911±¬ÁÏÍø

With a career spanning decades in remote education and community leadership, Leigh Nelson’s appointment as the new General Manager – Community and Sustainable Development at 911±¬ÁÏÍø brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the land. In this role, Leigh will support Yarnangu through employment programs, essential municipal services, financial well-being initiatives, and year-round community engagement. Leigh has long been associated with Ngaanyatjarra lands, having spent much of his career in education across remote locations, including Warburton, Wanarn, and the Cocos Islands. Most recently, he served as Director of Education, Goldfields, for the Department of Education—Australia’s largest education region. Born in Esperance and raised on pastoral lands in Salmon Gums, 100 km north of the town, Leigh’s connection to these lands spans over three decades. “My wife and I worked together in Warburton, and my first opportunity as a Principal was at the school in Wanarn,” Leigh shared. “That role began my journey as a School Principal across various schools, which lasted for 23 years.” Leigh’s leadership journey took a significant step when he became part of a cohort of education leaders selected for a Harvard Principal Fellowship, which catalysed his move into system leadership roles within the department. In recent years, Leigh also contributed to the Goldfields District Leadership Group (DLG)—a network coordinated by the Department of Communities to address local issues and drive improved outcomes. “The DLG brought together the Shire, the Council, Department of Justice, WA Police, NIAA, and the Department of Communities to collaborate for strong, shared outcomes in Warburton with a focus on youth engagement and food security,” he explained. Leigh’s leadership in the DLG deepened his connection to the Ngaanyatjarra lands. “Within the DLG, we had a sub-group focused on Warburton, which reaffirmed my ties to the area. As Chair of this group since its inception, I will now lead from my new role within the Council, ensuring continued collaboration across agencies.” He emphasised his belief in authentic co-design between community members and organisations. “The strongest outcomes on the Lands will come from genuine community voice and all the agencies working together towards lasting, collective impact.” With a strong commitment to the Ngaanyatjarra lands, Leigh intends to spend time in communities each month. “Improvement happens at the speed of trust, so I’m eager to strengthen those relationships with our leadership team on the ground, enabling us to make meaningful contributions to the Council’s shared vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.” Reflecting on his new role, Leigh said, “The most important thing for me—and what attracted me to this position—is the opportunity to work alongside Yarnangu, who are so integral to our country. Together, we’ll navigate the challenges and possibilities that developments like the Outback Way will bring to the lands.” Leigh’s appointment is also a full-circle moment. Fred Twine, the Community Development Advisor he worked alongside during his first Principal role in Wanarn, continues to serve the Council as Municipal Services Manager. Their renewed partnership, after 25 years, promises to further strengthen the Council’s commitment to the Ngaanyatjarra community and foster long-term, sustainable outcomes for Yarnangu.

The 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group was honoured to welcome Senator Malarndirri McCarthy, the newly appointed Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, to our Perth office this week. This landmark meeting, coinciding with a federal cabinet gathering in Perth, marks the first ministerial visit to our offices in the Council's history. The meeting was attended by Senator McCarthy and her staff, along with Council CEO Thomas Williams, Mr Fred Chaney, Mr Preston Thomas, and Sonja Voogd Armstrong, General Manager of Community and Sustainable Development. The primary focus was on the current Remote Jobs Trial, 'Strong'. The meeting also featured a live link to Warburton with Angelica McLean, Director and Social & Wellbeing Coordinator and Shannon Inder, Operations Manager - CDP, providing the Minister with deeper insight into the Council's work within the remote Ngaanyatjarra communities. Thomas Williams reflected on the deeper significance of the Ministerial visit, highlighting its importance beyond just the event itself. "While navigating the complexities of the NIAA (National Indigenous Australians Agency) to secure a trial work program is significant, it is even more impactful to witness the Minister’s willingness to meet with our people both in Perth and on the ground in Warburton, to hear firsthand about the Lands and the 'Strong' program," Williams said. "Her questions extended beyond the Remote Jobs Trial, as she sought to understand our vision for the future of Yarnangu and the ongoing challenges faced by remote communities," Williams added. Minister McCarthy’s deliberate focus on improving remote employment opportunities and empowering remote communities was evident throughout the meeting. "Our hope from this meeting is that it helps to foster greater flexibility within the Jobs Program, both during and beyond the trial," "This flexibility pertains to the variety and transferability of job options available to Yarnangu within the Trial," "The Minister embraced our desire to pursue innovative ways to engage Yarnangu in employment, even when those pathways involve a series of work opportunities that lead to longer-term prospects," said Williams. The most enduring outcome of the meeting was a renewed commitment to the partnership between the Council and the NIAA—a relationship grounded in transparency and accountability from both the Council and the Agency. "We concluded the meeting feeling highly optimistic about the Minister’s deep engagement and commitment to being part of the improvement of the Jobs Program on the Lands and to the members in our communities," Williams said. Due in large part to the remoteness of its members, the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group is a rare example of a Council providing a comprehensive suite of services (excluding policing). This unique position presents an opportunity, enabling the Council to partner effectively with the agency, given its capacity to monitor and assess the progress of its members. The Council’s vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on country is shared by Senator Malarndirri McCarthy. Her visit encouraged us to pursue this vision through engagement, activation, strategy, and the broader embrace of change management across the Council.

The 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group's Leadership Team recently convened for two half-day workshops to initiate a comprehensive change management process across the organisation. The Council’s vision of 'Helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country' drives our commitment to building a more resilient and effective organisation. To become an efficient, high-performing organisation that sets a benchmark for Aboriginal agencies, the Council recognises the need to break down existing silos, restructure our operations, streamline processes, and enhance service delivery. This is not a small or short-term assignment—it’s a vision that encompasses the entire organisation. The two half-day sessions were facilitated by Change Management specialist, Tracy Cooper , who helped our managers become comfortable with sharing, interacting, and discussing change with one another. Tracy highlighted the challenges and possibilities of leading change, equipping our leaders with tools to navigate the process of change effectively. The workshops identified the economic, social, and organisational opportunities and challenges we face collectively. They also addressed the often-overlooked costs of maintaining the status quo, which can be difficult to communicate broadly. “We understand the significant consequences of maintaining the status quo,” said Thomas Williams, the Council’s Chief Executive Officer. “These consequences, along with some prevailing challenges, are often difficult or inappropriate to communicate widely. However, we recognise that the current economic climate, which is impacting all industries, also affects the Council,” Thomas said. “Many of the opportunities and challenges identified through this change management process must be addressed to ensure that our foundations and processes are robust, enabling us to fulfil our core vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country,” Thomas said. This transformative journey is vital for supporting Yarnangu and the future of our communities. By engaging in this change process now, the Council is confident it will emerge stronger and more resilient than ever before. “Our goal is to enhance service delivery in education, health, and employment, ensuring the sustainability of the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group. Our collective efforts will contribute to the flourishing of our communities and the preservation of our cultural heritage,” Thomas said. “We recognise that any change of this sort requires mindful and strategic planning and communication across the organisation—we’re progressing through the equipping of our Leadership Team for this change management process. Established in 1981, the 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group (NCG) represents the interests of Yarnangu across 11 communities in the Central Desert region of Western Australia. With over 450 employees across city and remote locations, the Council provides a wide range of services, including health, utilities, construction, employment, community development, shops, roadhouses, art centres, and land services. It is one of the largest and most successful Aboriginal agencies in Australia.

The Ngaanyatjarra Board of Directors, together with the Council Group's Leadership Team, gathered in Warburton earlier this August to undertake the initial phase of the 'Foundations of Directorship' program offered by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). Our Board is a unique blend of community-elected chairpersons from each of the eleven communities in Ngaanyatjarra lands, four female-elected women directors, two non-member directors, and Chairperson Richard Kanari. During the two-day workshop, the group completed the 'Governance for Directors' training, which focused on deepening their understanding of governance obligations, the roles and responsibilities of directors and management, and best practices for board meeting protocols. A key focus of the workshops was understanding and respecting the significant role of traditional culture, law, and practice, alongside the legislated requirements for Aboriginal Corporations. With directors from most communities in attendance, we ensured a safe and inclusive learning environment in each session. Content was translated into language, and ample time was allocated for questions and feedback, fostering open communication and a culture of continuous learning. As Australia's leading body for director education, AICD provides essential training that the Board and Council are eager to embrace. This program equips us with the knowledge and skills necessary to carry out crucial governance work for the communities we serve. This Director Training is a vital part of the broader change management efforts within the Council, aligning with our vision of helping Yarnangu remain strong on Country.

The 911±¬ÁÏÍø has recently appointed Samantha Darby as the Communities' Sports Coordinator. Samantha has been brought onto the Council to establish a new sports program that serves each of the Ngaanyatjarra communities. The role will impact sports for all ages, identifying opportunities and pathways for children, youth, and adults. "We're starting with a clean slate and engaging with each of the communities to develop a program that benefits everyone," Samantha said. "For the last few years, sport on the Lands has taken the shape of compact carnivals, but with more significant resources to coordinate sport, we have bigger plans," "Our goal is larger seasons of Australian Rules and Softball in the winter months and a basketball competition through the summer," Samantha said. "We're still working through our existing carnival fixturing, but that's what's down the track," she added. "We'll begin with registration days so that we can gauge the commitment to the program and the number of teams that will feature in the competition," "Once up and running, we'll establish home and away fixtures throughout the season, culminating in a finals series similar to other regional and metropolitan competitions," "The primary goal is participation—engagement, education and empowerment," Samantha said. Communities on the Lands vary in size, and the programs we develop will be tailored accordingly, whether that means smaller team sizes or multiple teams within each community. "We're hoping to encourage similar fixturing within the schools as well as we embrace these healthy, active opportunities through each of our communities," "My role over the next few months is to move around each of the communities regularly and meet with Yarnangu so that I can form programs around possibilities," "We're also looking to identify targeted gathering spaces for youth around sport so that they have new possibilities for meeting, having a yarn, and cooking some food together through the week," Samantha is enthusiastic about the potential of her new role. "I see enormous possibilities here! It's something different for me. I've spent my life as a spectator of sport; now I get to be at the heart of the action in ways that build and empower communities," Samantha said. Before transitioning to her role in the CDP area, Samantha enjoyed a successful career in nursing, amassing over 15 years of experience. However, a desire to leave New South Wales and work in remote communities four years ago began a journey for Samantha and her husband, William, that would ultimately bring them to the Lands. Samantha has recent experience in the CDP area, with stints in the Northern Territory with the Lajamanu, Galiwinku, and Willowra communities. Samantha is based in Wingellina, where her husband, William, is a Municipal Services Officer.

On July 3, a significant milestone was reached with the launch of the ‘STRONG’ Community Development Program (CDP) in Warburton. This initiative, a partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), marks a monumental step forward for the Ngaanyatjarra lands, its people, and their future. The STRONG program aims to provide genuine work opportunities for Yarnangu, with over 40 new jobs in the initial trial phase. At today's launch, ten employment contracts were signed, both in Warburton and via online streamed communities across the Lands. The goal is clear: Strong Pathways and Strong Yarnangu. By creating strong pathways to work, we can ensure that Yarnangu remain strong on the Lands. This collaborative effort between our CDP team and the government has resulted in a program that not only meets these needs but also empowers the community through sustainable and meaningful work. Sonja Voogd Armstrong, General Manager of CDP, expressed the excitement shared by many at the program’s launch. “This is the culmination of months of work by our CDP people on the Lands and our Perth CDP team, along with many others,” Sonja said. “Ralph Addis, Thomas Williams, our CEO, Mr. Fred Chaney, and the NIAA staff have all invested significant time and effort to turn this possibility into a reality.” “While this is a trial, there is potential for expanding the program to create genuine, enduring work opportunities for Yarnangu,” she continued. “Substantive work and strong pathways for the future are essential for fulfilling the aspirations of Yarnangu to remain on the land and flourish. Today marks the beginning of something with a long, strong future.” The STRONG program starts with 45 jobs for Yarnangu, but it signifies a deeper cultural shift—not only for them but also in how CDP and the Council support work on the Lands.

911±¬ÁÏÍø Group has appointed Jodie Matthews as General Manager of Youth and Education for the eleven member communities on the Lands. The new role has been created to collaborate with the Education Department of Western Australia and other service providers to improve educational outcomes for youth on the Lands. The role is highly integrated with other functions within the Council, recognising the significant impact of multiple factors on education outcomes. "This new role has been created to oversee the delivery of culturally responsive initiatives that target education and training programs from early childhood (before school), children and youth, and adult education," Jodie said. Jodie is a former Principal of the school at Warburton (2013-2014) and later returned in 2017 as Executive Deputy Principal based at Warakurna. Having previously worked with the Education Department at the regional office in Kalgoorlie, Jodie's role included frequent visits to support the Ngaanyatjarra schools and their principals. Her familiarity with the network of schools on the Lands, their potential, and challenges runs deep. In announcing the new role, CEO of 911±¬ÁÏÍø Group, Thomas Williams, highlighted the importance of the appointment. "We’re taking this significant step to ensure our members have the strongest foundation possible for flourishing on the Lands," Thomas said. "It’s another step to helping Yarnangu lead lives filled with purpose and agency and remain on the Lands." While introducing Jodie to the Council’s employees, Fred Chaney - a friend of the Ngaanyatjarra and Board Advisor - also emphasised the role's significance. "This is a terrific day for the people on the Lands and for the Council. Education has always been a critical key for people having a strong future," Fred said. "The challenge of equipping Yarnangu to walk in two cultures is a large one—we are well aware of the realities of this challenge."  "Like so many areas—housing, health, employment, and families among them—education is interrelated. The approach by the Council’s CEO is holistic and it needs to be as we’re addressing systemic issues on the Lands. Jodie’s appointment is another piece in the jigsaw that combines to create a picture of flourishing through all of our member communities," Fred added. Jodie’s role, effective immediately, will lead the Council’s advocacy for child and youth education. While based at the Council’s head office, Jodie will spend significant time within the communities on Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

Starting July 1, the Ngaanyatjarra Lands will standardise to a single time zone, marking a significant alignment for our communities. For years, the challenge of operating across different time zones has posed issues for the eleven member communities, with six following Western Standard Time (WST) and five adhering to Central Standard Time (CST). This division has often led to confusion, inefficiencies, and operational difficulties for our staff and the communities we serve. Recognising these challenges, our Community Development Advisors (CDAs), in collaboration with feedback from the Western Australia Police Force (WAPOL) and the Education Department, have proposed unifying the entire Ngaanyatjarra Lands under Western Standard Time (WST). Consultations with key personnel across the Lands have revealed strong support for the move to one time zone, emphasising its potential to streamline daily operations, enhance service coordination, and boost community engagement. Aligning with our strategic objectives, this move aims to improve operational efficiency and increase community satisfaction. By adopting a single time zone, we anticipate smoother communication, better scheduling, and a unified sense of time that will benefit everyone involved. We look forward to seeing the positive impacts this change will bring to our communities.

Welcome to the new branding for 911±¬ÁÏÍø!

Thomas Williams had only recently been appointed CEO of 911±¬ÁÏÍø after 17 years with the organisation when one of our community members stopped him in his tracks. Nancy Tjungupi Carnegie is an artist and preserver of bush medicine. Nancy was born near Patjarr at a place called Pandaltjarra where she lived a traditional life into early adulthood. She is a prolific painter and avid hunter, often leaving Patjarr on foot to pursue tinka (goanna) in the remote Pila Nature Reserve. Nancy is currently the chairperson for Patjarr community and represents Patjarr’s interests as a director with Warakurna Artists. As Thomas visited communities in the Ngaanyatjarra group, he met with Nancy. “Nancy predominantly speaks in the Ngaanyatjarra dialect with an occasional English word, so I generally communicate with her through a translator. On this occasion, Angelica McLean was with me and helping us to have a conversation together,” Thomas recalls. “Nancy was kindly congratulating me on my appointment, but it was one word that was familiar to me that stopped me in my tracks and caused me to ask Angelica to get Nancy to repeat what she had just said,” “I heard the words SILOS,” “My first thought was, ‘How does she even know this word as a woman living on these lands for many years’” “Angelica repeated what Nancy had said: ‘Now you have the opportunity to remove the silos - do it’,” Thomas said. It wasn’t an ultimatum, but it was undoubtedly a strong invitation. Even Nancy, removed from the politics and machinations of an Aboriginal Corporation, could spot something evident to her: silos within an organisation are a recipe for dysfunction. Silos are contained areas of function that stand alone and apart from other functions within an organisation or system. Integration is necessary for there to be a free flow of information, collaboration and the ability to identify opportunities and efficiencies. Silos are often the product of institutional insecurity as people within a system seek to ‘protect their turf’, but they’re also one of the most significant obstacles to progress in an organisation. “So obvious were some of these silos that Nancy could spot them from thousands of kilometres away. I found that sobering,” Thomas said. “As I have navigated the early stages of my role as CEO of 911±¬ÁÏÍø, Nancy’s words have been among those that have fuelled my work,” “We’ve already accomplished plenty, yet there’s so much work ahead of us because when some of that work is addressing the silos that thwart progress, that’s not always simple or comfortable,” “But our mission is to see Yarnangu leading lives filled with purpose and agency, thriving in a culture-rich environment—for their aspirations to stay on country be realised,” “Every time we make a decision that moves us closer to this, whether it’s in the area of CDP, employment, housing, community development, company culture and values, or bringing our brand into alignment across the Council, we move one step closer to ‘removing the silos’ and realising the aspirations of Yarnangu on the lands,” Thomas said. Silos can thwart progress, no doubt, but confronting them in any institutional setting is complex, sometimes slow, work. “Sometimes people like Nancy can spot the silos from thousands of kilometres away that we can miss from the trenches. Her plea has been life-giving for what we’re trying to accomplish day-by-day at 911±¬ÁÏÍø,” Thomas said. Thanks, Nancy.

It may seem a moon ago now, but as roads were flooded and access to many communities severed, stories emerged of how a team from Kiwirrkurra seized the moment to shine. It had been seven weeks since heavy haulage had reached Kiwirrkurra, and the community was almost out of water, food, and other key supplies. After seeing the state of the roads near their community and being aware that the roads team from the Shire of Laverton could not help, it was time to act. David Brown, Ngaanyatjarra CDP Engagement Officer, has been part of a team that has delivered water to the community for years and believed his team could get the job done. Before commencing the work, David informed DFES of their plans to fix the road as long as The Shire of East Pilbara was prepared to accept (and fund!) the proposal. Ten minutes later, they had a green light! Steve from the Shire was more than happy to engage the Kiwirrkurra community and Ngaanyatjarra staff in road repairs so that trucks could travel to Kiwirrkurra with urgent food and water for the community. The first job was to inspect washouts from the flood and place caution drums around the most dangerous washouts. David contacted another worker, Mr Simon Brown, and advised him of the situation and whether he could assist. “Simon was at my door in no time, keen to get going,” recalls David Brown. He also brought along Kiwirrkurra jobseeker Joseph West, who was keen to assist. “After inspecting the stretch of road and placing drums to warn traffic, a plan of action was put into place to prepare the grader on Sunday and repair the road on Monday, allowing the road to be open again ahead of a food delivery on Wednesday,” David said. Early Monday morning, Simon was at my door, keen to move. “We headed off towards the WA/ NT border. After 70 kilometres, we came across our first washout at Mt Winparku; we removed the caution drums, placing one at each end of the work site to warn incoming traffic that the grader was engaged in repairing the road,” David said. After a long day, the task was completed, and all three washout locations were repaired. “It was so satisfying for us to be able to say that the road would be open for Wednesday’s much-needed store truck delivery,” “Our store managers, Sammi and Steve, along with the rest of the community, were so happy to see the truck roll in on Wednesday morning after six weeks of road closures from the heavy rains,” remembers David. While this may seem like a story about the resourcefulness of the group of workers who identified an opportunity, proposed a plan, and fixed a problem, it’s also testimony to the resilience of every member of the Kiwirrkurra community who kept on working away despite the isolation and uncertainty caused by the road closures. After the successful remediation and reopening of this stretch of road, David is now training his team for possible future collaborations with the Shire on this stretch of road from Kiwirrkurra to the NT border. What a sensational outcome for the Kiwirrkurra community and Ngaanyatjarra staff who worked together to obtain a significant result for the community.

For many years, reinforced by remoteness, Ngaanyatjarra Lands have been referred to by some as the ‘Hermit Kingdom’. The group of 11 communities who came together by choice in 1981 to form the 911±¬ÁÏÍø, were staunchly independent and rarely reached beyond themselves. Given the difficulty of accessing the lands and the reality that only the most ardent travellers traverse the Gunbarrel Highway en route to cities in the north or south, the label was reasonable. Increasingly, though, the ‘Hermit Kingdom’ tag is being shaken off as communities seek to engage culturally, economically and socially with individuals and organisations beyond them. Recognising the necessity for trusted travelling partners committed to journeying with Yarnangu of the Ngaanyatjarra Lands has been pivotal in this emergence. “We identified that to step into our future, we also needed to step out of the shadows,” said 911±¬ÁÏÍø CEO, Thomas Williams. “To live lives of purpose and agency with strong families and strong stories, we also need strong partners.” “We need to collaborate and co-create with others to realise the potential for our lands and our people—it’s a land rich with culture and stories, as well as economic potential. But to imagine this better future for all, we need to invite those who’ve taken journeys like ours before and learn with them,” Thomas said. This emergence has gathered pace in recent years. The establishment of BHP’s West Musgrave mine site in the Mantamaru | Jameson community has demanded astute leadership and stewardship of the potential royalties that will flow. “We have seen the damage of the ‘resource curse’ in other Aboriginal communities, and we want to learn from that,” Thomas said. “Being intentional in how we use these royalties for social investment, strong health outcomes, and the future of our people is very important to us.” “We’ve collectively decided to apportion 30% of royalties for the future of our members: 10% into our savings fund, 10% into a renal fund, and 10% into the operation of our land culture division,” Thomas added. It’s another level of stewardship that’s made necessary by possibility. Ngaanyatjarra leaders are being invited to the tables of federal ministers because there’s been a growing awareness of the consistent, long-term management of community assets, businesses and programs. While it hasn’t been a specific goal for the future of Yarnangu, there’s little doubt that the tag of ‘hermit kingdom’ is increasingly being overwhelmed by positive stories of agency, opportunity and possibility on Ngaanyatjarra lands.

Supplying food and fresh produce to the remote communities of Ngaanyatjarra Lands isn’t your typical grocery run, it’s a fortnightly process involving ordering, scheduling and a whole lot of driving! The scope and scale of travelling through the Western Desert would be difficult to conceive for your typical city driver who occasionally takes a trip ‘down south’! NATS’s (Ngaanyatjarra Agency and Transport Services) driver, Rod Moiler, a stalwart and icon of the organisation for over three decades, shared some insight into what it looks like to bring supplies into the eleven communities that form the 911±¬ÁÏÍø. “For 33 years, my rhythm was a fortnightly run that began on Wednesday with a pick-up of the big order from FAL (now Metcash) in Canning Vale. From there, it would be back to NATS in Welshpool, and on Thursday, we would get deliveries for each community in order, as well as any other supplies that needed to be distributed,” Rod said. “I’d also make sure that I had the truck fully sorted and good to go with other supplies that may be helpful to others along the way—extra water, fresh fruit from my fruit trees at home, puncture kits to help other travellers out of a tight spot, and newspapers for the graders,” “On Friday, I’d haul out of Perth, usually stopping outside of Kalgoorlie,” “By Saturday, all going well with the weather and breakdowns—never a sure thing—I’d be driving in Warburton. It’s never a sure thing because conditions are variable. The Western Desert experiences soaring temperatures that remind you to ensure your air-con is in good working order, but also experiences flash flooding that can get derail even the most experienced driver. “There was a time when I was stuck in Laverton for a week waiting for the road to be drivable, and another when I did a load out to Alice Springs and back because it was impossible to drive west, but the need was desperate, so I headed east,” Rod said. “There were other times where I got stuck in one of the communities because of the weather. I’d end up helping the store owners with some welding or stacking the shelves to fill in the time before I could get back out on the road,” he adds. Rod took the initiative to bring newspapers for the operators of the road graders as well as fresh fruit. He figured out quickly enough that everyone helps each other in these remote places, and he might need some road grading to make a delivery before too long. More than once, those operators drove through the night to clear a path so Rod could make his next delivery. As Rod would make his way out of Warburton on a Sunday, it would be along a route that became increasingly familiar. “As I went from Jameson to Wanarn and on to each of the communities, I’d be delivering as well as backloading,” “There’d be different supplies that needed to head back to Perth—from the Education Department or Police, or even a stranded tourist or their car—they’d be loaded on board as I made my way around the lands,” “By Tuesday, I’d be back in Warburton, backloading anything from there before heading back to Perth on Wednesday morning,” Rod says. “I’d arrive back in Perth late Thursday afternoon and then unload all the backloaded supplies at NATS,” “Then, I’d spend the weekend with my family before spending Monday and Tuesday servicing the truck and getting it ready to do it all again on Wednesday!” Unsurprisingly, Rod has clocked up plenty of kilometres out on the Lands. Over his career, a conservative estimate of 70,000 kilometres each year adds up to nearly 2.5 million kilometres on the road. He speaks fondly of his trucks, favouring Macs above all others across the years. “Five of my seven trucks have been Macs. My last one was six years old when I bought it. By the time I got it, it had already travelled 1.5 million kilometres on a regular Perth to Darwin run. I probably put another 500,000 kilometres on that one,” Rod says. Numbers like this are a healthy reminder of the challenges of remoteness, including the challenge of getting fresh supplies to the lands. It’s certainly not a quick run to the store to get a few things for dinner. There are schedules, orders, forward planning, weather, breakdowns, and setbacks amongst the rich and rewarding long hauls. Rod Moiler was one of the first drivers for NATS. He played a pivotal role in the early days, not only behind the wheel but also mentoring new drivers on the nuances of efficiently packing and navigating the challenging 900 kilometres of dirt road to Warburton and beyond. While Rod retired in 2020, his legacy continues as he shares his invaluable experience with new drivers, ensuring that the quality and reliability of NATS remain strong, sustaining the lands with all the supplies that have become a reliable lifeline.

Strong homes and strong stories are at the heart of the aspirations of the members of communities on Ngaanyatjarra lands. The last six months have seen a steady stream of engagements and action within these communities as they have co-designed and collaborated on Community Plans to help their communities flourish. These plans have been developed by the communities, for the communities, and for delivery by the community alongside key stakeholders. Importantly, these Community Plans have now been accepted, giving a green light to opportunities, strategies, and activities that can better resource remote communities and provide greater access to services, which we understand need to be improved in many ways. The recent activation programs over the school holidays represented another key outcome of our Community Plans—creating spaces and places for our young people to engage and flourish on country. These programs involved many of our communities, with major hubs at Warburton, Warakurna, and Warnarn. Our Plans reflect our aspirations for Ngurra Rapa, Tjukurrpa Rapa (Strong homes, Strong stories) to fulfil our collective vision of purpose and agency —communities where members are encouraged and supported to thrive. “Our Community Plans provide community-informed guidance to the ongoing activities and investment into the community for members, businesses and government,” said 911±¬ÁÏÍø CEP Thomas Williams. There are plenty of opportunities for members of Ngaanyatjarra communities to be engaged in these plans, and we believe there will be significant employment opportunities in some of our communities. “Our vision is to support the Ngaanyatjarra people to live healthy, fulfilled lives on the lands - places of flourishing where the aspirations of Yarnangu are realised as we work together towards strong families, strong stories, and strong futures on the lands,” Thomas said. The intersecting impacts of remoteness, ineffective social support, insufficient social services, and the high cost of living have made our people some of the most disadvantaged in the nation. “One of the major sources of disadvantage has been the changing face of CDP and ‘work for the dole’ policies, which have been punitive and negatively impacted communities,” Thomas said. “Seeing these community plans not only accepted but moving to implementation is a significant milestone in identifying the potential, opportunities and the resourcing of each of our Ngaanyatjarra communities,” Thomas said. “It’s an exciting phase that we now enter as we’re seeing these community aspirations begin to shape and transform communities as stakeholders and government join us in building vibrant spaces on the lands and addressing head-on the genuine challenges and disadvantages that face our people in these remote communities,” Thomas said. The Community Plans will continue to fuel opportunities as each element is activated and the future of living on the lands becomes brighter for many.

As 911±¬ÁÏÍø continues to lay strong operational foundations for Yarnangu (Aboriginal Peoples of the Western Desert) to remain strong on country, it has made the vital appointment of Ralph Addis as Executive Director of Operations. Ralph joins the Council with a legacy of experience in the government sector and with traditional owners across Western Australia. Ralph spent twenty years in the East Kimberley, including as founding CEO of Wunan Foundation, an Aboriginal development organisation in the East Kimberly region of Western Australia. The diverse dimensions of the Foundation included education reform, housing reform, employment, and economic development. He was driven by a desire to give Aboriginal Peoples in the region increasing economic independence and sustainability through a community-led approach. After 12 years with the Foundation, Addis spent two years as the community CEO of Warmun | Turkey Creek, working with the government and NGOs to rebuild the community after it was devastated by floods in 2011. Over the last two decades, Addis was Chair of the Kimberley Development Commission, Director General of Primary Industries and Regional Development WA, and CEO of Lotterywest and Healthway. Ralph’s breadth of oversight and governance experience, combined with a desire to realise Yarnangu's aspirations to stay strong on the lands makes him a strategic fit for the Council’s leadership team. ‘The calibre of the people I worked with in the Kimberleys was outstanding, including my wife, who I met while in Kununurra—in many ways, it’s still home to me,’ Addis said. After a string of rewarding roles in government, Addis’s commitment to indigenous development remained strong. Ultimately, it would draw him back into contexts where he could effect change. ‘I believe the broader commitment and priority of the state to Indigenous development remains underdone,’ ‘The lack of priority given by policy-makers was a trigger for understanding that I could be of more value as a catalyst for change from outside of the political system rather than within it,’ ‘The opportunity to work with 911±¬ÁÏÍø emerged after some consulting work with the Council,’ Addis said. ‘I can see the trajectory of change and the imperative for change in the Council, and it excites me to be part of helping Yarnangu stay strong on country,’ he added. Appointments like Ralph Addis are significant to assembling a management team that can implement genuine, long-term change for those who desire to lead flourishing lives on Ngaanyatjarra lands.

911±¬ÁÏÍø has appointed Juanita Grillmeier to the newly created role of Chief People Officer, further demonstrating the value of people within the Council and the desire to raise capability and capacity across the group. The role also reflects the desire to elevate prospective employees’ and partners’ awareness of 911±¬ÁÏÍø and the opportunities to work both in-office and on-country. While 911±¬ÁÏÍø is among the largest Aboriginal Corporations in Australia, public awareness and understanding of the Council’s work has been relatively low, which reverberates in its ability to attract prospective employees. “I see this role as an opportunity to set the foundations across People & Culture,” “Even the new name of our function reflects the broadening of our work beyond recruitment to shaping organisational culture and WH&S, establishing systems and processes of attracting, onboarding, and developing people in impactful and meaningful roles within the organisation,” Juanita said. Juanita wasn’t always working in the HR area. She began with an apprenticeship right out of school. “I started work as an electrician! I sometimes joke that I’m an electrician who does HR,” “I completed a four-year electrical apprenticeship at a remote coal mine after leaving school in Central Queensland—spending one year working on surface infrastructure, two years underground, and one working in the processing plant,” Juanita said. “I quickly learned that while anyone can be a technical expert if you want to be a true leader, you need to understand people,” she added. Juanita understood that, with her skillset, she could make more positive changes in roles that worked with people and helped shape culture. She moved from the coal mine to Brisbane, where she completed a Bachelor of Business at Queensland University of Technology, majoring in Human Resource Management and Management, while continuing working in her trade with Australia Post. Many of Juanita’s roles over a career that has spanned over two decades have been across the HR space as a generalist, and in specialist and organisational development roles. Her roles have been primarily within the mining industry (multi-commodities), while also local government and consulting with a range of organisations, with many of these roles based in rural and remote areas. Prior to taking the role with 911±¬ÁÏÍø, Juanita lived in Kalgoorlie for the past two years. “Leadership, organisational culture, employee engagement, and creating safe, inclusive and thriving workplaces are the space I love working in—places where I can help people grow, realise their potential, and impact their work environment in positive ways,” “More than anything, I wanted my next significant career move to be one that gave me the opportunity and freedom to empower, and shape the culture of an organisation that impacts the lives of so many,” Juanita said.  The potential to walk alongside the eleven communities on Ngaanyatjarra lands and see their aspirations to flourish and remain strong on country fuels the desire to unite and lead the organisational culture at 911±¬ÁÏÍø.

Flooding and road damage caused by rains in March 2024 continues to thwart supplies to remote communities on Ngaanyatjarra lands. (Pic: Shire of Laverton)

Rod Moiler, known across the lands as ‘Desert Dog’ has been celebrated with bench at Tjukayirla Roadhouse after traversing the lands for 32 years and amassing 2.3 million kilometres!

Ngaanyatjarra Aboriginal Child Health Symposium presents landmark study and casts vision for improved child health outcomes on the lands.