Punmu Community

Punmu is an Aboriginal community, located 640 km south east of Port Hedland in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, within the Shire of East Pilbara.

Punmu
Western Australia
Population142 (2016 census)[1]
Established1985
Postcode(s)6753
Location640 km (398 mi) south east of Port Hedland, Western Australia
LGA(s)Shire of East Pilbara
State electorate(s)Pilbara
Federal Division(s)Durack

The Martu language, Manyjiljarra (pronounced Mun-dul-jar-ah), is the first language of all who live in Punmu (non-Indigenous excluded), and the written language is taught in RAWA Community School. English is learnt by many within the community to communicate effectively, but is not often used between the Martu people.

Native title

The community is located within the Determined Martu (WG6110/98) Native Title claim area. In 2002, the Martu were awarded native title rights to over 13.6 million hectares of the Western Desert, an area stretching from the Percival Lakes in the north to south of Lake Disappointment, and from near Jigalong and Balfour Downs east to the Kiwirrkurra and Ngaanyatjarra native title determinations.[2]

Education

Children of school age at Punmu attend the RAWA Community School. The school is made up of the school board, the trainee principal, the principal mentor/administrator, the non-Indigenous teachers, the Aboriginal Education Workers (AEWs), and specialist teachers. These staff manage, control and teach the school and its 74 students.

Governance

The community is managed through its incorporated body, Punmu Aboriginal Corporation, incorporated under the Aboriginal Councils and Associations Act 1976 on 14 December 1983.

Town planning

Punmu Layout Plan No.2 has been prepared in accordance with State Planning Policy 3.2 Aboriginal Settlements. Layout Plan No.2 was endorsed by the community on 20 June 2007 and the WAPC on 4 December 2007.[3]

Notes
  1. Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "Punmu (ILOC)". 2016 Census QuickStats. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
  2. "Meet the Martu". KJ. Newman, WA: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  3. "Punmu Layout Plan 2". Western Australian Planning Commission. Perth, WA. Retrieved 1 May 2020.

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