It is with great pride that I welcome you to the first edition of the K Farmer Dutjahn Foundation (KFDF) newsletter. Inside, you’ll hear directly from the communities we serve, including the stories, partnerships and progress that reflect our commitment to Aboriginal-led land stewardship, sustainable enterprise and cultural resilience.
In 2025, KFDF continued to build on the strong foundations laid by our founders and community partners. This year, we strengthened our work protecting wild sandalwood, supporting regeneration across Country, and improving pathways for sandalwood license applications. These achievements are the result of deep collaboration with Traditional Owners, industry partners, and communities, who are at the heart of everything we do.
We’ve also expanded our research, on-Country training and community capacity-building initiatives to ensure cultural knowledge is supported, opportunities are community-driven, and decision-making is grounded in the values of those who care for Country.
Thank you for your support, your curiosity, and your commitment to walking this path alongside us. We’re grateful you’re here. With respect and purpose, Louise Fitzpatrick KFDF CEO
As we approach the end of 2025, the Board would like to extend our deepest gratitude for your ongoing strength, partnership, and cultural leadership. It has been an honour to walk alongside you – sharing in the achievements, resilience, and community spirit that make Wiluna and Martu Country so special.
We wish every family a safe, peaceful and joyful Christmas, and a New Year filled with prosperity, good health and new opportunities. Thank you for your trust, your guidance and the incredible work we have achieved together.
We look forward to continuing our shared journey in the coming year.
Warmest wishes, The KFDF Board
The Western Desert Youth Rangers Program is already opening doors for Martu youth. Even in its early stages, the impact has been deeply moving. One young woman’s journey captures this.
After years of feeling depressed and disconnected from her community, she joined the Rangers. Over the next few years, her transformation was remarkable. She now attends every activity and is rebuilding her sense of self-worth and belonging.
Her father shared what this meant to Mr Andy.
“This Rangers program, it means so much. It’s what she needs. It’s what all our kids need. Us Martu are a proud mob, and our kids are our future. What you are doing is really special for our kids,” he said.
The program is something the whole community can be proud of.
Voices of Wiluna Film – Community Premiere
The Voices of Wiluna film premiered at the Martu-Ku Centre on 27 November, closing out Engagement Week with a special community celebration.
The community came together to celebrate Wiluna’s identity, stories and the people who make it so special. Big thanks to:
Pura – for their partnership and support.
Liontown Resources – for the tasty food and BBQ.
Shire of Wiluna – for supporting the event.
Adriol Media – for their care in producing the film.
Martu-Ku Engagement Week ran from 25-27 November in Wiluna. The program included:
Seven consultation sessions, including yarns with Elders and young people.
Drop-in sessions.
A community BBQ and movie night.
Community members were also invited to share feedback throughout October and November online and via phone.
We worked with local stakeholders and Hames Sharley to ensure the process was inclusive and grounded in community input. We’ll keep engaging through the design phase and work to secure funding to bring the community’s vision to life.
Special thanks to Wiluna Gold for supplying food and cooking up a storm at the community BBQ.
Royal Life Saving WA – Ongoing Partnership for a Safer, Stronger Community
Following the success of the Royal Life Saving WA program in Wiluna, we’ll continue to support a safe, engaging, and culturally informed swimming and water safety program for the whole community.
Highlights will include:
A Cool Pool summer program in 2026.
Ongoing collaboration with the Shire.
A three-year investment to build skills and leadership through the Youth Ranger Program.
Supporting programs that empower Aboriginal communities to care for their land, strengthen cultural identity, and create sustainable livelihoods is at the heart of what we do. Country and Culture are inseparable, and caring for both is critical to long-term resilience.
However, caring for Country is complex and costly, and current funding doesn’t meet community demand. This is why securing sustainable resources and improving coordination remain key priorities for us.
Sandalwood is a major focus Despite its cultural and economic significance, licensing barriers limit opportunities for Aboriginal-led business. We support the Aboriginal Sandalwood Alliance, which gives Traditional Owners a unified voice and stronger negotiating power.
In August, our team visited Kalgoorlie and Wiluna to meet with Aboriginal communities, industry partners and local stakeholders. The trip allowed us to advocate on behalf of Aboriginal sandalwood groups and listen and connect with the Wiluna community.
Kalgoorlie
Our first stop was the Dutjahn Sandalwood Oil factory with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) and members of several Aboriginal corporations. The tour sparked honest conversations about the sandalwood industry, including barriers faced by Aboriginal-led enterprises and pathways towards greater self-determination.
We also attended a licensing discussion led by DBCA with Aboriginal Corporations. DBCA committed to clearer guidance on licensing requirements and the role of Native Title. We emphasised the need for transparent, consistent processes to better support Aboriginal-led sandalwood enterprises. Connecting in Wiluna
From Kalgoorlie, we travelled north to Wiluna, where we were welcomed by local leaders, service providers and community. We met with the Shire, the Wiluna Remote Community Schools, Ngangganawili Aboriginal Health Service and the Western Desert Youth Rangers.
We were deeply inspired by the dedication of Wiluna’s people and grateful for the conversations shared. This visit reinforced our commitment to walking alongside communities, learning from their experiences, and supporting their vision for the future.
Western Desert Youth Rangers joined Elders, Custodians and TMPAC MY Rangers on Country for the Aussie Bird Count, Australia’s biggest citizen science event. Together they spent the day learning to identify local birds, setting up camera traps and tracking signs of wildlife – practical skills that build their confidence as future custodians.
Elders shared stories from the Tjukurpa, weaving cultural knowledge through the day’s activities and bringing together science and culture in a way that is uniquely Martu. For the young Martu Rangers, this wasn’t just about counting birds. It was about connection to the land, to their Elders, and to the stories that make Culture and Country strong.
We’re proud to stand alongside the Western Desert Youth Ranger program, supporting Martu youth as they grow their knowledge, confidence, and cultural identity.
Our work would not be possible without the support of our partners and donors.
Together, we are building a future where Aboriginal-led land management, cultural enterprise, and community strength thrive. Your support in 2025 has helped:
Empower Traditional Owners through the Aboriginal Sandalwood Alliance.
Pass ecological knowledge to the next generation of Western Desert Youth Rangers through the Mother Earth 2 program.
Build capacity for sustainable sandalwood harvesting and intergenerational knowledge through our trusted funding partner, Pura.
Improve community wellbeing and healthy Country outcomes through Maine Beach’s Rangeland Sandalwood partnership.
We’re grateful to walk this journey with you. If you’d like to deepen your collaboration with us in 2026, please get in touch.
