• Homelands where the heart is

    Homelands where the heart is

    The Australian recently published an article about three Martu communities we are working with now.

    Homelands where the heart is describes the housing crisis in Punmu, Parnngurr and Kunawarritji, where half of the existing homes have been deemed ‘beyond economic repair’. We have been working alongside JYAC and HealthHabitat on Ngurra Palyamaniny, a ‘survey-fix’ program enabling houses to be repaired in two-steps: simple repairs first followed by major works. The work is pacy and requires meaningful community involvement. You can read more about this project here .

    We are pleased that the poor quality of housing in remote communities has been raised in a major national publication. It’s something we address daily as part of our work. Our clients and the community tell us that people want to live in community on Country , rather than in the mining towns that dominate the northwest. Our job is to deliver the housing and community infrastructure to make that happen.

    Top image: the Survey/Fix team including TFA's Andrew Broffman (3rd from right) and Akira Monaghan (far right)Bottom image: Akira on the tools
  • A special announcement

    A special announcement

    We made a commitment when we sold our first journal in 2018 to distribute all revenue to First Nations community projects. Since then, sales have been ticking over and we’ve been steadily stashing away the funds.

    We are chuffed to announce that we’ve been able to make a $1000 donation to the language preservation program at Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa (KJ), an organisation based in Newman and servicing Martu communities in the Western Desert.

    Thank you to everyone who has bought one of our journals – Pivot, Agency, Leverage, Commune, Equity – and made this donation possible. Thank you also to Pauline at the Fremantle Foundation for your work in facilitating the grant. Happy days!

  • Martuku Jijiku Maya opens in Newman

    Martuku Jijiku Maya opens in Newman

    Last Friday was a special day at The Fulcrum Agency with the opening of Martuku Jijiku Maya, a hostel for Martu secondary students in Newman, WA. The celebration was attended by Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan, Board members of Jamukurnu Yapalikurnu Aboriginal Corporation (JYAC), members of the Martu community and prospective families.

    Regional Development Minister Alannah MacTiernan cuts the ribbon to officially open Martuku Jijiku Maya on Friday 12 August, 2022.

    Martuku Jijiku Maya came to us through our colleagues at Engawa Architects; we developed their design and managed the project through to completion. The spaces are domestic in scale and feeling, while dashes of colour help to distinguish between buildings.

    Martuku Jijiku Maya

    Described by Minister MacTiernan as a ‘game changer for kids growing up in Martu communities’, the hostel will provide young Martu people with access to quality education whilst remaining close to their families and Country. Students will be educated in Martu lore and the Australian curriculum – enabling them to walk successfully in both worlds.

    ‘The Martu Student Hostel will be a place for learning and for young people to become the Martu leaders of tomorrow.’ JYAC Chair Melvin Farmer

    It is always a privilege to be involved in projects that positively impact the lives of children living in First Nations communities. You can read the full case study on here .