SOUTH WEST AUSTRALIA

 

OVERVIEW

The south west region of Western Australia is Jawun’s newest region. Jawun commenced operations in South West Australia in February 2020. 

The south west of Western Australia is Noongar Boodja (Country) and home to the Noongar Nation, which is made up of 14 closely connected language groups. Noongar Boodja covers the entire south-western portion of Western Australia, with the northern boundary commencing on the west coast at a point north of Jurien Bay, proceeding to a point roughly north of Moora and then roughly south-east to a point on the southern coast between Bremer Bay and Esperance. 

Since 2001, the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council (SWALSC) has been the Native Title Service Provider for the region, and in addition to its legislative functions under the Native Title Act 1993 (NTA), SWALSC aims to inspire, enable and lead the Noongar people to build a strong, sustainable and united Noongar Nation. In resolving native title across the region, the Noongar Nation is represented by six Noongar Agreement Groups:  

  • Ballardong (York, Northam, Hyden, Kondinin)  

  • Gnaala Karla Booja (Mandurah, Bunbury, Donnybrook)  

  • South West Boojarah (Busselton, Dunsborough, Margaret River, Pemberton, Nannup) 

  • Wagyl Kaip and Southern Noongar (Katanning, Gnowangerup, Albany) 

  • Whadjuk (Perth Metropolitan area)

  • Yued (Jurien, Moora, Lancelin, Gingin). 

SWALSC, on behalf of, and in partnership with the Noongar Agreement Groups and the Noongar community, have successfully negotiated the South West Native Title Settlement (the Settlement), the most comprehensive native title agreement in Australia’s history. The historic agreement will impact around 30,000 Noongar people, encompasses approximately 200,000 square kilometres of land and includes an economic base that is expected to be worth more than $1 billion at the end of the 12 year accumulation period. The Settlement is a momentous achievement in Noongar history, and will provide the Noongar people with unprecedented opportunities for developing and maintaining Noongar interests. 

The regions’ leaders have a clear and strong focus on nation building, strategic governance, and improved housing options as a lever to address economic development and social policy issues.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY

FIELD TEAM

  • Regional Director

    Aaron has joined the Jawun team following over 10 years working in public and primary health management in regional WA. Most recently, he has led the service design and implementation of a new state-wide, centralised transfer coordination service in collaboration with key stakeholders Royal Flying Doctor Service and St John Ambulance.

    With a strong focus on innovative solutions to improving health outcomes and facilitation of broader systems change for communities and individuals in regional Western Australia, Aaron played an integral role in establishing and maintaining strategic partnerships to promote equity in the delivery of health to regional, remote and Aboriginal communities across Western Australia

    To contact Aaron, please email abodestyne@jawun.org.au

  • General Manager, Regional Investment

    Sarah joined Jawun as Regional Director for the Lower River Murray, Lakes and Coorong, and Far West Coast Regions in South Australia in May 2019 before moving into General Manager Regional Investment role in November 2022. 

    Sarah comes to Jawun from a career in project management across the community based and higher education sectors, delivering diverse projects to support the housing, health and wellbeing needs of people sleeping rough in Adelaide. This included service delivery model review, establishment of a social enterprise to provide training and employment opportunities, and coordination of a peer-to-peer disaster resilience project, delivering safety messaging and assistance during extreme weather events to people sleeping rough. Sarah played a key role in a sector-wide collaboration to address, and end, rough sleeping in Adelaide through the delivery of SA’s first two annual Connections Week projects to better understand and support people sleeping rough. 

    Personally, Sarah is committed to supporting young people to make positive choices in their lives. Sarah mentors high school students through The Smith Family’s Learning for Life program and is guardianship carer for a young person through Time for Kids.

    To contact Sarah, please email scollyer-braham@jawun.org.au