About Us
A return to the Earth, to culture, to ancient ways of living
Wayapa Wuurrk® was born from ancient knowledge and a deep truth: real wellbeing cannot exist without connection to the Earth.
Jaime Marloo Thomas and Teah Andrew
Our Story
Rooted in cultural integrity, vision, and deep care for Country
In 2013, Jamie Marloo Thomas — a proud Gunnai/Kurnai and Maar man — began developing Wayapa Wuurrk as a practice to shift how we think about wellness.
His vision was to reintroduce Earth into the well-known concept of “Mind, Body, Spirit,” creating a holistic approach that placed Country at its core.
A year later, in 2014, Wayapa Wuurrk® became the first Indigenous wellness modality accredited by the International Institute for Complementary Therapists (IICT). What began as Jamie’s vision has since grown into a global movement, embraced and shared by a diverse community of certified practitioners who walk gently with the Earth and guide others to do the same.
Today, Wayapa is led by Jamie Thomas and his partner Teah Andrew — a proud Njarrindjeri, Waddi Waddi, and Yorta Yorta woman. Together, they form a powerful partnership rooted in cultural integrity, vision, and deep care for Country.
In a time where modern wellness is often commercialised and disconnected from its roots, Wayapa stands apart. It is not a trend or a product — it is a return. A return to the Earth, to culture, to the ways of living that sustained the world’s oldest continuous culture for over 100,000 years.
Guided by Jamie and Teah, Wayapa Wuurrk continues to honour its foundation pillars while expanding its reach and evolving its practice for future generations. This is more than a wellness practice — it is a movement of reconnection, belonging, and hope:
Back to the Earth. Back to the Beginning.
Our Vision
Reconnecting people to Earth through Indigenous wisdom, with training and programs that guide individuals, communities and organisations to live with purpose, balance and care for Country.
Our People
We are educators and innovators. We care deeply about our students and push them to a relentlessly high bar each day. We are creating economic mobility in the communities that need it most. We are building the future of higher education.
Our patrons
Wayapa Wuurrk® is proudly supported and endorsed by our Elders:
Ngarrindjeri Senior Elders Uncle Major “Moogy” Sumner AO and Aunty Loretta “Bubbles” Sumner
Peek Whuurrung Kirrae Whuurrung Maara Senior Elders Aunty Daphne Lowe, Aunty Adeline Thomas & Uncle Rob Lowe.
Giving Back
Wayapa Wuurrk is a recognised Indigenous Social Enterprise*
As a business, we proudly support the following charities:
● The Australian Dingo Foundation
● International Fund For Animal Welfare
● Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation Fund (Bushfire Recovery)
* An organisation that is driven by a public or community cause, receives most of their income from business trade and uses at least 50% of their profits to work towards their social mission is considered a social enterprise. An Indigenous social enterprise must be 50% or more Aboriginal-owned.
