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At Burch&Co, we believe that personal growth, community connection and professional development also happens beyond the office. Each year, we award Developmental Bonuses to team members who consistently bring their authentic selves to work and embody the spirit and values of Burch&Co. The bonus is used to fund an experience that will challenge and inspire the team member, and help them grow both personally and professionally.
In 2025, our Community & Team Manager, Millie Quinlan was awarded this bonus. As part of this recognition, Burch&Co funded Millie to attend the 2026 Garma Festival in North-East Arnhem Land, providing an opportunity to learn from Indigenous leaders and communities, deepen her understanding of culture and connection, and bring those insights back to our team and wider community.
Hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, Garma is Australia’s largest Indigenous gathering, bringing together First Nations leaders, communities, organisations, businesses and individuals from across the country to share Knowledge, stories, art, song and dance. Guided by this year’s theme, Bukmak (Everyone), the festival created opportunities for meaningful conversations about culture, connection, inclusion and community.
Millie attended Garma as one of 102 volunteers participating in a volunteer program facilitated by GoodCompany, an organisation that connects people and businesses with purpose-driven volunteering opportunities.
For Millie, the opportunity was a natural extension of her role leading community, culture and team initiatives across the firm.
“Garma offered an opportunity to learn directly from community, rather than through a report, podcast or social media post. It was a chance to listen, observe and better understand what inclusion, belonging and connection look like in practice.”
Learning Through Participation
Before the festival commenced, volunteers worked alongside members of the local community preparing the grounds for the days ahead.
One of those tasks involved collecting saplings from stringybark trees to help construct shade structures around the buŋgul grounds. Through the process, volunteers learned about Country from those around them, including which trees could be used and how to identify the distinctive green ant nests found among the branches.
During the festival itself, Millie supported both the ticketing and rapid response teams, helping welcome attendees and providing operational support across the site.
While the responsibilities varied from day to day, the experience reinforced a consistent theme: community is built through participation, contribution and showing up.
Reflections from Garma
Since returning from Arnhem Land, Millie has spent time reflecting on the lessons she will carry forward into her work and everyday life.
Two-way learning matters
One of the most powerful aspects of Garma was the opportunity to learn through shared conversations and lived experience.
The festival demonstrated that meaningful learning is not about arriving with answers. It begins with curiosity, openness and a willingness to listen.
Community is built through repeated presence
Strong communities are rarely created through a single interaction or event.
Instead, they are built through consistency, trust and a commitment to showing up over time. Whether in a workplace, neighbourhood or broader community, belonging grows through ongoing participation.
Respect often means slowing down
Many of the most valuable lessons came not from formal sessions, but from taking the time to listen.
In a world that often rewards speed and immediate responses, Garma was a reminder that understanding requires patience, observation and genuine attention.
Inclusion requires intention
This year’s theme, Bukmak (Everyone), prompted reflection on what it truly means to create spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued and included.
It challenged guests and volunteers to think beyond representation and consider how communities, workplaces and organisations can intentionally create environments where people feel they belong.
Why Experiences Like This Matter
At Burch&Co, we believe professional development extends beyond technical skills.
Experiences that expose our people to different perspectives, communities and ways of thinking help shape stronger leaders, better listeners and more connected team members.
Supporting opportunities such as Garma aligns with our commitment to continuous learning, community engagement and fostering meaningful relationships with the communities around us.
Looking Forward
Reflecting on her time at Garma, Millie describes the experience as both professionally valuable and personally enriching.
The lessons of listening, connection, respect and community continue to influence the way she approaches her work, and serve as a reminder that some of the most meaningful learning happens when we step outside our usual environments and engage directly with others.
We are grateful to the Yolŋu community for sharing their culture and knowledge so generously, and to GoodCompany for creating opportunities for people to contribute, learn and connect through service.
