WEST KIMBERLEY

 

OVERVIEW

The Kimberley region is located in far north Western Australia, comprised of the West Kimberley towards the coast and the East Kimberley towards the Northern Territory border. Jawun began working with the Indigenous communities of East Kimberley in 2010, and in 2012 broadened its boundaries to include communities in the West Kimberley region.

The West Kimberley region includes the towns of Broome, Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and a number of Indigenous communities on the Dampier Peninsula. The region extends to the Pilbara in the south, across to Yulumbu, Ngallagunda and Marunbadi in the east, and Kandiwal in the north.

Indigenous people in the West Kimberley face similar challenges to those faced by Indigenous communities across Australia. However, mining in Western Australian over the last decade has meant jobs, a government focus and investment in transitional housing, so there is considerable opportunity for improving the lives of Indigenous people in this region.

The Indigenous organisations and leaders Jawun partners with are focused on empowering governance, leadership (at all levels), and economic development. Successes are seen in youth empowerment, rising female leadership, and significant growth in Indigenous-led enterprises.

WORKING WITH THE COMMUNITY

FIELD TEAM

  • 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

Ashlee Renshaw

  • General Manager, Regional Investment

    Ashlee joined Jawun in 2023 as General Manager, Partner Engagement, and in 2025 stepped into the role of Acting General Manager, Regional Investment. With a strong background in People and Culture, she brings experience in HR leadership, workforce strategy, and inclusion initiatives. Her career spans both operational and strategic people functions, with a focus on fostering inclusive workplaces, leading philanthropic partnerships, and embedding values-driven practices across diverse sectors.

    Prior to Jawun, Ashlee held senior people leadership roles across blue-collar and corporate environments in the Transport and Urban Services sectors, interfacing with government and private relationships. She has led complex HR programs, managed stakeholder partnerships, and driven initiatives that balance business outcomes with social impact.

    As a Jawun alumna, having participated in 2017 R2 West Kimberley, Ashlee brings deep understanding of Jawun’s purpose and values. 

    Ashlee is honoured to support the Central Coast, Goulburn Murray, East Kimberley, West Kimberley and North East Arnhem Land regions as General Manager Regional Investment. 

    To contact Ashlee, please email arenshaw@jawun.org.au.

A Qantas secondee's story in the West Kimberley.

CASE STUDIES

Case studies show how Jawun secondees have achieved real results. If you are interested to learn more about Jawun's work in this region, click on the case studies below.

INDIGENOUS-LED ENTERPRISE IN WEST KIMBERLEY

EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES IN THREE REGIONS

WEST KIMBERLEY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENDA

IMPROVING SAFETY AND SKILLS

SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF BEAGLE BAY FUTURE INDIGENOUS CORPORATION

SUPPORTING THE KIMBERLY LAND COUNCIL

RESHAPING THE FUTURE FOR NIRRUMBUK ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

KIMBERLEY LAND COUNCIL CULTURAL ENTERPRISE HUB

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