Meet Darinka Ondrovcik, the owner of The Awakening Journey, a small business based on the Sunshine Coast, QLD.
Darinka is a proud Kamilaroi woman, born and raised on Wiradjuri Country in Dubbo, NSW. She is also a mum of four girls and has more than 10 years of experience working as an Aboriginal Health Practitioner and Endorsed Enrolled Nurse. She has worked across hospitals and community health services, with a strong focus on supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families.
Darinka’s business “The Awakening Journey” is a First Nations-owned business that Darinka started in April this year. The business is dedicated to creating culturally safe and relevant resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families. The aim is to support women, children, and families through pregnancy, child development, and overall well-being, while helping to close the gap in health outcomes.
Darinka’s mission is to reduce health disparities and close the gap by advocating for culturally safe, individualised care that supports and empowers families to achieve better health outcomes. She is deeply committed to addressing the unique health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, particularly in rural and remote areas, by promoting early detection, chronic condition management, and better access to healthcare services.
Read more about Darinka’s business journey so far:
Darinka’s Business
I am an Aboriginal Health Practitioner and an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse with over 10 years of experience working with women and families. I started my business, The Awakening Journey, in April this year after spending more than a year developing the resources. My business is very new, but it is built on my passion for supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Working with Many Rivers
I worked with Queensland Health in the First Nations Antenatal program and First Nations Child Health program. I also worked in NSW Health Aboriginal Maternal Infant Health Service program. These experiences gave me a deep understanding of the needs of women, children, and families, and inspired me to create resources that bridge gaps, strengthen cultural identity, and empower families.
How did you find out about Many Rivers?
I found Many Rivers through a Facebook advertisement.
Why did you want to go into business?
I started my business to make a real difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families. I have worked in this space for many years, and as a mum, I’ve seen firsthand the barriers families face when culturally safe resources and support are limited. The health sector often lacks cultural connection and understanding which can make accessing care unsafe and contribute to poorer outcomes, and too many women and children go without the support and care they need. My goal is to change that by creating tools and resources that empower families, honour culture, and ensure every woman and child feels seen, supported, connected and safe.
What services did you receive from Many Rivers? How did it help?
I have been supported by Renee as my business coach. She has been amazing. She really listened and understood my values and business goals. She has supported me every step of the way, always looking for opportunities and connections to help me grow. She has also helped me with cashflow and given me ideas I might not have thought of on my own.
What did you find the most useful about the assistance from Many Rivers?
The most useful support has been having Renee as my business coach.
Did you get a loan from MR? How did you use the loan?
No I did not get a loan from Many Rivers.
Do you have any current employees? If so, how many employees? Are they full-time or part-time?
No, its just me.
Biggest Challenge
My business is still very new, and I have not faced any major challenges yet. So far, things are going smoothly, and everything feels like it is falling into place.
Biggest Success
The biggest success has been the support and encouragement from community. Other mob have backed me and really valued my vision. The feedback from community has been very positive. People keep telling me that I am on the right track and that these resources are needed in communities.
Biggest Change
Starting my business has been a huge learning journey and has deepened my passion for the work I do. For my family, it has shown that with dedication and hard work, dreams can be achieved. I hope to be a role model for my children, showing them that it is possible to be creative, take risks, and follow your vision while making a positive impact on the community.
Future Goals
I want to keep moving forward by developing more resources and products. I have big dreams and goals, and I want to keep challenging myself and growing my business so I can continue to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, families, and communities.
Thank you Darinka for sharing your business journey with us. We wish you the best of luck with future endeavours and business success.
If you would like to stay updated with Darinka’s small business, follow “The Awakening Journey” through the following links:
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