Acknowledging cultural protocol on Warumungu Land is explained through the story at the heart of our constitution, the story of Julawarra and Gilygi.

Julawurra the python who was the gyirda (rightful boss) of Jurnkkurakurr our sacred waterhole, and Gilygi the snake that came without permission from the west. Our Wingara (spiritual ancestral beings) created law to keep order on our Country. It was them that put these laws in place, and still today these laws keep harmony in our community. These Warumungu laws and customs came from our spiritual ancestral beings, on our Manu (country).

Today we still practice these protocols, and they need to be acknowledged and respected by both cultures, Wumpurrarni (Indigenous) and Papulinyi (non-Indigenous), for us to work together in harmony.


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Our approach

Wilya Janta (Standing Strong) Housing Collaboration
Norman Frank Jupurrurla marking up concept design plans for the Wilya Janta housing pilot

We drive practical, community-led solutions

Wilya Janta focuses on changing the system, not just individual houses. We operate at the intersection of research, policy and community knowledge—bringing these together to drive practical, lasting change.

Evidence and research

We build a clear, evidence-based understanding of how housing conditions affect health outcomes—and what works to improve them.

Policy reform

We work with governments and decision-makers to shift policy settings, funding models and accountability mechanisms.

Community-led design

We support approaches that put communities at the centre of housing design, delivery and decision-making.

Sector collaboration

We bring together health, housing and community sectors to align efforts and drive coordinated change.

Iterative design

Many Aboriginal people are frustrated by research that rarely leads to real change—an experience shared by our founders. At Wilya Janta, we believe learning must be grounded in action and shaped by community.

We embed community-led evaluation that brings together scientific and technical expertise with deep Wumpurrarni knowledge (mukunjungu). This ensures that knowledge is not extracted, but owned and guided by the people it relates to.

We are committed to learning and re-learning as we go, with community at the centre of that process.

We also invest in formal training, working to develop Local Design Experts through each project—so communities are left with the skills and capability to lead future housing design and engagement on their own terms.

Further Reading