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The Martu Student Hostel in Newman, also known as Martuku Jijiku Maya, was established to give young Martu people from remote communities better access to secondary education while remaining closer to Country, family and cultural support than would be possible through Perth-based boarding options. The hostel supports students from communities including Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji to attend Newman Senior High School and participate in a broader curriculum, vocational pathways and local community activities. The hostel was initially funded through a $4 million allocation from the WA Recovery Plan in 2020. This included $1.5 million to upgrade three houses in East Newman gifted by BHP to Jamukurnu-Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), and $2.5 million to support the management and operating costs of the pilot program. The Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation also contributed funding for solar panels and batteries to help reduce operating costs. The hostel is owned by JYAC and operated by 54 Reasons, formerly Save the Children. Since opening, the hostel has provided a safe, supported and culturally appropriate residential setting for a small but significant cohort of students. It can accommodate up to 11 students across two houses, with a central house used for staff accommodation, shared dining, recreation and homework spaces. The program has supported improved school attendance, participation in programs such as Clontarf and Stars, engagement in local sport and recreation, and art opportunities through Martumili Artists. Importantly, the hostel supported the first Martu student to complete Year 12 at Newman Senior High School in 2024[cite: 2].

In 2025, $1.454 million was allocated to the project for the calendar year while an independent evaluation by Keogh Bay People was undertaken to inform future funding decisions. The evaluation found the hostel was delivering clear benefits for students, including improved attendance, life skills, wellbeing and cultural engagement. The evaluation also identified challenges, including fluctuating occupancy, high operating costs and differing views within the Martu community about students living away from Country. The recommendations focus on improving sustainability, increasing occupancy, strengthening cultural appropriateness, deepening community engagement and refining the operating model for the longer term[cite: 2].

Based on the findings of the evaluation, the State Government has approved an allocation of $5.816 million in the 2026–2027 Budget to continue funding the operations of the Martu Student Hostel in Newman for four years until 2029. This funding will continue an important locally based education pathway for young Martu people and, potentially, other Pilbara language groups in the future[cite: 2].

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Access to aged care remains a significant liveability issue across the Pilbara, particularly for older Aboriginal people living in regional and remote communities. The region has limited residential aged care capacity and a thin market for in-home and community-based services, with distance, workforce shortages, cultural considerations and transport barriers all affecting service delivery[cite: 2].

These challenges are particularly acute in the East Pilbara, where communities are dispersed across a vast area and many Elders wish to remain close to family, culture and Country while receiving the care and support they need. In 2025, the Shire of East Pilbara convened an aged care roundtable in Newman to better understand service gaps in Newman, Marble Bar, Nullagine and surrounding remote communities[cite: 2].

The roundtable identified the need for more detailed evidence about the scale and nature of aged care demand across the local government area, including whether people required aged care supports, NDIS-related assistance or other community services. It also highlighted the importance of culturally appropriate care models, support for unpaid carers and improved access to assessments so that older people could be connected to Commonwealth-funded aged care services[cite: 2].

To support this work, the Commission provided funding to Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation to coordinate community meetings and support aged care assessment visits across the East Pilbara. Working with the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and assessment providers, Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation helped organise visits to communities including Newman, Marble Bar, Nullagine, Warralong, Jigalong, Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji. The visits enabled assessors to meet with Elders, identify individual support needs, provide information about aged care packages and gather highlevel evidence to inform future planning[cite: 2].

The initiative has provided an important foundation for improving aged care access in the Pilbara by bringing assessment services closer to remote communities and strengthening partnerships between government, Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and local service providers. The work is expected to support better identification of unmet need, inform future service models and help build the case for more flexible, culturally safe aged care delivery in thin market settings. Importantly, it reinforces the principle that older people in the Pilbara should be able to access care that supports their health, wellbeing and connection to Country. A similar needs assessment will be undertaken across the West Pilbara in 2026–2027[cite: 2].

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Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) developed its sexually transmitted infection (STI) Community Education Program in response to a significant increase in STIs across remote Western Desert communities and Newman. PAMS identified that STI prevalence in the East Pilbara and Western Desert communities accounted for a substantial proportion of reported cases across the Pilbara, with cultural shame, stigma and limited engagement with non-Aboriginal medical staff creating barriers to testing, treatment and prevention. The program was designed to respond to these challenges through culturally safe, community-led education that respects Martu kinship systems, gender-specific knowledge sharing and local ways of communicating about sensitive health matters. The Commission contributed $100,000 to support delivery of the Community Education Program over 12 months. This funding supported on-Country consultations, the development of at least 10 Community Champions, and the delivery of STI awareness activities across the Western Desert and Newman. The Commission’s contribution complemented broader investment by PAMS and other funding partners, enabling the program to focus on grassroots leadership, peer-led support and locally trusted messengers rather than a top-down health campaign. By supporting PAMS to embed health education within Martu communities, the Commission helped strengthen a preventative health response that is culturally grounded and community-owned. The program has focused on building local capability, reducing stigma around sexual health, and encouraging earlier testing and treatment through trusted relationships. Early reporting indicates the program is contributing to improved awareness and a reduction in STI cases across the Pilbara. This demonstrates the value of targeted regional investment in Aboriginal-led health initiatives that address both immediate health risks and longer-term community wellbeing.

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Spoilbank Marina is a landmark $180 million-plus waterfront development for Port Hedland, transforming a long-held community aspiration into a major regional asset for residents, visitors and recreational boat users. The project has delivered safer and more accessible marine facilities, including a four-lane boat ramp, boat pens, trailer parking, breakwaters, public amenities, event space and public art, while also creating a more attractive and activated foreshore precinct for the town. The Commission has played an important enabling role throughout the life of the project, leading the work that secured funding for the project, helping to coordinate government, community and stakeholder input and supporting the project’s progression through key planning and delivery stages. From early community engagement and taskforce participation through to governance, public art and communications working groups, the Commission’s involvement has reflected its broader role in facilitating regional development outcomes that improve liveability, strengthen local identity and support long-term economic and social benefits for the Pilbara. The project has also demonstrated strong collaboration across government and partner agencies, with the Commission working alongside Pilbara Ports, the Town of Port Hedland, DevelopmentWA, the Department of Transport, the Department of Treasury and other stakeholders to support delivery of a complex, multi-agency project. This collaborative approach helped ensure the marina was not only delivered as essential marine infrastructure, but also as a placemaking project that responds to community needs, celebrates local culture and contributes to the ongoing revitalisation of Port Hedland’s West End. Final touches across the precinct, including the completion and activation of the $4 million Pirra Pirra Park by the Town of Port Hedland, have further enhanced the marina’s role as a welcoming community destination. With landscaped areas, shaded gathering spaces, play elements and cultural connections embedded in the design, Pirra Pirra Park adds an important family-friendly and community-focused layer to the broader marina precinct. Together, these finishing elements help complete the vision for Spoilbank Marina as a vibrant waterfront space where people can gather, connect, celebrate and enjoy the unique coastal setting of Port Hedland.

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The Commission’s support for the Martu Cultural Awareness Training Program, delivered by Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ), has helped bring Martu culture, history and lived experience to more people across the region. The program is creating space for Martu voices to be heard, while also creating employment and leadership opportunities for Martu presenters. It builds on KJ’s long-running cultural awareness work and is helping shape it into a more structured and sustainable program for government, industry, schools and community organisations. With a $245,300 grant from the Commission, KJ has been able to train and support Martu presenters, develop high-quality learning materials, and create new course options that reflect Martu knowledge, language and culture. The work supports the Commission’s strategic priority of Aboriginal Empowerment and Prosperity by backing Aboriginal-led delivery, building local capability, and creating practical pathways for Martu people to share their knowledge in paid and meaningful roles. During 2025–2026, the program continued to build the confidence and presentation skills of Martu participants, with training delivered in Newman and Jigalong. New and emerging presenters took on public speaking roles, shared stories and cultural knowledge, and helped test activities and course materials to make sure the training was effective, engaging and culturally accurate. This has helped build a wider group of Martu presenters and contributors who can carry the program forward. The training has reached a growing range of participants, including local government, service providers, schools, community organisations and KJ staff. Feedback has been very positive, with many people saying the most powerful part of the training is hearing directly from Martu presenters. The program is also being shaped for different audiences, including school groups and sector-specific sessions, with on-Country experiences being developed to make the learning even more meaningful. The KJ Martu Cultural Awareness Program demonstrates the value of regional development led by community, grounded in culture and focused on lasting value. By supporting Martu knowledge holders and presenters, the Commission is helping create local jobs, strengthen relationships between Martu and nonAboriginal people and build a deeper understanding of culture across the Pilbara. The program’s progress in 2025–2026 is a positive step towards long-term benefits for Martu communities and the wider region.