Maranguka, meaning ‘caring for others’ in Ngemba language is a community hub that works alongside the people of Bourke.

MARANGUKA COMMUNITY HUB

A grassroots tool for all our people to shape and determine our future. It is a community-led vehicle to empowerment, operationalising self-determination, generational success, shared decision-making and flexible service delivery.

Maranguka's History

2013
2014
2015
2016
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2018
2019
2020
2021
Maranguka Community Hub officially opened after elders in the community decided that a new way of thinking and doing things needed to be developed in order to help the children of Bourke

Justice Reinvestment NSW partnered with Maranguka to propose a plan for the first major justice reinvestment pilot site in Australia

Dept Community Services provide the space for Maranguka Community Hub and an administration officer
Data request made to NSW Government to begin data collection within the community.

Start of Maranguka Executive Director's role.

The Bourke Tribal Council was officially formed, bringing together local community members representing 24 different tribes.
Finalisation of the ‘Snapshot of Life for Aboriginal Children and Young People in Bourke.’ Local community members and service providers receive training on how to interpret data snapshot.

Bourke Tribal Council initiates ‘Growing Our Kids Up Safe Smart and Strong,’ strategy and Working Groups are established.

Maranguka partnered with Birrang and advocated for the Driver Licensing Program to come to Bourke.
KPMG produces a preliminary assessment of Maranguka.

Maranguka secures three-year funding from philanthropy to begin implementation phase.

Save Our Sons, Save Our Sister (SOS), programs initiated, SOS was a partnership through Birrang Enterprise.

Maranguka Working Groups meet for the first time.
Maranguka advocated for a family violence services to come to Bourke, which launched the initiation of the Gawimara Burrany Ngurung ‘Picking Up the Pieces,’ program in Bourke.

The first Healthy Kids Bus Stop (HKBS) was held in Bourke, from which 39 children were screened and 32 of those children required some form of referral.
KPMG produced an impact assessment of Maranguka.

The Men’s Space was officially launched in July, providing the Men of Bourke a safe place to heal and grow as men together.

The SOS Youth Worker Assistant position started this year after the Maranguka Youth Advisory Council advocated for a role to support girls.

Baby expo held in Bourke.

MOB (men of Bourke) hub.
Based on the outcomes achieved by the community to date, the Commonwealth and New South Wales Governments have recently announced $1.8 million in funding to support the ongoing implementation of the project as part of the Stronger Places, Stronger People initiative.

Maranguka Education Employment & Training Community Summit (MEETCS) was held to discuss learning, employment and training opportunities across the life-span of people in Bourke.

A Collaboration Agreement workshop was held, including service providers and agencies from across Bourke.

Due to the reduction in family domestic violence, a collaboration agreement workshop was held with service providers and agencies across Bourke to address contributing factors to this.
Maranguka began to move towards incorporation with the support of Gilbert & Tobin to establish Maranguka as an incorporated entity.

Maranguka coordinated NAIDOC week activities held in Bourke.

Maranguka conducted a Summer School Holiday Program, which included a variety of organised activities for the Youth of Bourke.

Maranguka’s Early Childhood & Parenting Working Group partnered with Connected Beginnings to better achieve their goals.

Inaugural welcome Baby to country.
Official signing of the Collaboration Agreement took place in the Bourke community, formalising the process of collaborative partnerships across services and agencies in attempts to reduce family and domestic violence in Bourke.

The Maranguka – Wellness Connect Mental Health Summit was held in Bourke, with Minister for Regional Health Mark Coulton joining local community and agency members.

Bourke Tribal Council

The Bourke Tribal Council was officially formed in 2014, bringing together local community members representing 24 different tribes. The Bourke Tribal Council meets regularly to provide diverse representation and input around community strengths and interests, guidance and overarching cultural and governance authority for Maranguka.

Maranguka

Principles

Maranguka and the Bourke Tribal Council have developed principles that guide all initiatives, projects and services wanting to work with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community in Bourke, NSW.

Maranguka involves realigning and integrating community, government and non-government organisations to provide better service provision and delivery with and for our community. Government has promised they will be more answerable than ever before and have started to realign policies and structure to work with Maranguka.
This is a new and unique way of doing community business.
In this realignment government and non-government organisations’ programs, projects and services are to be guided by the following principles.

Guiding Principles

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Work in ways that are culturally competent, ensure cultural safety and recognise the cultural, spiritual, economic and physical connections that exist in the Bourke Aboriginal community

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Fully support, work collaboratively towards, and report against the outcomes and indicators in Growing Our Kids Up Safe Smart and Strong (Strategy)

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Be open, fair and transarent in engaging with other Aborginal stakeholders and organisations, build capacity and where possible avoid competing with the Aboriginal community-controlled sector

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Recognise and support the role of Maranguka and the leadership of the Bourke Tribal Council by embedding these Principles into our way working and where possible into service delivery contracts

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Build the capacity of local Bourke Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to support self determination

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Provide leadership, authority and facilitation to drive change and better outcomes for the community of Bourke

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In recognition of the need to long term commitment and sustainability, will retain and seek to secure appropriate resources to support collaborative effort, meet community needs and to reduce gaps and/or duplication in service delivery

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Engage Maranguka and the Bourke Tribal Council in decision-making around employment and procurement and support the development and implementation of an Aboriginal employment and procurement stategy for Bourke

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Focus efforts on the identification of mutually agreed and defined problems and the codesign of local solutions

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Work to create an environment of trust between partners that supports a systems change approach, refom, risk taking and innovative responses to issues

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Work in ways to ensure responsibility, accountability and transparency in decision making including ensuring access to data

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Are clear on roles, responsibilities and accountability to community

Maranguka team

Maranguka’s ‘backbone team’ supports the local community working groups and daily check-ins with police and other services, which are crucial to the wellbeing and quality of services provided to the people of Bourke.

Maranguka does this by:
  • Bringing people together and helping them to work better together to achieve the goals set by the Bourke Tribal Council
  • Supporting all people to learn by bringing data and real-life stories to every decision
  • Holding people, organisations and decision makers to account
  • Advocating for more effective use of resources
  • Integrated co-ordinated case support model

Backbone team

Alister Ferguson
Alister Ferguson

Executive Director / Founder

Alister Ferguson is the Executive Director and the driving force behind Maranguka. With a focus on community-led solutions, Alister has played a pivotal role in reshaping how resources are allocated, shifting from punitive approaches to investment in prevention and early intervention. His leadership is grounded in cultural authority and a commitment to self-determination, fostering strong partnerships between the community, government, and non-government organizations. Through his work, Alister continues to champion innovative approaches that strengthen community cohesion and create lasting positive change.

Maxime Nina
Maxime Nina

Acting Backbone Director

Maxime Nina is the Acting Backbone Director of Maranguka, committed to empowering communities and driving systemic change. Maxime has experience in youth work, homelessness, disability care, community outreach, as well as working within education and justice settings.
 
Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Laws and holding a Diploma in Youth Work, Maxime combines hands-on expertise with strategic leadership to deliver innovative, community-driven programs. As a dedicated advocate for social justice, Maxime fosters partnerships that create sustainable, positive change.

PROGRAM AND OPERATIONS TEAM

Sheena Olsen
Sheena Olsen

Acting Program Director, Improving Multidisciplinary Response

Sheena Olsen is the program director of the Improving Multidisciplinary Response program, focusing on bringing teams together to provide better support for the community. Sheena works to ensure services collaborate effectively, creating a stronger, more connected approach to addressing complex needs. Her work is all about practical solutions, clear communication, and fostering partnerships that make a real difference.

Amanda McGovern
Amanda McGovern

Program Director Picking Up the Pieces (Gawimarra Burrany Ngurung)

Amanda McGovern works for Maranguka as the director of the Picking Up the Pieces program, where she focuses on supporting individuals and families through difficult times. With a practical and grounded approach, Amanda is committed to understanding the needs of the community and working alongside people to help them regain stability and confidence. Her work is built on trust, connection, and a deep belief in the strength and resilience of those she supports.

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Maranguka acknowledges and pays respect to all of the Aboriginal people and families living in, and associated with our Bourke community.

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41B Mitchell Street, 

Bourke NSW 2840

02 5834 7900

[email protected]
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Opening hours:

Monday – Friday

9am – 5pm

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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are advised that this website may contain images, voices or names of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander peoples who may have passed away. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.