NYFL RECOGNISED AS THE BEST

NYFL Director Ricky Smith and his siblings celebrating winning Community Organisation of the Year.

Ngarluma-Yinjibarndi Foundation Limited has won Best Community Organisation at this year’s Karratha & Districts Chamber of Commerce & Industry awards.

NYFL deputy chair Josie Samson said the organisation had come a long way.

“We have strong dreams and visions for Ieramagardu (Roebourne),” she said.

“We have one vision at NYFL, that it’s more better when we all work together as a community. Everything we do is to make the community of Roebourne better for the next generations”

According to judge’s notes, the organisation had a vision of building a legacy of prosperity and wellbeing for the community of Roebourne.

”NYFL was established in 1998 as the Traditional Owner representative body for the Woodside-operated North West Shelf Project,” the notes say. “Since then, NYFL has invested in social and economic outcomes for the entire community. Today, NYFL delivers a suite of social impact programs that directly benefit the lives of Roebourne people. NYFL’s Foundation Food project, established at the old general store in Roebourne, seeks to disrupt food insecurity by providing access to a low-cost, high-quality supermarket for locals. 800 people are using Foundation Food in Roebourne every month. NYFL’s WY Program supports up to 30 Roebourne Aboriginal people at any one time in overcoming barriers to enter the workforce and furthering education and training. NYFL’s Direct Support program provides relief packages for members in need. In 2022, 281 support packages were provided to members that included support for medical needs, further education, and support the home-lives of Elders. To cap it off, NYFL subsidised 203 Roebourne children and adults’ registration fees for sports programs in Roebourne, Wickham and Karratha.”

NYFL CEO Sean-Paul Stevens said they held a special event on October 31 to pay tribute to, and thank, the many Elders of Ieramagardu.

“Many Elders attended, including senior Ngarluma and Yindjibarndi Elders who have been central to building NYFL and driving positive change in Ieramagardu,” he said. “NYFL hopes to hold Elders recognition events on an ongoing basis, to ensure Elders continue to be recognised, and continue to be central to the organisation’s social impact and economic programs.”