Getting Back Home and Staying at Home
We piloted the Getting Back Home and Staying at Home programs, which ensured Martu communities living in the Western Desert were able to stay on or quickly get back to Country when accessing healthcare, transactional services or transport.
The Getting Back Home project is an initiative led by Martu organisation Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa and provides safe transport for Martu people to get back from Newman to their remote communities.
The Staying at Home program involved installing satellite technology in the Western Deserts and creating telehealth and digital hubs in Kunawarritji, Parnngurr, Punmu and Jigalong, so Martu people living in these communities no longer have to travel several days on red dusty roads to Newman for basic services like telehealth medical appointments, banking, licencing, judicial or Centrelink.
These programs allow Martu people to remain on country while giving them access to the services that the rest of Australia takes for granted.
Martu Patrol
Martu leaders, in collaboration with the Newman Women’s Shelter, Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa and WA Police, successfully launched the Martu Patrol in response to an increase in youth crime.
The Martu Patrol originally ran three nights a week, with Martu people patrolling the streets checking in on young people to make sure they had food and a safe space to stay, while diverting them from criminal behaviour.
The program not only keeps young people safe and fed, it also provides employment for Martu people, who best understand the local community and are fluent in both Martu Wangka and English, helping them liase with families.
The program, so far, has been such a success that it has been expanded to operate every night of the week.
East Newman Activation
The East Newman Activation is a Newman Futures project working with local families and organisations to create a stronger, safer and connected East Newman.
At the heart of the program is Train Park, where regular activities are hosted to create a strong community and a sense of community pride.
In the first year of the program, more than 100 community initiatives were delivered to more than 2000 people in Newman.
This collaboration is an ongoing success, with school holiday programs, health and wellbeing programs, movie nights, art trails and so much more.
East Newman Precinct Structure Plan
Nyiyaparli asked Martu to look after Jigalong many, many years ago. Many years later, this agreement was formalised on pen and paper in 2020 when Nyiyaparli and Martu signed the This is Our Dream Cultural Compact, outlining a vision for a better future in Newman.
In 2022, the first step of this vision was realised when Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation, Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation and Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service lodged the East Newman Precinct Structure Plan, the first project that was developed as a result of the Cultural Compact.
The ENPSP is the first in a series of steps aimed at improving conditions in East Newman to allow for better opportunities for Strong Culture and Strong Families.
We invite you to listen, learn and support us on this journey.
You can read more about the ENPSP here.
