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Our experienced team has decades of hands-on experience managing and operating critical assets. We provide expert advice on Strategic and Operational Planning to support your maintenance strategies and assist in the development of standard operating procedures.
Organizational change management and stakeholder engagement are key areas that require priority. As an indigenous led organisation our core area of engagement is supporting first nations communities and those organisations wanting to service them
At UNGANCO our multi-disciplinary team have over 100 years combined experience in contracting, project management, commissioning and operations experience on critical infrastructure across the Mining, Energy, Water and Local Government sectors
Technology is an ever developing space and our specialist engineers work with clients to ensure they have access to the latest reliable communication equipment and contract support.
As an indigenous business we are focused on improving training and employment outcomes for First Nations People. With Industry leaders such as Mining Skills Australia we will deliver on ground in community outcomes
By Johnny Poonkamelya
These colours are not chosen at random.
Each ochre comes from specific places in and around Aurukun, carrying stories, identity, and responsibility.
I have been an artist since childhood. My mother collected ochres from Pur Pur on the Ward River, and I grew up watching, learning, and listening.
That knowledge stayed with me. When we prepare ochre, we mix it with the same water found where the ochre comes from.
That process is important. It makes the ochre authentic — connected to Country, not separated from it.
The colours I use, and the patterns I paint, come from what I was taught by Elders, teachers, and leaders.
These designs are not just art — they are instruction, memory, and respect. They reflect how culture is passed down properly, through guidance and responsibility.
I am proud of my community. The bags we created are important because they are used every day — for shopping, hunting, and carrying things around Aurukun.
They are practical, but they also carry meaning. They show that culture is not something that sits on a wall — it moves with us, works with us, and lives in our daily lives.
It is important that we find different ways to pass culture on, especially for the younger generations.
These bags help our children and young people understand who they are, where they come from, and why that matters. Culture has to be visible, usable, and shared — not hidden away.
I want to thank Alex from UNGANCO for helping my idea come to life. Alex listened to me. He understood what I was trying to do and supported the process properly.
That made me very happy. It is good working with brothers — when there is a connection and shared understanding, the work comes together the right way. Working together is important.
I want to be remembered for my art, my songs, and my stories. This bag is part of that legacy. It is me sharing what was shared with me — carrying culture forward, the same way it was carried to me.
Freddy Shortjoe
UNGANCO has had the privilege of working with Freddy Shortjoe over the past 18 months. The story shared by Freddy comes from deep cultural memory and family responsibility. It is not a new story, nor one created for retelling. It is inherited knowledge, carefully carried.
Freddy recalls that this story was passed down to him by his grandmother, Topsy Wolmby, a respected illustrator and knowledge holder of Wik Muungkan language and stories.
Topsy was a linguist within the community and a woman of standing in her time—recognised for her strength, endurance, and cultural authority. She later married Freddy’s grandfather, Frank Wolmby, who was the brother of Victor Wolmby and Colin Wolmby.
Through this family line, the story has travelled carefully across generations, anchored to people, place, and obligation.
Long ago, before the Taipan was feared, it was just another snake. It did not command respect and it was not dangerous. In those early times there was the Sand Goanna, a powerful being that carried poison glands.
The Taipan was clever rather than strong. Through trickery, it stole the poison glands from the Sand Goanna. With that theft, the Taipan gained all the poisons it needed.
Once it carried those poisons, the Taipan changed. It became powerful and feared, travelling freely across the north—through Cape York, the Northern Territory, and Queensland. It became known as the king of snakes.
With that power, the Taipan took what it wanted. It moved across country without restraint and even stole women, acting without respect for relationships or balance.
Eventually, the Taipan travelled south to Coen, to an area now known as Crystal Vale Station, which forms part of Freddy’s traditional land.
There, the Taipan attempted to steal the girlfriend of the Blue-tongue Lizard, who was the Water Python. This act crossed a line. It was not just an insult—it was a breach of order.
The Blue-tongue Lizard was not weak. Knowing it could not defeat the Taipan through poison, it prepared itself. The Blue-tongue Lizard gathered pandanus fibres and placed them into its mouth, forming sharp, strong teeth. When the confrontation came, the Blue-tongue Lizard struck with purpose and resolve. It bit the Taipan’s head clean from its body.
As the Taipan died, its blood poured onto the ground. That blood flowed into a waterhole and across the surrounding rock.
From that moment, the land changed. The rock formations at that place were shaped and coloured by the Taipan’s blood. That place is known today as Mud Spring. The waterhole and its surrounding rocks stand as a physical reminder of the battle, and of what happens when power is taken through deception and used without respect.
Topsy Wolmby taught that the Taipan’s name itself comes from Aurukun, passed down through one of the family groups there. The story explains not only how the Taipan became dangerous, but also how it was ultimately stopped—not by greater poison, but by preparation, knowledge, and rightful action.
The Blue-tongue Lizard’s use of pandanus speaks to intelligence, adaptation, and restraint, rather than raw force.
Today, Mud Spring at Crystal Vale Station remains a living place of story. Freddy holds custodianship not just over the land, but over the knowledge tied to it. He shares this story with care, understanding that stories are not simply told—they are carried.
A meaningful part of this story’s continuation is how it is shared in contemporary times. Freddy is proud that Alex listens, respects, and carries the story properly, allowing others to read it and understand the depth of meaning embedded in the land.
This is not simply a story about animals. It is a story about power and consequence, about respect for relationships, about cleverness versus wisdom, and about how the land itself remembers what happened.
Through Topsy Wolmby, Frank Wolmby, and those before them, the story has endured. Through Freddy, it continues—grounded in lineage, country, and responsibility.
Angus Kerindun
At Christmas time, when families come together, our people think about what really matters. For us in Aurukun, fishing lines are not just a gift, they are a way of keeping culture strong.
When the fishing lines arrived, the community talked about how important they are. Fishing brings people together. It allows families to go out on Country, to sit side by side, Elders with young people, parents with children, teaching them where to fish, how to bait a hook, how to wait, and how to respect the water.
Fishing is how food is collected, but it is also how stories are shared. When fish are caught, they are not kept for one person. They are shared. Meals are cooked together, eaten together, and everyone has a place.
The landing is a special place for us. It is where people gather — to share bait fish, clean fish, cook food, and sit together. It is where children run around, Elders talk, and young people listen. It is where laughter, learning, and stories are passed on. The landing is more than a place — it is part of our community life and our culture.
Fishing helps our young ones learn patience and responsibility. It gives them something positive to do, something that connects them to Elders and to Country. It reminds them who they are and where they come from.
What made this gift even more meaningful is that Alex comes from Torres Strait Islander heritage, where fishing is also a way of life. Fishing is how people provide, how families come together, and how culture is kept strong.
Because of this shared understanding, Alex was able to see the need in our community, not just to fish, but to fish together.
The ability to recognise that need and help the community fulfil it shows deep respect. It feels like a blending of two cultures, Torres Strait Islander and Wik and Wik-Waya working side by side. Different cultures, but the same values: sharing food, caring for family, and respecting the sea and Country.
I also want to acknowledge UNGANCO, who have been active in Aurukun for the past 18 months. They have been consistent, present, and always giving — not just in words, but in action. They continue to work with the community, listen to people, and support what matters to families on the ground.
On behalf of our community, I thank Alex and UNGANCO for standing with us, especially at Christmas time. These gestures may seem small to some, but they make a big difference here. They help our children, our youth, and our Elders continue to come together — to fish, to eat, and to share stories — the way our people always have.
From Aurukun, we say thank you.
As a descendant from Badu Island in the Torres Straits our core company values are founded on those same traditional island values of family and trust. We offer comprehensive solutions, ensuring compliance to regulatory conditions while building and maintaining relationships. Our connection to community is your success. With a dedicated team of professionals, we're committed to delivering tailored strategies and solutions that suit your unique needs
Our team has extensive knowledge and experience operating inside large and small remote indigenous local governments as well as service provision. This experience on both sides of business provides valuable insight into How the business works and WHAT is required to solve the organizational challenges
We understand your unique situation and provide tailored advice to support your business needs. Your problems are our opportunities to share our experiences to solve with you, so next time you are better informed should the problem reoccur. Our expert team ensures that you have access to the right tools or solutions to maximize your time on the job. We utilize our experiences from across similar clients and various industries to utilize the best solution from any industry that we think solves your problem
We understand every business is different. Our agile approach to support allows us to implement solution from our broad base of clients. We embrace the philosophy of working smarter not harder and knowledge is to be shared.
As a 100% Indigenous owned Company we are ISO9001 Quality Assured, Supply Nations Certified and Pre-qualified in Localbuy. We understand that outcomes are better achieved when we work with indigenous clients and not solve problems for them.
Toowoomba Regional Council
UNGANCO was contracted to undertake an extensive 3 year Condition Assessment of TRC Water & Waste Active and Passive network assets to assist in informing the Capital Renewal Program. Project Value $3.5M
Toowoomba Regional Council
TRC Water & Waste had a legacy SCADA and Telemetry network which was end of life with a number of components no longer available. UNGANCO was engaged to establish a number of Panel of Providers to assist TRC in the redesign, procurement and commissioning of the entire SCADA & Telemetry network. Est Project Value $20M
Torres Cape Indigenous Council Alliance TCICA
As part of the Preparing Australian Communities Grant funding program, UNGANCO with the support of TCICA implemented an Asset Management platform across 7 Indigenous communities to assist in Disaster recovery processes and provide councils with a cloud based works management platform to assist with compliance and data management over a 2.5 year. Project $4.4M
Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council
As an Indigenous Engineer led consultancy, UNGANCO is working closely with the local staff to ensure their needs were listened to and included in the design solution. The outcome was a concept design that the local operators are looking forward to working in.
Northern Peninsular Area Regional Council - NPARC
UNGANCO was engaged to undertake a review of water demand across the various indigenous communities within the NPARC boundary. The report was used as a basis for Smart Meter deployment across the region. A separate engagement was commissioned to undertake a review of the Strategic Asset Management plan for sewer networks. Both projects completed in 23/24FY. Est value $420k
Aurukun Aboriginal Shire Council
UNGANCO was engaged by Aurukun Shire Council to identify key isolation valve points across the community to allow repairs and maintenance of the reticulation network. Additionally additional fire hydrants were installed and existing ones refurbished to ensure sufficient firefighting capacity could be achieved. Project was funded under a Works 4 Queensland program which employed locals in 25-26 FY.
