the Nova Peris Foundation is committed to empowering Aboriginal people to achieve life excellence.
The Nova Peris Foundation (NPF) achieves this by partnering with remote communities to provide enabling infrastructure and economic opportunities that empower communities to achieve better health and prosperity and become independent and self-determining. NPF has identified an opportunity to partner with the Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC) to pilot a multi-purpose social enterprise hub that seeks to deliver better social, health and economic outcomes for the Yirrkala community as the region transitions from a resource-based economy to a diversified, Traditional Owner led economy.
Remote Aboriginal communities face significant challenges despite their strong cultural connections and desire to live on traditional lands. These challenges include:
Food insecurity which adversely and disproportionately affects remote Indigenous communities – leading to poorer health outcomes including higher rates of chronic disease, gestational diabetes, low birth weight, malnutrition in infants and children, and anaemia in children and young women. Food insecurity has also been shown to have broader impacts on participation in education and employment.
Greater risk of developing skin conditions and associated chronic diseases due to overcrowded housing and inadequate washing facilities.
Limited employment and economic opportunities in remote Aboriginal communities.
The Nova Peris Foundation will support communities to be self determining. We are implementing micro business enterprises and food sovereignty technology systems to provide social and economic pathways for remote employment and social benefits in Aboriginal communities. Our foundation commits to funding the set-up and operating costs of the three pillars of the social enterprise hub.
Food ladders
Custom-designed hydroponic greenhouses to grow fresh local produce
Community Laundry
Free, reliable and fully automated community access laundries that target the scabies mite and other skin bacteria
Micro-businesses
Pre-fabricated shipping containers that are fitted out as microbusinesses (hairdressing salon / barber shop, café etc)
We aim to pilot and scale this model in partnership with remote communities, funding the setup and operating costs of these initiatives. The goal is to support greater independence and self-determination among remote Aboriginal communities by providing essential infrastructure and opportunities for economic participation.
Yirrkala Enterprise Hub video
An opportunity to build the health and prosperity of Yirrkala.
Yirrkala is a small community in the East Arnhem Region of the Northern Territory. It is located 18 kilometres southeast of the
large mining town of Nhulunbuy, on the Gove Peninsula. The Rirratjingu Clan are the proud traditional owners of Yirrkala – and are one of the many Yolŋu clans who have been custodians of the region since time began. Yirrkala has a strong and proud history, however, like many remote Aboriginal communities, Yirrkala faces complex challenges that impact the health and
wellbeing of the community.
The Nova Peris Foundation is seeking to pilot an innovative multi-purpose social enterprise hub model in Yirrkala.
The NPF, together with Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation (RAC), have identified an opportunity to collaborate around their shared commitment to delivering better outcomes for remote Aboriginal communities. NPF are now seeking to pilot the multi-purpose social enterprise hub model in partnership with RAC to deliver improved social, health and economic outcomes for the Yirrkala community. The goal of the pilot will be to build towards a self-sustaining model that can be will be owned by the a Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation.
