West Kimberley Ministry

Derby, Western Australia

The West Kimberley Ministry is based in Derby , WA . The incumbent is Reverend Andrew Watts.

The establishment of this ministry has come about as a means of providing spiritual and pastoral support to the fractured Mowanjum community, who have been moved by government and church on three occasions. This is one aspect of the ministry.

The second aspect of this ministry is a limited patrol to those properties and small communities accessed from the following roads: The Great Northern Highway from Sandfire Roadhouse (not included) to Fitzroy Crossing (included); Gibb River Road from Derby to the Kalumburu Road turn off; Fairfield/Leopold Road; and Kalumburu Road. There is estimated to be about 65 properties and small communities not counting Mowanjum outstations and homelands in this region.

This ministry is a shared arrangement between the Northern Synod, the Pilgrim Presbytery, the Northern Regional Council of the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress (NRCC) and Frontier Services.

It is oversighted by the West Kimberley Reference Committee which has representation from all the above groups plus the Mowanjum community.