade of operating across the north has seen us support the start up/growth of 200+ of community enterprises and provide career pathways support for 100s of young leaders.
Here is a snapshot of our journey so far...
April 2010: Starwin Management was founded offering consulting services for sports and community service organisations and talent management for young athletes in collaboration with Blue Rock Sports.
We sponsored and set up the established of the Nightcliff Tigers Women's Football program, coordinating this from 2010-2012.
January 2011: TalentEd - a career pathways program for young people in the top end was founded, in collaboration with Hoops for Health, Intensity Sports and Red Dust Role Models. TalentEd ran until 2015 as an annual program, with over 100 young people taking part.
1 September 2012: 1 Step 2 Star was founded, in honour of Maurice Rioli (RIP), gifting over 100 pairs of shoes & boots to talented young athletes in two years, with thanks to the Cricket & Football Shop and Boots for All.
2013: We developed a Tapalinga Award and a Diamonds from Dust leadership Leadership program with Diamond Creek Football Club. Two young Tiwi women took three trips to Melbourne to further their football and leadership experience. Both have gone on to be strong leaders in community and volunteers for our Tiwi Youth Girls Leadership programs that followed.
July 2013: Starwin Shopfront was established in Darwin, invited by Holiday Inn to set up on site. We led the way as Darwin first dedicated social enterprise Shopfront. We hosting Hoops for Health Aboriginal Corporation for 18 months in this space.
2013: Our work experience program for remote students also kicked off, growing to include partnerships with Tiwi College, St Johns College, The Smith Family and more. This continues to grow with our Port Douglas site in 2019 welcoming Duke of Ed students from Cape York Girl Academy. Well over a 100 young people have made the most of their experience.
August 2014: The Tiwi Bombers Youth Girls Leadership program was founded, with the Tiwi Bombers U15s Youth Girls team going on to win three premierships in a row. In 2015 an under 18s girls program was added to create new pathways.
We became a booking agent for Sealink NT and funds from Tiwi tours and tickets supported the leadership program.
2014: Starwin in partnership with Australian Womensport led a Women In Sport Leadership series. This grew to Starwin hosting Good Sports NT at our Darwin Shopfront for two years.
2015: Starwin became NT's first ever B Corp, with our founder Karina Gray travelling to the USA for the Champions Retreat after receiving the Ron Evans Memorial Award for Leadership.
2016: The Tiwi Youth Girls Leadership Program with the Australian Defence Force was created and continues to run as an annual event
2017: We changed our branding to Starwin Social Enterprise with the mantra: Champions. Change. Community. And founded a series of community events at Starwin Shopfront; including Crafternoons, Jolly Good Therapy and Storytime at Starwin. We worked with Waratah Football Club to design their Rising Tahs program, which led to re-establishing their link to Tiwi Islands and a boom in junior participation.
Our Artist in Residence initiative was launched and continues in 2021
2017: We achieved certification as an Australian Made Retail Supporter
2018: Launched our Starwin Statement as a commitment to community. This included new initiatives in Higher Attire for Young Stars initiative - gifting free dresses to young women to celebrate their success. And establishing Mumpreneur Morning Teas to support women in enterprise
2018: We began growing our operations across the tropical north with Pop Up stalls and consulting projects happening in Port Douglas (QLD). Established partnerships with Walkabout Cultural Tours and Harbrow Mentoring.
2019: Launched MK Eco by Starwin: A one-of-a-kindness collective, opening our sistar shopfront in Port Douglas, QLD on May 20. This included a career pathways program in partnership with QLD Back to Work + NEATO + Cape York Girl Academy. And hosting weaving workshops with Delissa Walker as an artist in residence.
2019: Launched our Each One, Teach One Career Mentoring program with an Aboriginal Workforce grant from NTG. Supporting the establishment and growth of two enterprises; Kreative Karina and Elcho Clothing + employment pathways in collaboration with Youthworx NT.
2020: In celebration of a decade in business, we launched our 2020 Vision: Sea Change in January, and our new online hub in August. In July, Artist in Residence, Heneba Gutchen joined our Port Douglas team, hosting weaving workshops and completing commissioned artworks.
In October, our Darwin site launched our BC+ program in collaboration with Kreative Karina and Nickie White Creative.
2021: Our Darwin Share Space was created in January, with thanks to Babunabaree Aboriginal Corporation for redesigning our shopfront.
Our Women's Business Circles initiative began in March 2021, a series of events for women in enterprise to come together to connect and create.
In April 2021, we celebrated 11 years in enterprise by launching our new 2021 Vision: The Power of One
In 2021/22 we were awarded the NT Brolga Award for Tourism + Retail in the NT. We teamed up with Salty Plum Events for the submission.
In 2021 we activated the vacant shop 3/93 Mitchell street, at first supporting Mayala Bol to create The Cove, and then in 2022/2023 this tranisitoned to become the Ocean Rose share space, hosting several Lighting the Way youth leadership workshops.
From 2021 to 2023 we supported the Kaizi's family enterprise with their Cultural Integrity Leadership program.
In 2022 we teamed up with Career Trackers to host the first Indigenous work experience placement in the NT. Djamarlia continues to work with us and in 2023 and 2024 has led mentoring support for work experience students from St John's College.
In 2022 we wound up our Port Douglas shopfront after three years of providing career pathway opportunities for local Indigenous women. We continue to work across the north and supporting events in Cairns, Port Douglas and Daintree.
We commissioned artwork by Tiwi designer Clair Helen for our Made with Kindness Icons to improve awareness of product origin, launching this across our site in 2022.
In 2023 we were awarded the Aus Post Local Business Hero award (sole NT recipient). We pay this forward by offering free Starfish gift boxes for all online orders in a project raising awareness of the Tiwi Islanders campaign to save their sea country.
August to November 2023 we curated a pop up space for Joy. Ray. Flo - a legacy initiative on Yamatji Country at the Old Geraldton Gaol, launching the new eco children's brand Yirrikipayi Story by MK.
Supported by Office of Women, Gender and Diversity (NT) we held a series of free Infant Massage by Ebonie workshops during the wet season 2023/24.
In 2024 we kicked off our Island TYM workshop series, to support the start up of youth led creative enterprises.
Find our more about the ripple effects we create on our Creating Change page.
STARted in darWIN in 2010...We wanted young people to STARt WINning in life and focused on developing champions in sport, life and community.
Our model for economic development grew in 2019 with a Sea Change and a dream to grow a Made with Kindness Economy...
