About Ngurra Kujungka
Ngurra Kujungka Inc is the Western Desert’s first community driven regional sport and recreation organisation, awarded for tailored programs delivered to improve health, sport, recreation and employment outcomes for the people of the Western Desert.
Ngurra Kujungka
Martu Council Members
Ngurra Kujungka is a not for profit, incorporated body directed by a board of Martu men and women members representing each community of the Western Desert in the East Pilbara region of Western Australia. The Council meets regularly to oversee the development of the organisation, voting on key decisions determining the programs and direction of Ngurra Kujungka.
The sport and recreation programs deliver many benefits to the Martu people throughout their communities, with health outcomes a key focus. A range of programs have been developed to increase physical activity, provide sporting career pathways, educational benefits and community engagement.
​
Strong support from Western Desert communities and stakeholders continues to ensure the evolution of remarkably successful initiatives such as the Martu School Holiday Program and Western Desert football and softball leagues. The Martu Youth Festival brings together families from the most remote desert regions during a week long celebration of music, culture and sport, with broad community engagement and the involvement of elite sporting organisations seeking talented players for development.
​
Programs have broadened significantly, developing in a relatively short time to incorporate children’s sport with health, music, art and lifestyle activities. New, ongoing stakeholder and partnership relationships are constantly sought and forged to continually stimulate the activities within the programs. Ngurra Kujungka’s range of sport and recreation
related initiatives provides enormous potential for the Martu people through general health benefits, specific training,
employment, skills development, and exposure to unique sporting opportunities.
Ngurra Kujungka is an effective, consultative, collaborative, adaptable, resourceful organisation committed to achieving its Vision: ‘A healthier, happier, safer, community driven, economically independent future for the people of the
Western Desert’.
We believe all Martu can embrace who they are,
and can define their own future.
Our Vision
A healthier, happier, safer, community-driven, economically independent future for the people of the Western Desert.
‘Palya, pukurlpa, ngampurrpa, ngurralu katiku, walyjalu kurrurnpa martukujanampa
pirrajanuku’
Our Mission
Ngurra Kujungka will utilise sport, art, music and culture as vehicles to drive improvements in health, training, employment, education and community
development outcomes for the people of the
Western Desert.
Ngurra kujungkalu palyalku sportpa, artpa, musicpa, kamu jukurrpa mutukayuru jipalkuya ngapi healthpa, trainingpa, warrkamu, educationpa, ngurra, palyalku, pakalku manku, palyarrikujanampa martuka pirrajanuku’
Our Philosophy
The success of Ngurra Kujungka can be attributed to its deeply rooted foundations in community engagement and collaboration. Community driven development recognises lived experience, knowledge and expertise in local environments, populations and circumstances.
Community driven engagement became firmly established in the Western Desert in 2008, when experienced locals and community development specialists collaborated to identify pathways for Martu people to meaningfully engage in the design of future
outcomes.
By acknowledging and exploring the value of community Ngurra Kujungka embodies a committed engagement with the people of the Western Desert. This commitment and community ownership ensures greater confidence by external agencies andpotential partners, and a range of benefits for all stakeholders.
Ngurra Kujungka has established strong foundations to ensure the continuing evolution and development of an effective, sustainable sport and recreation program to provide broad health benefits and development opportunities for the communities it serves.
Many strong, unique and ongoing partnerships have been forged, generating a range of valuable opportunities for the Martu people, harnessing an intense level of community driven engagement and investment. Key stakeholders extend to local, state and federal government departments, charitable organisations, industry partners, sporting and other organisations.
Ngurra Kujungka is achieving measurable success in the development, growth and management of Martu sport and recreation, and continually reviewing the objectives of increased participation and opportunities to improve health, education, training, employment and community development outcomes for the people of the Western Desert.
Our People
Mike McMonigal - Program Manager
As Program Manager, Mike McMonigal draws upon a significant career in sport management and liaison. Previously Mike was the High Performance Manager of Surfing WA for many years, qualifying as a Level 2 High Performance Coach and Level 1 Judge before creating a high performance program for WA’s best junior competition surfers. Mike collaborated with various key stakeholders including Surfing Australia, sports scientists, professional surfers, elite coaches and parents to provide the best training opportunities for these talented athletes through professional national and international pathways.
Seeking a fresh challenge Mike found one in the vastly different landscape of the Western Desert communities, adapting his skills to create links and pathway opportunities for Martu boys and girls living in one of the most remote desert locations in the world. As Program Manager, Mike oversees program development and daily operations, working closely with the Martu Council of Ngurra Kujungka – the Western Deserts first community driven regional sport and recreation organisation. Mike’s role is to ensure strategic objectives are met, including program direction, financial management, sponsorship and key stakeholder relationships.
The sport and recreation programs continue to deliver many benefits to the Martu people throughout their communities. Health outcomes remain a key focus. Important programs have been created and developed to increase physical activity, provide sporting career pathways, educational benefits,sustainable employment, and community engagement.
Mike regards the Martu School Holiday Program as a particular Ngurra Kujungka highlight. These programs are consistently commended by WA Police, school principals and community members for engagement of Martu girls and boys in productive and enjoyable activities that have led to increased participation in physical and emotional health, social experiences, sport, and the development of new skills. This program provides important opportunities for Ngurra Kujungka to collaborate with a variety of regional and community stakeholders and to develop partnerships and relationships.
The School Holiday Program links into other unique programs such as opportunities for talent identification and skills development with state sporting associations and elite sport organisations. The program continues to evolve, now offering a greater range of sports and a variety of activities including nutrition, cooking, health and hygiene, arts, crafts, educational activities, music, cultural experiences
and more.
Mike’s future focus is to maintain momentum in the engagement of Martu communities, and the ongoing development of sustainable programs to bring opportunity to the people of the Western Desert.
Pia Cattalini - Female Indigenous Sports Officer
We are delighted to introduce ISDO Pia Cattalini, a current Health Promotion student at Curtin University, whose journey is defined by a newfound passion for promoting healthy lifestyles and wellbeing.
Pia's athletic prowess spans a variety of sports including swimming, athletics, netball, volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, AFL, and a deep-rooted love for running. Her commitment to sports and competition led her to coach junior teams in netball, softball, and volleyball, and to facilitate youth programs for the Edmund Rice Centre’s Common Goal soccer initiative.
Following her high school graduation, Pia embarked on a transformative journey in the Warralong Community, serving as the Healthy Living cook at Strelley Remote Community School. This experience deepened her connection to the land and culture, particularly with the Martu People in Karntimarta. Pia's dedication extended to other Western Desert communities through roles with Ngurra Kujungka and as a volunteer with FairGame. She also spent six months in Mt Magnet, offering afterschool sports and recreation programs, mentoring youth, and providing in-school support.
Pia's new role with Ngurra Kujungka represents an exciting opportunity that aligns her passions for sports, health, and community. Her focus remains on nurturing the individual talents, passions, and dreams of young people, fostering positive relationships, and creating inclusive environments that encourage participation.
We look forward to seeing Pia's continued involvement and the valuable contributions she will make to our programs and events.
Gavin McMeekin - Male Indigenous Sports Officer
I'm Gavin McMeekin, and I’d like to share a bit about my journey.
I’ve lived in the Perth suburb of Greenwood for my entire life. After leaving high school, I ran a roof plumbing business before transitioning into the health sector.
For 22 years, I worked in Patient Transport and as an orderly in various settings, including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, and general hospital.
This work taught me a lot about resilience, compassion, and the importance of teamwork in high-pressure environments.
Sports have always been a huge passion of mine. I began playing junior footy at just five years old and continued to play at the senior level, primarily as a forward pocket, rotating out of the centre.Many of the bonds I made with former teammates are still strong to this day, and those connections will always remain a highlight of my life.
Baseball was another significant part of my life. I spent about six or seven seasons playing the sport, taking on roles as a Pitcher, Catcher, and playing 3rd base. Some of the highlights of my baseball career include trialing for the State side and, most memorably, pitching a no-hitter during a district carnival at the U18 level.
I’m also a strong believer in fitness, and I’ve always been a fan of basic isometric training. I find that it not only boosts my mental health but also contributes to my general well-being. Equally important is nutrition—fueling the body with the right foods is key to recovery and maintaining the results of my gym efforts.
As I step into this new role as a Ngurra Kujungka Indigenous Sports Training Officer, I’m excited about the challenges ahead and the rewards that will come with it. I look forward to embracing this next chapter and continuing to grow, both personally and professionally.
Our History
Between the 1970s and 2000s opportunities for sport and recreation remained limited in the remote Western Desert region of WA. Despite a strong desire for inclusion by Martu men, women and children, sporting and recreation opportunities were sporadic, with little coordination and direction.
Any sporting activities generally focused on Martu men, with very limited options available to Martu women and children. Few opportunities arose for Martu people to express their views and engage in the design of sport and recreation programs for their own communities. Many talented and enthusiastic Martu people were unable to learn, train, play, compete or participate in a meaningful way.
A unique partnership was established in 2008 between Newcrest Mining Limited and the State Government's Department of Sport and Recreation to address this sport and recreation deficit in the Western Desert.
​
The partnership established a base of operations at Telfer mine site, selected for its proximity and accessibility to Western Desert communities. The position of an Indigenous Sports Development Officer was created and funded by this unique collaboration between industry and state government.
Objectives were identified:
-
To develop and provide opportunities to meet the desire of the Martu people to participate in sport and recreation:
-
To understand the wishes and capacity of Western Desert communities;
-
To seek and collaborate with suitable stakeholders to create and manage an effective, sustainable sport and recreation program tailored for the people of the Western Desert.
Outcomes were targeted:
-
To provide opportunities for broad health benefits and
-
community development specifically for the people of the Western Desert to encompass new options for employment, recreation, and sport.
​
In 2009 Martu community members, key internal stakeholders such as school principals and community
coordinators, key external stakeholders including State Government services together with community
organisations, and community development and sport and recreation specialists were consulted to ascertain
direct benefits to Western Desert communities and to identify pathways to meet the target outcomes.
Following consultation it was agreed that a regional program, if managed to minimise community disruption and stakeholder overload, had the potential to unlock major improvements in health, training, employment, education, community and social outcomes.
It was agreed that, with the direction and support of key stakeholders, a Martu Council comprising
representatives from each Martu community be established to lead the development of the program.
It was recommended that a schedule of events be prepared to provide forward notice for stakeholders, and that communication between the Martu Council and Western Desert stakeholders remain consistent and comprehensive.