Community laundry provides new jobs for Walgett

This story is part of this month’s community profile featuring the Walgett community and their work to Close the Gap in Indigenous disadvantage.

One of the major needs recognised by the Aboriginal community of Walgett in north western New South Wales was better laundry facilities.

Thanks to Australian Government funding through the CDEP Social Enterprise Program, the Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation has been able to work with the community to start a commercial laundry in the town centre.

Earlier last year, community members were invited to take part in a work readiness course and then a Certificate II in Laundry through Murdi Paaki Regional Enterprise Corporation, one of the organisations responsible for delivering Australian Government programs and services to Aboriginal people in western New South Wales.

Work has been done to renovate the Walgett community centre so that the front rooms could be used as a community meeting place, with space for cultural activities and training programs, while the back section has been transformed into the Murdi Paaki Laundry.

“The idea came from the community. They felt that this was a real need for Walgett,” Murdi Paaki Laundry supervisor Melissa Tooth said.

“It’s a commercial enterprise. We do washing for local motels, St Vincent de Paul, and Home Care clients. But we’ve also opened it up to the general public for people who don’t have access to the use of machines like the washing machine or dryers.

“The aim is to actually boost employment within the community and then once it’s up and running properly, handing it back over to the community.”