Murlpirrmarra Connection strives to ensure that all young Aboriginal people have equitable access to educational opportunities and are equipped to complete school and pursue their career aspirations. We have been operating since 2010 and are registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (2012) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (2013).
Our community programs have evolved over a long period of sustained engagement with the Martu people from Wiluna. Murlpirrmarra, derived from the Martu language, means "To Make Strong, To Make Confident, To Empower." This concept lies at the heart of our organisation's mission and serves as the guiding principle behind our work with the Martu community.
Recently, Murlpirrmarra received support from the Australian Government to pilot an Indigenous Tennis & Learning program, enabling us to expand our services across other remote and regional communities, including the Mid-West, Goldfields, Kimberley, and Pilbara. This significant endorsement reflects the effectiveness of our programs and the positive impact we have made on the lives of Martu young people.
By embracing the values of Murlpirrmarra, we are dedicated to making a lasting difference in the lives of young Aboriginal people, helping them become strong, confident, and empowered individuals who can create a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Murlpirrmarra Connection currently delivers three main programs:
- Education & Employment Opportunities: We connect young Aboriginal people with the school of their choosing and provide holistic support and mentoring to ensure each student stays engaged in their education and is equipped to pursue their chosen post-school pathway.
- Community health and wellbeing: We have developed and implemented a range of school holiday and sporting programs to keep students engaged in their educational endeavours. Our main community program is the Annual Cultural Football Carnival between the Wiluna Martu Eagles and Dalkeith Nedlands Junior Football Club. The Carnival brings together young people from two vastly disparate communities and facilitates an opportunity for cultural learning and reconciliation.
- Indigenous Tennis & Learning (Piloted 2022 – 2024, through support of the Australian Government): A valuable extension of Murlpirrmarra’s initiatives, this program aims to engage remote, regional and metropolitan Indigenous children and young people through tennis to improve educational, health and social outcomes. It is Australia's only Tennis Australia and Tennis West endorsed Indigenous tennis and education program.
Through these programs we have demonstrated that culturally responsive initiatives, which are reflective of the unique needs of each community, are vital to empowering young Aboriginal people to engage in education, complete school and excel in their chosen endeavours.
