The Newman Futures project has been co-created to build a diverse and inclusive Newman economy and community, with innovation, technology, education, culture, and collaboration as its foundations.
The beating heart of Newman Futures, however, has been engagement — projects and activations designed to bring together young people, families, service providers and stakeholders.
These activations are diverse: fun, educational, and health-related, but all designed to engage and draw the community into safe, public spaces together.
Activations have been the tip of a larger mountain of strategies, initiatives and collaboration.
Erin Clise, Community Engagement Consultant at Creating Communities, provides some background on the importance of one of the specific activation projects of the Newman Futures project, The East Newman Activation Program.
“The East Newman Activation Program responds to key findings from engagements with Nyiyaparli and Martu community members, stakeholders and the broader community in Newman and aims to create solid foundations for East Newman residents to participate in the Newman community and economy actively,” said Erin.
“Miners Promise Park (colloquially known as Train Park) is the hub for these activations due to its central and accessible location in East Newman,” said Erin.
“By partnering with stakeholders to co-deliver fun, engaging and educational activations, we’re providing opportunities for the whole community to connect and for relationships to develop between East Newman residents and Newman-based service providers,” she added.
Over 45 stakeholders have been involved in the Program since its inception. This vast number of organisations volunteer their time, resources and
expertise to work towards shared goals. As the Program has progressed, stakeholders have offered vital feedback, support and ideas for future activations, demonstrating the collaborative nature of stakeholders in Newman.
For Erin, it’s often the little moments within an activation that remind you of its value.
“Each time we’re greeted with a big smile and cheery, “You’re back!” from the community is a testament to the collective effort of all stakeholders involved in the Program,” said Erin.
“The willingness of everyone to get involved is fantastic to see, whether it’s a BBQ cooking up, kicking around the footy, or delivering health checks,” said Erin.
Peta Baer from the Newman Neighbourhood Centre echoes these thoughts.
“Newman Futures activations are essential for us as they reach sections of the community that are sometimes forgotten in the recreation and community space,” said Peta.
“By being a part of Newman Futures activations, we’re able to bring our services and the joy of what we do to the community,” she added.
Having contexts where organisations can be seen, and their services understood is one part of the strength of community activations.
“As an organisation, it’s imperative that we are involved and have a presence at the grassroots level,” said Sharon Greenwood of 54 Reasons.
“When we’re part of these activations, it makes us very accessible to the community. So it’s not just our agency that’s on display, but what we do, what we say, and how we follow through that’s being noticed,” said Sharon.
“When we’re on the ground, building relationships with families, we’re able to build trust, and that’s enormously important to positively impacting the community,” she added.
“We become familiar faces, not only at Train Park but around the town,” said Sharon.
Jordan Eustace of Ashburton Aboriginal Corporation has been keenly involved in the Train Park activations for several years and has observed some of the positive outcomes firsthand.
“We’ve rolled our sleeves up to help provide children and families a bite to eat or a drink at these events,” said Jordan.
“The events allow us to grow relationships with those we serve in the community. To see families walking to the park and the smile on kids’ faces as they grab a sausage and a drink makes this worthwhile,” he added.
“I think activations are a reminder that it’s not just one group or organisation that’s available to the community, but a whole range of us who are keen to help in different ways,”
“At the end of the day, it’s local people helping local people, and it’s important that people see that – everyone talks, so it definitely spreads the word,” Jordan said.
In many ways, activations represent a distillation of the positive impact flowing through the Newman Futures project—sustainable, tangible and collaborative.
