Rirratjingu Aboriginal Corporation's Emerging Leaders and Director Gurruminbuy Marika were excited to experience a tour of the new purpose-built, culturally appropriate Aged Care facility being built in Nhulunbuy. This facility is the first of its kind in Australia and thanks to Terese Marchesi and Sue Fraser from Australian Regional and Remote Community Services Ltd (ARRCS) the project has been designed with extensive consultation with Yolngu stakeholders across East Arnhem Land including RAC’s Emerging Leaders.

The facility is scheduled to open April 2022. The first eight residents will be Yolngu elders currently based in Aged Care in Darwin due to the lack of facilities in East Arnhem Land. The elders are eager to get back to their homelands and families.

ARRCS have also been working with our young leaders to develop a design for the entrance gate to the facility. The brief is ‘to signify that this is Rirratjingu land and all yolngu people are welcome’.

We are so grateful to Terese and Sue for working with our people to create a fit for purpose facility for Yolngu Elders in East Arnhem Land.