❓ The Marlamanu on-country program is operational, but the Wala Kooral-bi facility is not yet occupied due to wet season conditions. Six young people are currently engaged in the referral process, with full residential occupation expected by early April 2026.
AnsweredQoN 66Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
Marlamanu on-country facility
66. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the minister
representing the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the
Marlamanu on-country facility and reports by the National
Indigenous Times on November 2025 that it held a pre-opening ceremony.
(1) Is Marlamanu open?
(2) If yes to (1), how many young people have
engaged with the Marlamanu program to date?
(3) If no to (1), when it is expected to open?
66. Hon Dr Brad Pettitt to the minister
representing the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the
Marlamanu on-country facility and reports by the National
Indigenous Times on November 2025 that it held a pre-opening ceremony.
(1) Is Marlamanu open?
(2) If yes to (1), how many young people have
engaged with the Marlamanu program to date?
(3) If no to (1), when it is expected to open?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable
member for some notice of the question. The following response has been
provided on behalf of the Minister for Regional Development.
(1) Yes, the Marlamanu program is operational;
however, the Wala Kooral-bi facility is not currently occupied due to wet
season conditions. The facility is intended to operate during the dry season,
aligning with the cattle season and the on-country activities that form a
central component of the program model, consistent with the original program
design.
(2) Marlamanu Pty Ltd is working intensively with
service providers and key stakeholders in relation to referred young people.
These are young people who have experienced significant system failure and
disengagement. The program is not punitive in nature; rather, it is a
therapeutic, culturally grounded intervention designed to support young people
and their families through structured on-country engagement, mentoring and
holistic supports. Engagement processes are currently underway to ensure
appropriate referrals, readiness and wraparound supports are in place prior to full
residential occupation of the facility. Six referred young people are currently
engaged in this process.
(3) A planned on-country trip involving staff and
referred young people is scheduled to commence in March 2026. This will act as
a transitional and introductory phase into the on-country program. Following
this period of structured on-country engagement, both Marlamanu staff and
participating young people will occupy the Wala Kooral-bi facility by early
April 2026 in line with seasonal planning and the program's operational
framework.
The President: Standing order 106 applies in relation
to that answer.
member for some notice of the question. The following response has been
provided on behalf of the Minister for Regional Development.
(1) Yes, the Marlamanu program is operational;
however, the Wala Kooral-bi facility is not currently occupied due to wet
season conditions. The facility is intended to operate during the dry season,
aligning with the cattle season and the on-country activities that form a
central component of the program model, consistent with the original program
design.
(2) Marlamanu Pty Ltd is working intensively with
service providers and key stakeholders in relation to referred young people.
These are young people who have experienced significant system failure and
disengagement. The program is not punitive in nature; rather, it is a
therapeutic, culturally grounded intervention designed to support young people
and their families through structured on-country engagement, mentoring and
holistic supports. Engagement processes are currently underway to ensure
appropriate referrals, readiness and wraparound supports are in place prior to full
residential occupation of the facility. Six referred young people are currently
engaged in this process.
(3) A planned on-country trip involving staff and
referred young people is scheduled to commence in March 2026. This will act as
a transitional and introductory phase into the on-country program. Following
this period of structured on-country engagement, both Marlamanu staff and
participating young people will occupy the Wala Kooral-bi facility by early
April 2026 in line with seasonal planning and the program's operational
framework.
The President: Standing order 106 applies in relation
to that answer.
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