PILBARA

The Pilbara owes its unique identity to its rich heritage and culture, and in particular its diverse Indigenous and multi-cultural heritage. Today there are more than 31 rich and diverse Aboriginal cultural groups in the Pilbara, and Jawun began working with Indigenous communities of the Pilbara in 2022.  

The region is located in the north of Western Australia, bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west and extending across the Great Sandy Desert to the Northern Territory border in the east. One of the largest regions in Western Australia, the Pilbara covers 507,896 square kilometres of unique and breathtaking natural landscape, with its main centres being the city of Karratha and township of Port Hedland. Smaller surrounding towns include Newman, Tom Price, Onslow, Marble Bar and Roebourne. 

The region is the state’s mining powerhouse and the iron ore and liquified natural gas industries are valued at over $70 billion. There is a focus amongst Indigenous organisations on preserving and protecting landholdings for future generations and improving the lives and livelihood of the local community. This is delivered through Ranger and Caring for Country initiatives, employment and training programs and delivery of services focussed on social and economic outcomes for Indigenous communities. 

The region is home to the culturally and environmentally significant Murujuga National Park, which has the largest and most diverse collections of petroglyphs in the world. The images depicted in the rock art capture more than 50,000 years of human existence. The Park is part of the National Heritage listed Dampier Archipelago and Montebello and Mackerel Islands.