Pwerle Gallery has partnered with Emali Early Learning Centres, united by a shared vision of celebrating Aboriginal culture and embedding inclusivity across their community. Together we have embarked on a long-term journey to integrate Aboriginal perspectives into Emali’s curriculum, ensuring that children grow up surrounded by culture, story, and respect. For the initial phase of this collaboration, Emali commissioned a bespoke artwork by Charmaine Pwerle, an esteemed Aboriginal artist from the Atnwengerrp community and a mother of five.

Charmaine’s painting, The Emali Story, maps the locations of Emali’s centres across South Australia, linking each site through patterns that symbolise the trust, joy, and nurturing bonds formed in these spaces. Drawing inspiration from her own journey as a parent and her encounters with Emali’s centres, Charmaine captured the spirit of childhood learning and community connection. Infused with vibrancy and symbolism, her artwork celebrates the love, friendships, and respect that blossom within the centres while providing children with their first introduction to Aboriginal art and cultural knowledge.

The layout of the painting reflects the geographical spread of Emali’s centres, weaving them into a narrative that highlights both place and purpose. Using the visual language of her Anmatyerre and Alyawarre heritage, Charmaine incorporated motifs that speak to children’s joy and to the deep sense of belonging created within Emali’s nurturing environments. As a mother, she approached the project with empathy and understanding, designing a work that is engaging for young minds while carrying the weight of tradition and storytelling passed down for generations.

From the outset, Pwerle Gallery dedicated time to understanding Emali’s values, business, and community vision. Through close consultation with stakeholders, we selected Charmaine as the ideal artist to reflect their story. Once complete, her artwork was digitally adapted into a fully vectorised format, enabling Emali to apply it across multiple mediums — from uniforms and car wraps to interior displays, stationery, and even official documents such as Reconciliation Action Plans. Elements of the artwork were carefully pulled as icons, allowing it to live across platforms while maintaining its integrity and story.

“Our collaboration with Pwerle Gallery has empowered us to deepen our understanding of Australian Aboriginal culture. Through this journey, we were introduced to the remarkable talent of Aboriginal artist Charmaine Pwerle. Raised in the local community of Salisbury, Adelaide, Charmaine’s shared values and experiences make her the perfect collaborator for Emali”

– Natasha Pape, Emali Salisbury Director

This collaboration demonstrates the importance of introducing children to Aboriginal culture from the earliest stages of life. By seeing Charmaine’s artwork every day — in classrooms, on signage, and even in the clothes their teachers wear — children form a natural and lasting connection to Aboriginal perspectives. As Natasha Pape, Director of Emali Salisbury, expressed: “Our collaboration with Pwerle Gallery has empowered us to deepen our understanding of Aboriginal culture. Through this journey, we were introduced to the remarkable talent of Aboriginal artist Charmaine Pwerle. Raised in the local community of Salisbury, Charmaine’s shared values and experiences make her the perfect collaborator for Emali.”

The Emali Story has grown beyond a single artwork into a cultural identity for the centres. It is supported by creative storytelling through video, photography, and digital booklets that explain the symbols and meanings woven into every detail. With production support from Stepney Studios and We Create Print Deliver, this project showcases not only the beauty of Aboriginal art but its adaptability and relevance in today’s world. Most importantly, it ensures Aboriginal voices are embedded in children’s everyday experiences, teaching respect, inclusivity, and cultural pride from the very beginning.