Desert Knowledge Australia

📢 We're Hiring!

Desert Knowledge Australia is seeking passionate and experienced people to join the team delivering the Safe on Country Fund Program across Central Australia. This Australian Government initiative supports community-led projects that strengthen families, improve safety and wellbeing, and help address family and domestic violence. Learn more about the Safe on Country Fund:
https://ministers.dss.gov.au/media-releases/19156

We're currently recruiting for:
🔹 Program Manager
🔹 Grants & Contracts Manager
🔹 Administration & Finance Officer

These roles offer a unique opportunity to contribute to a major initiative in Aboriginal community-led solutions and make a lasting impact across Central Australia.

👉 Visit https://dka.com.au/about/work-with-us/ to view further details including detailed position descriptions, selection criteria and application information.

📅 Applications close on 31 August 2026. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position may close earlier if a suitable candidate is appointed.

DKA is proud to share that we will be brokering the Safe on Country Fund on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Social Services.

The $10M Safe on Country Fund will be established by DKA with a community panel who will make decisions and recommendations on funding for Aboriginal community controlled organisations to support community safety and reduce violence in Central Australia.

Stay tuned for more updates on positions available and Panel recruitment.

$10m fund to back Aboriginal-led family safety programs in Central Australia Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across Central Australia are set to share in a new $10 million federal fund aimed at improving family and community safety through locally led ini...

Thanks Centre for Appropriate Technology and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education RTO 0383 for organising a lovely (albeit chilly) NAIDOC event out here at the Desert Knowledge Precinct last week

Last week, DKA CEO Jimmy Cocking travelled to Tennant Creek to attend NAIDOC events including the NAIDOC March, the opening of the Nyinkka Nyunyu, Tennant Creek NT Arts and Cultural Centre https://nyinkka.com.au, the official opening of the Wilya Janta Explain Home https://www.wilyajanta.org/ and attend the Tennant Creek Show.

It was great to connect with Minister Steve Edgington MLA, Marion Scrymgour MP, Selena Uibo: Member for Arnhem, Chansey Paech: Member for Gwoja and a whole host of people living and working in Tennant Creek to make a difference in the Barkly region.

DKA has been a regular visitor to the Barkly over the years and more recently as part of the regional workforce development planning project.

Tennant Creek is a town on the cusp of a boom in the Barkly Region with investment from a wide range of industries including mining, gas and renewables becoming a reality.

Like many remote towns, the same issues of housing, workforce, jobs, training and connecting economic development with social outcomes remain challenges.

DKA will continue to work to support collaborative approaches that improve coordination and outcomes on-the-ground.

If you're travelling to Tennant Creek, be sure to visit Nyinkka Nyunu.

The Alice Springs Show is a wonderful annual community event where central Australians and visitors from all walks of life come together.

The DKA team were at the Show again this year with our partners from the Desert Knowledge Precinct, Centre for Appropriate Technology/Ekistica and Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education RTO 0383.

We were too busy talking to take many photos but we did manage to get one with Minister Steve Edgington MLA and Treasurer Bill Yan MLA - Member for Namatjira.

Happy NAIDOC Week. 50 years and .
Some great events throughout the week here in .
Thanks to the local NAIDOC Week Alice Springs Committee for organising the program.

Find out more about NAIDOC week here https://www.naidoc.org.au/

Spend some reflecting, acknowledging and celebrating First Nations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture.

Local events across the country can be found here: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/local-naidoc-week-events

We are looking for a motivated and culturally aware person to join us as an Executive and Corporate Services Support Officer.

The primary purpose is to effectively provide corporate support to the Board, CEO and all staff at Desert Knowledge Australia.
Working directly with the Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, this is an fixed term part-time (0.4FTE) position based in Alice Springs, Northern Territory at the Desert Knowledge Precinct.

Check the link below to apply
https://dka.com.au/executive-and-corporate-services-support-officer/

Alice Springs as a testing ground for solar powered quadcopters.

Congratulations to the NUS College of Design and Engineering team for reaching the 4-hr milestone.

DKA is happy to have played a role in connecting the researchers to local people and sites.

Story - https://cde.nus.edu.sg/news/solar-powered-drone-flies-past-four-hour-mark-in-endurance-milestone/

Video - https://youtu.be/Qbs-DGePqXU?si=NlsaGJedoJLTr3M_

Solar-powered drone flies past four-hour mark in endurance milestone - College of Design and Engineering CDE team achieves four-hour 25-minute battery-free drone flight during test in Australia, surpassing current official record for multirotor drones.