The Board of Directors of Karlka Nyiyaparli Aboriginal Corporation RNTBC (KNAC) are pleased to announce approval of an agreement with Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH) to codesign a culturally safe healing accommodation facility for Nyiyaparli members receiving dialysis or other treatments in Perth.
This project is one of six initiatives approved as part of the Nyiyaparli Health and Wellbeing Project developed following 12 months of consultation with the Nyiyaparli Community with the assistance of KNAC staff and Grounded Impact.
“When we sat with our families last year, we heard loud and clear that we needed to take the matter of kidney health prevention, treatment and support into our own hands and get better results for our people.” says Christina Stone, Chair of the Nyiyaparli Health and Wellbeing Project Steering Committee. “It is a long-term goal of KNAC and the Nyiyaparli people to provide a seamless Health and Wellbeing centre with all the wrap around services from start of their journey to returning home. We also want to provide those services for our own people which creates lots of training, employment and contracting opportunities for our mob. We’re excited that its finally happening and we are happy to be doing this with FISH. They have listened and respected what we need, and how soon we need it!” she said.
FISH will build and manage the Wellbeing Centre under an agreed Social Impact Investment model (which safeguards Nyiyaparli funding). The centre will offer holistic support as part of the supported patient journey for Nyiyaparli dialysis patients away for Country, as well as providing significant Nyiyaparli employment, training, business development and contracting opportunities in Perth – from security and gardening to support workers, drivers and everything in between!
“FISH are honoured to be walking with KNAC and Nyiyaparli members to ensure they are provided with culturally appropriate and healing focussed accommodation and transport, not only for the individual, but their family as they go on their patient journey away from country. The benefit of this partnership is that the Wellbeing Centre and holistic support is designed by and for Nyiyaparli members where they are driving their own change supported by FISH,” stated Liza Fraser-Gooda Chair of the FISH Board of Directors.
“The innovative partnership with KNAC creates a closed loop economy where Nyiyaparli members are being cared for while on their patient journey while other Nyiyaparli members are being trained and supported through skills and business development to provide the needed services and support for their other family members.”
The Nyiyaparli Steering Committee have already started working on concepts for the layout and architecture of the centre with the FISH Architect to share with KNAC members for feedback soon, noting the centre is scheduled for completion and use by early 2027.
For more information contact:
Cate Ballantyne KNAC CEO at ceo@karlka.com.au
Mark Anderson FISH CEO at mark.anderson@fish.asn.au