Ngatanwarr! Welcome to Ochre Dough, the Aunty-run Sensory PLAY dough, arts & craft brand!

I’m Mikaela Egan, a proud Muthi Muthi/Gunditjmara woman, and I’m so excited that you’ve landed here 🙋🏽‍♀️ The little people in my life call me Aunty Maki - my favourite role yet. While I don’t have kids of my own, I’m blessed with plenty of little ones who bring me so much joy and love.

Ochre Dough began as an idea to connect children and families to Country and culture through sensory play and has grown into something truly special. It all started with making homemade Aboriginal flag playdough as a fun, tangible way to introduce children to our culture, and then evolved into colouring playdough with ochre respectfully collected on Country. That simple idea quickly blossomed into a broader vision of sensory play, arts, and crafts.

Coming from a family where art and creativity were woven into everyday life, I learned early on to see beauty and possibility in everything. My Nan was a brilliant, resourceful woman who always found imaginative ways to create and share her work, inspiring me to follow in her footsteps. Today, I carry that legacy forward with a passion for nurturing creativity in many forms.

It’s about connecting to culture and Country 🤎 exploring our culture in a modern way that nurtures creativity, expression, and connection - all through the magic of play!

Play is a powerful way for children to learn and develop. It’s also a great way to spark creativity & curiosity in young minds. Our goal is to create meaningful experiences for you and your boorais (babes) that invite everyone to explore, play and learn together.

Step into the world of sensory play, where every squish and squeeze not only engages the senses but also deepens our connection to the stories of this land that we all share 🙏🏽🍃

Lets walk together, learn together & play together!

Our Commitment to Culture & Sustainability

Values & Sourcing

We are committed to honouring and celebrating the richness of Aboriginal cultures through the products we create - each designed to educate, build connection, and cultivate respect and understanding in children and families.

While our playdough is lovingly made on Bangerang Country, we recognise that not all our materials originate here. In today's global world, achieving perfect alignment can be challenging. We see this complexity as an opportunity to honour evolving traditions while embracing modern methods to create sustainable opportunities and reclaim the economic power long denied to our people.

We make thoughtful, responsible choices by sourcing safe, non-toxic materials and partnering with suppliers who prioritise sustainable practices and/or actively give back to Aboriginal communities. Our commitment to reciprocity is an ongoing journey and as our business grows, we are continuously exploring ways to reinvest in the communities and lands that nurtured our cultural heritage for generations.

As we evolve, we remain dedicated to creating a future where the practical need to earn a living is balanced with our commitment to preserving and celebrating our culture. We understand that operating in this space comes with challenges, and we continuously work to ensure our everyday practices support a sustainable, culturally respectful future 🤎