Mikaela Egan’s small business is giving kids a new way to connect to Country.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Through play, Mikaela Egan is helping even the littlest minds connect to culture and Country.
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As a Muthi Muthi and Gunditijmara woman, Miss Egan is a proud Aunty who wants to help introduce the rich culture of Indigenous Australians and their connection to Country to children through sensory play, arts and crafts.
Through her small business, Ochre Dough, she has created a line of products that are not only designed to be fun, but also offer an age-appropriate way to introduce children to the culture.
Miss Egan said the ideas came to her while using playdough with her nephew.
“My nephew and I were playing with it one day, and I started googling and fell down this rabbit hole, that people can make it, I can make it,” she said.
“I had some red ochre and some yellow ochre that we collected from Country, and I dyed the playdough, and it was just beautiful.”
Currently, Miss Egan runs Ochre Dough out of her Shepparton home, making everything in house.
“The whole idea is for all children, so Aboriginal and non Aboriginal, to connect to culture and Country through sensory play,” she said.
“It all started with an Aboriginal flag playdough kit with an Aboriginal flag sensory tray, and that went really well.
“And then from there, the ideas were just stemming ... all about having educational components with play.”
Mikaela Egan designs and makes all the products herself, including these sensory trays in the shape of Australia and an emu egg.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Everything at Ochre Dough is made and designed by Miss Egan, with playdough dyed and scented with ochre, bush tucker, lemon myrtle and more, as well as moulds, stamps and sensory trays.
“We do play-dough, we do accessories, but having all kids better connect to that in such a natural way and embedding Aboriginal perspectives into the early years is something that is really important,” she said.
“It is also part of the curriculum now, and it’s a big push for early childhood and schools to be learning, and with our products, it’s got both — it’s the learning and play with them.
“With the Lemon Myrtle Playdough mix, for example, it comes with information about lemon myrtle and how to use it, what it was traditionally used for and how it’s used today.”
Miss Egan said the business had taken off in the past year, and had been popular with early childhood educators.
“It’s been surreal ... this has taken off,” she said.
“I get nervous before I send something out, I’m like ‘I hope they like it, I hope I haven’t stuffed anything up’.
“And then when I get nice feedback ... it's a really lovely feeling.”
Ochre Dough ships Australia-wide, with free shipping for Shepparton customers.
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