Remote First Nations communities and homelands across Northern Australia will set up new, or upgrade existing, community laundry facilities, aimed in-part at targeting preventable illnesses.
The Remote Community Laundries Project is backed with $11.4 million in funding from the federal government. It will aid the construction, upgrades and ongoing operation of free and commercial-grade washing facilities across 12 areas across the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.
"Community laundries are a simple but powerful investment in the health and wellbeing of remote First Nations communities," federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said on the announcement of successful applicants to an open-competitive grant round.
"Access to reliable laundry facilities helps reduce the spread of preventable diseases and supports healthier living environments for families."
Among the successful applicants are six fixed community laundries set to be built, five new mobile facilities and the upgrade of one already existing facility.
The program is slated to help provide medicative detergents alongside washing machines and dryers with clean, hot water.
Trachoma, scabies, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease are among the illnesses it's hoped to combat in remote communities.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, RHD is a preventable disease that disproportionately affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in regional and remote areas. At the end of 2021, 78 per cent of RHD diagnoses were among Indigenous Australians, with the Northern Territory recording the highest rates.
Skin health remains a significant concern in many remote communities, with limited access to laundry facilities contributing to infection risks. NT Health estimates scabies affects up to 25 per cent of remote community members and as many as 35 per cent of young children.
Communities and Homelands, and providers, successful:
- Galiwin'ku Women's Space, in Galiwin'ku (NT)
- Aboriginal Investment Group, in Lajamanu (NT)
- Aboriginal Investment Group, in Nauiyu (or Daly River, NT)
- Warddeken Land Management, in Mamadawerre Homeland (NT)
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Orange Sky), in Milingimbi (NT)
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Orange Sky), in Ramingining - (NT)
- Urapuntja Health Service Aboriginal Corporation, in Urapuntja Homelands (or Utopia Homelands, NT)
- Ang-Gnarra Aboriginal Corporation of Laura, in Laura (QLD)
- Kuku'nathi Services (in partnership with Community Owned Enterprises), in Mapoon, Napranum and Weipa (QLD)
- Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council (in partnership with Orange Sky), in Pormpuraaw (QLD)
- Gurama Yani U, in Fitzroy Crossing (WA)
- Mulan Aboriginal Corporation (in partnership with Aboriginal Investment Group), in Mulan (WA)
The multi-million dollar initiative was announced last year.
At the time, Labor's Special Envoy for Remote Communities, Marion Scrymgour said: "We know that the health needs of people in remote communities are unique and challenging, and that these new and upgraded laundries will make a real impact for people."
In addition to health benefits, the program is also being seen as an opportunity for employment, via 'practical solutions' for health outcomes and community benefit.
"These community-led projects will create local employment opportunities while ensuring services are designed and delivered in partnership with First Nations communities," Senator McCarthy said.
Additional reporting by Dechlan Brennan
