Our Impact
For nearly two decades, KJ has been working with Martu to build stronger culture, stronger communities, and stronger futures. Our impact is defined by Martu, not by external measures. Through regular, Martu-led evaluation, we ensure that Martu voices and aspirations guide our work and shape the evidence of our impact.
Walking the Talk (2025): What Government Can Learn from the KJ Model
In 2025, KJ and Social Ventures Australia released Walking the Talk: What Government Can Learn from the KJ Model. The report distils nearly twenty years of work into a model for effective partnership between Martu, community organisations, and government.
At its heart, the report shows that:
Martu culture and leadership must sit at the centre of all decision-making;
Programs are most successful when they start with Martu priorities;
Partnerships built on trust and respect deliver outcomes that government programs alone cannot achieve.
The Walking the Talk report calls for a shift in how government works — from control to partnership, and from program delivery to shared purpose and accountability.
Think Martu. Think Differently. Act Differently.
In 2021, Martu defined for themselves what success looks like. They identified 12 outcomes — from looking after country and language to keeping families strong, staying healthy, and creating safer communities.
In late 2024 and early 2025, KJ worked with Martu and Social Ventures Australia to revisit these outcomes and measure progress. The results show clear and continued improvement across nearly every outcome.
Key findings:
“Helping a lot” increased across almost all 12 outcomes.
Walyja (Family and Kids) – 100% of Martu said KJ is helping a lot (up from 76% in 2021).
Health – 95% said KJ is helping a lot (up from 70%).
Back to Community – 67% positive rating (up from 33%).
Martu say KJ is delivering visible change through programs like:
Families Program (early childhood and parenting support)
Jijiku Yiwarra and Yiwarra Kuju (youth and adult diversion programs)
Ngurra Karti Transport Program (helping Martu return home from town or custody)
Women’s Leadership Program and Wama Wangka (health and wellbeing on Martu terms)
“[KJ] is doing well. They go around and look after country – our grandfathers’ country. If there was no KJ it would be a lot harder to look after country. People worry about grandparents’ country. KJ is doing really well to help us care for country.”
A Continuous Story of Evidence and Change
