Growing our kids up SAFE, SMART and STRONG
Our mission
To support a unified and empowered Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Bourke, NSW to shape its own future so that our kids grow up safe, smart and strong.
What we do
Maranguka means
'Caring for Others’
Maranguka helps our people and families with day to day matters requiring support and assistance. Maranguka is also responsible for bringing government, service providers and community together to collaborate around the Bourke Tribal Council’s Growing Our Kids Up Safe, Smart and Strong strategy and change the way that services are provided to the local community.
The goals of the Safe, Smart, Strong Strategy below were developed in 2015 when the community had conversations around data collected about the life of a Aboriginal young person in Bourke. This has helped our community create a strong vision for the future of our young people.
Safe, Smart, Strong Strategy Goals
Is born healthy
Lives in a safe place
Arrives at school ready to learn
Has strong family relationships
Values learning and feels supported and confident in raising children
Supports their children's connection to culture and country
Safe, Smart, Strong Strategy Goals
Feels connected to culture and country
Has strong family relationships
Has a positive sense of identity and belonging
Feels respected and has increased self confidence
Is receptive to services and assistance
Is mentally and emotionally equipped for their future
Is on positive pathways
Safe, Smart, Strong Strategy Goals
Feels connected to culture and country
Has support to overcome trauma, grief and loss
Is supported along his healing journey
Is a skilled parent, caregiver and role model
Feels respected
Protects his family and community
Is on positive pathways
Safe, Smart, Strong Strategy Goals
Feels connected to culture and country
Has support to overcome trauma, grief and loss
Is supported along her healing journey
Is a skilled parent, caregiver and role model
Feels respected
Protects her family and community
Is on positive pathways
Cultural Governance and Authority
Bourke Tribal Council is the overarching community governance body representing the 24 clan and family groups of the Aboriginal community of Bourke.
Strategic Working Groups have been established and developed from the priorities recognised in Safe, Smart and Strong.
The Working Groups comprise of government and non- government agencies, service providers and Bourke community members. The Working Groups are forums to workshop problems facing the community and the best possible community driven solutions.
- 1 July 2025
Bourke NAIDOC Celebrations
- 6 June 2025
Bourke Sacred Site Training Program
- 17 May 2025
Bourke Show
- 3 October 2024
- The Western Herald
Bourke Biggest Playgroup was big!
- 20 June 2024
- The Western Herald
Western Australians check out Maranguka success
- 4 July 2023
- The Western Herald
Signing of historic ‘working with children’ agreement in Bourke
A new way of doing business
We are demonstrating what can be achieved when community is in the drivers seat. Explore our strategic goals below.
Cultural Authority
The cultural authority of Bourke Tribal Council and Maranguka is respected in order to guide change in Bourke and collaboration partners are amplifying First Nations wisdom and approaches.
Collaborative and flexible service delivery
The right mix of services are delivered at the right times to stop our people from falling between the gaps. By working closely together, all our people have the best outcomes and opportunities.
Shared decision-making
The authorising environment for the achievement of the strategy goals has been created and strengthened. The coordination, delivery and accountability of government-funded and other services in Bourke is improved.
Brokering local solutions to systemic challenges
Greater community voice engaging with and implementing systems reform with partners for better service options. Working on closing the gap indicators with delivery partners across the local service sector for greater impact.
Operationalising First Nations Data Sovereignty
Greater community agency and use of existing service data where the community has a say in managing better service outcomes informed by this data. Operationalising self-determination by levelling the playing field with the use of data and ensuring attributable sovereignty.
working groups
Regular working groups implement the community priorities recognised in the Safe, Smart and Strong strategy. Find out more and get involved.
Palimaa Interactive Platform
Maranguka has championed the custom built Palimaa Interactive Platform to support analytics, data evaluation and research to drive local decision making. Palimaa is operationalising self-determination by levelling the playing field with the use of data and ensuring attributable sovereignty.
