Our immersions are all-inclusive, comprehensive programs designed to connect groups to the beauty and realities of life in First Nations people.
At Red Earth we practice allyship and support, connecting your groups with real experiences that Traditional Owners choose to share on their own terms.
Traditional Owners have chosen to work with Red Earth because of the reputation we have gained across Australia within the vast yet intimate networks among families and communities we partner with.
This Bush Telegraph and word-of-mouth referral system has led to new opportunities for families developing their homes and businesses over 12 years.
Through Immersion programs, Red Earth supports First Nations businesses, providing sustainable employment on Country.
Additionally, Red Earth groups support Homelands and Communities with fundraising investments and hands-on projects that continue to build upon their vision for a functionally sustainable space and home. Please see our Fundraising page here.
Are you an individual adult? Join a public immersion in 2024. Click here to apply.
Check our Impact Scores here.
We are an organisation driven by our First Nations partners in the homelands of remote Australia. Our mission is to create genuine connections with First Nations People the help they need if they wish to welcome and open the hearts of young Australians to their country, culture, and way of life. We only make our resources available if we’re asked to help. Traditional Owners are the ones that decide if and when people should come onto their land, not us.
There are flushing or drop toilets everywhere we go. Most of our partner homelands have shower facilities but you may have to go a few nights without, particularly in the winter. The amenities will be basic, but this is definitely not a bush survival camp so we will make sure you feel comfortable and safe.
While there will be opportunities for the group to forage bush foods, there will be three fresh food deliveries throughout the immersion with a focus on big healthy meals. We cater for every kind of dietary requirement and expect students and staff to participate in the preparation of food.
An important part of Red Earth’s mission is to help create sustainable homelands so that Traditional Owners can live on their ancestral land. Elders tell us their vision for their homeland and the type of projects they would like help with, and students then fundraise for and sometimes physically work on those projects with their host communities.
Red Earth takes its responsibility to ensure that each person attending an immersion gives, grows and leads very seriously. We design a pre-departure program tailored for your specific region and itinerary, and will meet with the group twice in the lead up to departure to ensure everyone is prepared for the journey ahead.
We take safety very seriously, and it informs every aspect of an immersion. You can read more about our approach to safety at https://www.redearth.edu.au/safety/
Changes to your proposed itinerary and activities are likely and part of travelling to remote First Nations communities. The availability of our partner homelands may change for practical or cultural reasons, but conversations and personal connection with Traditional Owners and their families are at the heart of all Red Earth immersions. Our strong network of partner homelands means we can guarantee an authentic experience with deep connections regardless of where your group travels to.
I consider myself very lucky to have been able to visit the APY lands and to spend time with the local communities, learning their traditions and culture... As a result, we have all grown much closer. I feel my life has been enriched in many ways by this experience.
- Jessica Brincat, Ray White Group
It was a fabulous opportunity for me to get immersed in First Nation Culture, to learn about them and the challenges they face in their day-to-day lives. Every Australian needs to experience this immersion. There is so much that needs to be done for the betterment of Traditional Owners of our lands.
- Anjani Jaswal, Telstra Corporation
Two months later and the time spent on Country still resonates deeply within. The space to disconnect and distance from the usual hectic flow of life was the perfect backdrop to reflect on and reassess what really matters. Everyone who came on our expedition with Red Earth retuned home different in some meaningful way.
- Cameron Webb, SVP of Member Experiences, Innovation Bay