Reflecting on NAIDOC Week and "50 Years of Deadly," Gadali is focused on the next half-century of digital leadership for First Nations people.

Our journey from a 2024 startup to a driving force for Indigenous self-determination in Australia’s tech sector is built on a clear premise: First Nations people must lead Australia's digital future, not just participate in it. There is incredible talent in our communities; the challenge is providing access to the networks, opportunities, and support needed to succeed. True digital leadership can come straight from Country, not just Silicon Valley.

A recent feature in the National Indigenous Times highlights how Gadali bridges the gap between corporate technology needs and First Nations economic empowerment:

Our Roots: How our founder Dustin McClung’s 25-year background at Sony Music navigating the digital streaming revolution shaped Gadali's agile approach to enterprise IT. Navigating an era where global music revenues halved provided firsthand expertise in large-scale digital transformation and resilience.
Commercial Innovation: Our partnership with South Australian aged care provider ECH, using cutting-edge AI technology to optimize complex workforce scheduling. Gadali uses these corporate tenders to hire Indigenous IT professionals and provide on-the-job training, keeping technical skills and commercial value within the community.
The Mura Yerra Initiative: The official launch of our structured mentoring program, matching emerging Indigenous tech talent with senior industry veterans and global tech alumni. The program was intentionally built mentor-first, securing backing from retired Microsoft leaders and industry veterans before recruiting participants.
A Shift in Corporate Mindset: Moving corporate Australia away from "tick-and-flick" short-term procurement targets toward genuine, long-term capability building on Country. Real economic empowerment requires moving past superficial "black cladding" arrangements to invest in lasting relationships and local career pathways.

The Next Chapter
To address low Indigenous representation in IT, our long-term vision includes a franchise-like model for rural and regional Aboriginal communities. This model aims to create high-value technology jobs locally so community members can build tech careers without leaving their heritage and families behind for the city.

About Gadali

Gadali is an Australian technology consultancy specialising in human-centred digital solutions across government, health, and community services. Working in close partnership with organisations and frontline teams, Gadali designs and delivers secure, scalable solutions using Microsoft technologies to improve workforce efficiency, service delivery, and realworld- outcomes

Let’s Keep the Conversation Going

If you’d like to continue the discussion or explore how data and AI can support your organisation, reach out to the Gadali team. We’d be glad to connect.

Book a time with us: https://gadali.com/bookmeeting

Featured in: National Indigenous Times