Yilam
Camping in Greater Geelong

At Yilam we've always loved camping and being on Country and weve noticed that there is a real lack of representation of Aboriginal People and culture in the camping industry. Sadly, Aboriginal systems of knowledge and philosophies of connecting to and caring for Country have largely been ignored. Which is strange because who knows more about safely being on Country (camping) than us?

We also noticed a lot of rubbish being left behind at camp sites because a lot of the camping equipment currently on the market is made of cheap, flimsy materials.

Recognising this gap in the market, the idea of Yilam was born. We set about creating a range of ethically and sustainably sourced camping equipment, made from quality durable materials and designing a range of intimate camping experiences designed to teach people the philosophies of connecting to and caring for Country.

The word 'Yilam' is from the language of the Taungurung Nation - the first peoples of the rivers and the mountains in the highlands of Victoria. Pronounced 'yil-um' this word directly translates to 'camp'. However for our people the meaning is much deeper than that. Yilam means 'home' which of course, speaks to our brand ethos. We want to teach people to connect with and value nature - to treat Country as if it were their home - because ultimately it is
Which is why, at Yilam, caring for Country is at the core of all things we do and we want to share this philosophy with the camping community. Our 'Connecting to Country' experiences centre Aboriginal philosophies of caring for Country. We don't want to contribute to waste so, our 'On Country' range of camping equipment is created with high quality, durable camping equipment made from sustainably sourced materials.

As Aboriginal People we know that exploitation causes severe disadvantage and trauma for generations to come and we never want to benefit from the exploitation of others. Because of this we've worked with sourcing partners to ensure that our products are made in safe factories and that the people who make them are paid appropriately for their work.

Here at Yilam we believe that camping is for all people and that all people should be able to connect with Country if they want to. Our Connecting with Country experiences are safe and inclusive spaces to come together no matter your background. We want to empower all people to connect with Country in a respectful and safe way.

Yilam also offers a range of tailored corporate package options to suit your needs - no matter your industry. For thousands of years First Nations People have cared for and managed these lands, carefully cultivating intricate and sophisticated knowledge systems based on the fundamental belief that we are connected to all things. In line with this, our corporate packages are specifically designed to empower all people, no matter their background, to cultivate their own connection with Country.

We acknowledge and thank our Ancestors and Elders who so bravely walked before us. We acknowledge and pay our respects to Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their sovereign lands, that have never been ceded. To know about us, visit https://yilam.com.au/ today!