Whadjuk Noongar Boodja is our base. Nested with the West Coast Eagles Football Club at Mineral Resources Park, we are proud to identify with our founding organisation. Waalitj represents this connection and our deep appreciation to Whadjuk Noongar and the place of the Waalitj Foundation’s birth.
Waalitj – Our story told by our people.
Whadjuk Noongar Boodja is our base. Nested in the West Coast Eagles Football Club at Mineral Resources Park, we are proud to identify with our founding organisation. Waalitj represents this connection and our deep appreciation to Whadjuk Noongar and the place of the Waalitj Foundation’s birth. Pronounced ‘wah-li-ch’, our name means eagle in Noongar language.
With an unfaltering determination to deliver on our promise, the Foundation has formed enduring relationships among our participants, programs, staff and stakeholders. Our genuine commitment has earnt the Foundation a trusted reputation across the many communities and Lands we are welcomed to operate in.
The Boomerangs signpost the Foundation’s past and carry forward our reputable success.
The journey to becoming Waalitj Foundation builds from our success. As the Foundation grows, Waalitj becomes a symbol of our commitment to upholding our values so the Foundation, like Waalitj, is able to fly great distances and hold respect wherever it goes.
Our staff
In a display of leadership, Waalitj rises to every challenge. The collective strengths of our people empower us to overcome adversity and succeed in places others may not. Akin to Waalitj, we rise to the challenges in front of us and use the vantage point of our position to achieve the best possible outcome for those under our wing. We are wide-reaching, with operations in Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Our team has grown to over 140 staff, of which 73% are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
Our clear focus
Waalitj is looking to the future – bold, brave and determined. You will find Waalitj throughout Australia, adapting and learning from the past to better our future. The Foundation will continue to strive for the excellence Waalitj embodies, as a leading force for strengthening First Nations communities through education, employment, justice and business across Australia.
Our programs
The Foundation exists to support and enable the success of First Nations people and lead in the provision of education, employment and business services. Our programs are designed alongside the people we serve and are flexible to meet the unique needs of the people and communities we support. Our programs are wide-reaching. This promotes a strong interdisciplinary response and cross-over between teams and ensures all programs benefit from the Foundation’s wealth of collective knowledge and experience.
Program Gallery
Our history
The Waalitj Foundation has a proud history of growth and achievement. Explore the milestones that have shaped our journey below.
- West Coast Eagles registered David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc
- Endorsed as Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR)
- David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc launch at the old Subiaco Football Club
- Wirra Club program commences
- Dare to Dream for girls commences at Balga SHS and develops into the Deadly Sista Girlz (DSG) Programs
- On My Way Leadership program in Pilbara
- Troy Cook Health and Fitness program in Pilbara
- P242 Employment Program with Bunnings
- Change of name from David Wirrpunda Foundation Inc to David Wirrpanda Foundation Inc
Commenced P242 Employment Program in Partnership with Central Institute of Technology based in Leederville
- Moved head office from Subiaco Oval to Central Institute of Technology in Leederville
- Commenced DSG in Doonside and Queanbeyan in NSW
- Commenced DSG in Healesville in VIC
- Commenced DSG Program in Broome with the support of Shell Australia
- Opened Victorian Office to support the delivery of DSG programs
- National NAIDOC Person of the Year Award – David Wirrpanda
- The DSG program named a best practice program by the Commissioner of Children and Young People in WA
- DSG was named a best practice program in the AMP Foundations Best of Every Woman: An overview of approaches for philanthropic investment in Aboriginal women and girls
- National DEADLY AWARD for Excellence in Education for DSG Program
- National NAIDOC Youth of the Year Award – Kate Malpass (DSG Mentor)
- Opened ACT Office in Canberra to support the Wirra Club Program
- Launched the Moorditj Ngoorndiak Program in Perth Metro
- Launched the Deadly Sista Girlz Program in Brisbane in Partnership with Institute of Urban Indigenous Health and Office for Women
- Foundation attended the SOD ceremony at Lathlain facility site
- Commencement of the Remote School Attendance (RSAS) program for Wiluna
- Commenced delivery of TTW in partnership with Communicare
- Launch of the youth justice contracts: Bunuru in partnership with Outcare and Full Circle partnership with Life without Barriers in the West Kimberley
- Launch of the Empowering Youth Initiatives program: Bidi Waalitj, in collaboration with the West Coast Eagles and the Department of Jobs and Small Business
- Commencement of program delivery in Onslow, WA
- Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz program to to include 12 delivery sites across Australia
- ReSet program launched
- Expansion of our Employment program to include Goldfields, Wheatbelt and South West Regions
- VTEC program alongside Skill Hire named as a finalist for the Innovation in Indigenous Employment award at the NESA Excellence Awards
- Relocated operations to our new home at Mineral Resources Park, alongside the West Coast Eagles in Lathlain
- Commenced delivery of the Community Development Program in the Yaaliku Region of WA
- Design and delivery commenced for the WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub (Wirra Hub) in Burswood
- Expansion of the Deadly Sista Girlz Program to include 14 full-time delivery sites
- Opened the Waalitj Hub: WA Indigenous Business and Employment Hub in Burswood, WA, supporting over 100 Indigenous Businesses.
- Our partnership with the Town of Victoria Park, West Coast Eagles and Perth Football Club won the national award for the Community Based Initiative of the Year at the 2020 Parks and Leisure National Awards of Excellence.
- Onslow Family support won the Onslow Chamber of Commerce and Industry People’s Choice Award
- The Wirrpanda Foundation proudly changed our name to Waalitj Foundation, signifying our evolution and expansion after two decades of growth.
- As the Foundation grows, Waalitj becomes a symbol of our commitment to upholding our values so the Foundation, like Waalitj, is able to fly great distances and hold respect wherever it goes.
- Whadjuk Noongar Boodja is our base. Nested with the West Coast Eagles we are proud to identify with our parent company. Waalitj represents this connection and our deep appreciation to Whadjuk Noongar and the place of the Foundation’s birth.
- The Foundation exists to support and enable the success of First Nations people and lead in the provision of education, employment and business services.
- Launched the Indigenous Scholarships program in Queensland, aimed at increasing the number of First Nations Australians with tertiary and trade qualifications.
- Expanded the Plan 2day 4 2morrow Employment Program into the Kwinana, Peel and Upper-South West Region.
- Commenced our tailored boys program at Clontarf Aboriginal College in Perth.
- Relocated the Waalitj Hub from Burswood to our Head Office at Mineral Resources Park
- Commenced Deadly Sista Girlz at two additional school sites
- Formally became an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO)
- Awarded WA Business News Charity of the Year
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