About Waalitj Foundation
The Waalitj Foundation is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) based in Perth. It was originally founded in 2001 as the David Wirrpanda Foundation.
The Foundation exists to support and enable the success of First Nations Peoples through programs that focus on education, employment, and business services. Their website is their principal digital asset.
Waalitj’s previous website was built on a basic WordPress CMS. They were ready for an upgrade and engaged us to conduct User Research with key stakeholders and then design and develop the new site based on our findings.
The challenge
We undertook User Research to learn what Waalitj wanted to achieve with their new website. This process helped us and the Foundation better understand their current site challenges and their new site goals.
Participants told us that the new website should tell Waalitj’s story, showcase the Foundation's work, and highlight its connection to the community. They also wanted to correct the misconception that Waalitj only provides programs related to kids and sports. In fact, Waalitj’s program offering is very broad, which is one of its key points of difference for both program participants and funding partners. Highlighting this would be key to positioning the new website effectively.
Making the website a culturally safe space was also a major project goal. Waalitj stakeholders wanted the new site to build trust and community through accessible content and inclusive imagery. In particular, they wanted program page information to be clear and accessible so users could easily understand each program’s eligibility criteria and unique selling point. To do this effectively, program pages would need to address different audience groups.
Finally, they wanted a website that was optimised for engagement, specifically:
- Event attendance
- Donations
- Form submissions
The solution
We designed and developed a new website built on a WordPress CMS. Our design team incorporated the Foundation’s existing branding and brand colours to create a visually stunning site filled with graphic elements and interactive features that really pop on the screen. The new site offers substantially more functionality than the previous WordPress site, but also features a familiar CMS that the marketing team can easily manage.
Sharing a story
To tell the Waalitj Foundation's story, we used a WordPress plugin to create an engaging, visually rich historical timeline that shows how the Foundation has grown over the years. We also used images and videos of people who resembled the website’s target audience to help users identify with the Foundation’s content. Our design team ensured that Waalitj’s design motifs were incorporated throughout the site, creating a cohesive visual story.
Building trust
For program descriptions, we used accessible language complemented by visual aids to clearly describe what programs offer, who they’re for, and where they’re based. To build trust and show social proof, we included testimonials and impact statistics with a number-counter widget to emphasise the positive outcomes of each program. We also included team member profiles so potential participants would know who they would be working with and a “Getting Involved” tabbed widget that provides content relevant to different audience groups, e.g. students, parents and schools.
Driving engagement
The website includes a custom event module that integrates directly with Eventbrite, ensuring event details are always up to date. We also connected the website’s forms with Dynamics CRM so that all submissions feed directly into the CRM, making it easier for the marketing team to engage with potential participants and sponsors. Finally, we used iFrames to embed a user-friendly donations module and custom jobs listing, and a plugin to present annual reports in a more engaging flipbook format.
