Our community vision is to be a safe, well and happy community where we make our own decisions in our own time, in our own way.
Next Project
Wurrumiyanga Master Plan
Wurrumiyanga is the largest community on the Tiwi Islands, an archipelago located about 80km north of Darwin in the Arafura Sea. The community has grown organically since its establishment as a mission in 1911 and is now home to 1600 people. Worryingly, it has become increasingly vulnerable to climate change, having faced regular flooding and storm damage in recent years.
Ongoing shoreline erosion threatens Wurramiyanga’s long-term viability as a place for people to live and work. Rather than waiting for the problem to worsen, Tiwi leadership engaged us to help them plan for the future by considering the question: Where will we be in 50 years?
Mantiyupwi directors led this project from start to finish. We worked with them closely and visited regularly, taking the time to understand the people, environment, and organisations woven into the fabric of daily life, including the school, Red Cross, police, community shop, social club, medical services, and the extraordinary arts centres. We met with community members of all ages, including one remarkable gathering that brought together more than 100 people from the Mantiyupwi clan to discuss the future of their community. Time and again, the community amazed us – not just with their resilience, but with their readiness to sit with hard questions and face them honestly.
The result is a community-owned Master Plan – a strategic tool that balances immediate needs with long-term goals, equipping Tiwi people to navigate an uncertain climate future without sacrificing their cultural identity or community bonds. It is a clear vision for the Tiwi way of life, built to support the wellbeing of future generations.
| Location | Tiwi Islands |
| Partners | Mantiyupwi Pty Ltd Office of Township Leasing, NT Government |
| Project Type | Community Masterplan |
| Completion | Ongoing |
| Project Team | Kieran Wong, Heather MacRae, Akira Monaghan, Emma Brain |
