Yaama from Bourke: Community testing the Palimaa Interactive Platform

This week Seer Data’s Product Lead, Andrea Burazor, and Senior Analyst, Belinda Woodhead, had the privilege of being invited to Bourke to support the Maranguka Community Hub to gather community feedback on the Palimaa Interactive Platform. The platform empowers the community of Bourke to respond rapidly to changing circumstances evidenced by data. The Palimaa Interactive Platform operationalises Maranguka’s goals for Aboriginal Data Governance and Sovereignty for the community of Bourke. Data is contributed by 15 local service providers and government agencies providing the community with access to the data, and enabling them to tell their own stories of life in Bourke.

From the road, Andrea and Belinda write:

We arrived in Bourke late Tuesday afternoon, having taken the long road between Nyngan’s Big Bogan and Bourke’s red desert earth at half-pace, dodging hoards of goats, emus, and roos, and narrowly avoiding ruining an unsuspecting tortoise’s day. The weather was warm, and wet – a welcome combination for locals, and somewhat of an adjustment for two city gals.

We were welcomed to town by Maranguka Community Hub’s CEO, Maxime Nina, with dinner at the Port of Bourke Hotel, an institution, where we talked about the many nuances of life in Bourke, and learned of the dynamic and many-pronged plans for community, including a newly established youth hub. Max kindly took the opportunity to provide us with a bespoke night tour of the town; pointing out key services, local haunts and some of the historic sights.

Our time in Bourke has been an enriching and eye-opening experience, full of learning, adaptability, and little moments of connection. Over the three days, we immersed ourselves in the community to gather meaningful feedback for refinements to the Palimaa Interactive Platform, all while navigating the vibrant, complex dynamics of this unique town.

Seeking valuable insights

Engagement is at the heart of our work, and Bourke reminds us how essential it is to meet people where they are and in their place. This week, we’ve balanced our efforts between structured testing sessions at the hub and impromptu visits to community services/organisations, local businesses and gathering spots.

We visited:

  • BDCS
  • Local radio station
  • The local butchers
  • Aboriginal Legal Services
  • Police
  • PCYC
  • Centrelink
  • Yilabara
  • The Port of Bourke Hotel
  • Regional NSW offices
  • The Wellbeing Centre

These visits were essential. Formal methods don’t follow the pace and needs of the community, a candid reminder to adapt our approach to the community’s rhythm. In Bourke, plans often shift as priorities emerge. The impromptu visits offered invaluable insights and strengthened our understanding of Bourke’s unique ebb and flow.

Celebrate Positive Stories

One of the most powerful insights was the community’s desire to see stories of positive change and role models reflected in the platform. At the Butchers, we met Ernie, a clear mentor to two young men. When asked who they look up to in the community, they pointed to their boss without hesitation. Ernie’s leadership, guidance and kindness are an inspiring example of how local figures are critical to the community’s transformation and provide Bourke’s young people with opportunity. Highlighting these stories will be at the heart of the Palimaa Interactive Platform to foster hope, pride, and engagement.

Relationships Build Trust

The most impactful and authentic discussions often happen in informal settings. Over meals, during casual stops, or while visiting services, we learned about the challenges and aspirations shaping Bourke.

Supported by Jamaul Wright (Maranguka’s Aboriginal Youth Wellness Worker) and Rozaria Suckling-Brookman (incoming Community Connector/Data Lead), we connected with a wide range of voices, from Elders to young people and service workers. Their local knowledge and rapport with the community helped to bridge gaps, making honest and relaxed conversations possible.

Stories about the need for more frequent Elder meetings or the underreporting of domestic violence cases added depth to our understanding of the data. Calls for more uplifting stories underscored the community’s desire for a balanced narrative. Seeing familiar faces in the platform’s photos sparked excitement and reinforced the power of representation in fostering a sense of ownership.

Cultural Ownership

Feedback about the platform’s design highlighted the need to honour local identity. Suggestions included integrating cultural motifs, like dot patterns or river imagery, to reflect Bourke’s unique heritage.

Focus on Accessibility and Relevance

Community members emphasised the need to make data clear and engaging through visuals, contextual explanations, and relatable examples. Several insights highlighted the need for greater clarity and relevance in the data presented, such as:

  • Context for underreported issues like domestic violence and alcohol-related cases
  • Inclusion of locally specific data, such as childcare waitlists or more in-depth NDIS statistics
  • Clear definitions of terms and visual cues like area maps to help interpret data
  • Embedding local services information in a contextually relevant place, making this information more readily available.

Next Evolution

We will be working on integrating the community’s feedback into the Palimaa Interactive Platform by celebrating local role models, enhancing accessibility, and including design and artifacts to represent community identity so that Palimaa can reflect the strength, resilience and vibrancy of this town.

Until next time…

We leave Bourke grateful for the trust, insights, and stories shared with us—and deeply inspired by the people driving positive change every day.

Thank you, Bourke, for your warmth, candor, and commitment to building a brighter future!