More than a dozen remote communities and Homelands in the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia are set to benefit from new or upgraded laundry facilities, as part of the Albanese Government’s Remote Community Laundries Project.
Ten First Nations organisations have been selected through an open-competitive grant round to deliver the $11.4 million project, in partnership with communities.
Community laundries provide free access to commercial-grade washing machines and dryers with clean, hot water and medicative detergents.
The laundries help reduce irritants and infections which can lead to serious but preventable illnesses like trachoma, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease.
The construction, ongoing operations and maintenance of community laundry facilities will also create jobs and economic opportunities for First Nations people in community.
The communities and successful providers are:
- Galiwin'ku - Galiwin'ku Women's Space (NT)
- Lajamanu - Aboriginal Investment Group (NT)
- Mamadawerre Homeland - Warddeken Land Management (NT)
- Milingimbi - Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Orange Sky) (NT)
- Nauiyu (Daly River) - Aboriginal Investment Group (NT)
- Ramingining - Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Orange Sky) (NT)
- Urapuntja Homelands (Utopia Homelands) - Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (NT)
- Laura - Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation of Laura (QLD)
- Mapoon, Napranum and Weipa - Kuku'nathi Services (in partnership with Community Owned Enterprises) (QLD)
- Pormpuraaw - Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council (in partnership with Orange Sky) (QLD)
- Fitzroy Crossing - Gurama Yani U (WA)
- Mulan - Mulan Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Aboriginal Investment Group) (WA)
Together, the successful providers will establish six new fixed community laundry facilities and five new mobile facilities as well as upgrading one existing community laundry facility.
Providers will work in partnership with First Nations communities to ensure laundries reflect community priorities, in line with the Closing the Gap Priority Reform 1 and 2.
Community laundries contribute to improved health and wellbeing outcomes. This initiative supports Closing the Gap health outcomes 1 and 2 and economic outcomes 7 and 8.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Indigenous Australians, Senator Malarndirri McCarthy:
"Community laundries are a simple but powerful investment in the health and wellbeing of remote First Nations communities.
"Access to reliable laundry facilities helps reduce the spread of preventable diseases and supports healthier living environments for families.
"These community-led projects will create local employment opportunities while ensuring services are designed and delivered in partnership with First Nations communities.
"I am proud to support First Nations organisations to deliver practical solutions which improve health outcomes and strengthen communities."