Building strong communities through partnerships

In October, Maningrida Sport and Recreation held the 20-week Basketball Grand Finale, and it was nothing short of incredible. Teams from across the community took part, but what made this event truly stand out was not just the competition it was the strength of the relationships behind it.
Halfway through the competition, we intentionally brought external stakeholders into the planning and delivery of the event, and the impact of that collaboration was clear. Traditional Owners played a visible and respected role, opening each game with words of encouragement focused on teamwork, respect and sportsmanship. At their request, the Church mob were also given the opportunity to open games with prayer.
We were also proud to work alongside NTG, Najmalaya, Yellow Shirts, Night Patrol, and Mala’la Health, whose leaders were present, sometimes collectively, sometimes when they were able but always in support. Their visibility sent a powerful message to the community, these organisations are not working in silos, they are showing up together, with a shared commitment to the wellbeing of Maningrida.
That united front mattered. It showed young people, families and community members that when stakeholders work side by side, events are safer, stronger, and more meaningful.
Recognising this momentum, our team took a step back and asked the important question early, what’s next? How do we keep this energy going? How do we continue building connection, trust and collaboration beyond a single event?
In September, we began planning the launch of a 20-week AFL competition, deliberately aligning it with the opening of the new Maningrida change room facilities. The response so far has been extremely positive, with strong community attendance and growing spectator numbers a clear sign that people feel invested and connected.
Importantly, this collaborative approach has already led to the tangible next steps. As a direct result of the strong relationships built through these events, the Najmalaya CEO has initiated an inter-stakeholder planning retreat in January. This will bring key organisations together to collectively plan a 12-month activity calendar, with a shared focus on coordination, support and sustainability across Maningrida.
So why does this matter for Maningrida?
Because these moments give us the opportunity to move from individual programs to collective planning. Working side by side allows stakeholders to align priorities, share resources, and support one another in delivering consistent, meaningful activities for the community.
Over the past few months, we have worked hard to strengthen these partnerships and the results are starting to show. Slowly but surely, the fruits of that work are becoming visible through increased collaboration, stronger attendance, and a deeper sense of community connectedness.
In Maningrida, strong programs are built on strong relationships. When stakeholders plan together, the whole community benefits.