Regional Development Minister Don Punch has announced a $3.7 million funding boost to extend the operations of two key projects supporting the Martu people in the East Pilbara.
The announcement took place yesterday at the Martu Student Hostel in Newman, which received an additional $1.45 million in operational funding for the 2025 school year.
The hostel project, originally funded with $4 million from the State Government's Recovery Fund in 2020, converted three houses donated by BHP into separate accommodations for male and female students, along with a shared administration and meeting space.
Currently, ten students are enrolled at the hostel, including two Year 12 students who will be the first Martu students to graduate from Newman Senior High School this year.
The hostel has been welcomed by Martu families as a unique opportunity for their children to continue their secondary education in a safe and supportive environment.
Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said the Martu student residential facility and The Jiji Program will significantly support young Martu people to access a broader range of secondary and vocational learning opportunities.
"The Cook Government is pleased to support both these projects to ensure Martu students can meaningfully engage in the Pilbara economy, while retaining a strong connection to culture and country," he said.
The project was developed by the Martu Schools Alliance in collaboration with the Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation and the Pilbara Development Commission, and is operated by the non-profit organisation 54 Reasons (formerly Save the Children).
In addition, Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Inc. (PAMS) has been granted $2.25 million to extend The Jiji Program for another three years. This program provides intensive occupational and speech therapy to children in the remote Western Desert communities of Jigalong, Kunawarritji, Parnngurr, Punmu, and Nullagine.
Specialists from Newman regularly visit these communities to improve Martu children's health and educational outcomes, while also connecting them with PAMS clinics and allied health services.
The new funding will cover rising service delivery costs, including the hiring of a speech therapist and the training and employment of additional Martu women in the communities, helping to ensure the program's sustainability.
This $3.7 million investment reflects the State Government's commitment to expanding educational and health services for Indigenous families in regional Western Australia.
WA Regional Development Minister Don Punch noted that education and health services are a fundamental human right and "an important building block" in the development of children and broader society.
"The funding boost for the Martu student residential facility and The Jiji Program is an investment bringing opportunity to Martu children so they can become the leaders of tomorrow, while retaining a strong connection to culture and country," he said.
"Congratulations to all involved in these fantastic projects, in particular to the Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation, for its unwavering dedication to providing educational opportunities for their Martu students in this region."
