Melbourne, VIC - Australia (July 17, 2024) — The International Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Foundation (IWSH) — the charitable arm of IAPMO — is set to launch an exciting new community plumbing collaboration in the Central Arnhem Land area of the Northern Territory, Australia, in partnership with Mimal Land Management Aboriginal Corporation (Mimal) and the Reece Foundation.
The Mimal Water & Sanitation Project is an initiative of Mimal Land Management, an Indigenous charity and not-for-profit organisation working for all traditional owners, clans, and people living across this region of over 600,000 hectares. Through an ongoing community consultation process, improving water and sanitation infrastructure has been identified as a key priority for Mimal now and into the future. The Mimal Ranger Base at Bulman-Weemol is an essential hub for local land management teams that also hosts vocational education and training, and other cultural programs.
The project at Mimal Ranger Base will run July 29 to Aug 9, 2024 and will connect a new borewell and water supply system, install new rainwater tanks for drinking water, install a new water treatment solution, and improve existing plumbing systems and infrastructure on site. These components will future-proof further planned renovation works due to take place later in 2024. All works will be delivered by a team of skilled volunteers drawn from plumbing and other construction industry backgrounds across Australia.
“Water, Sanitation and Hygiene is an exciting and vital part of delivering on our 10-year Healthy Country Plan and ensuring a long-term sustainable base of operations,” said Dominic Nicholls, CEO, Mimal Land Management. “The ranger base is key to supporting over 100 people in local employment and the important land management work, protecting country and culture. This new collaboration with Reece Foundation and IWSH brings solutions to our challenges and vital capacity to deliver this project; the dollar value is huge, however it is their people and the special character they bring that is the value that money cannot buy.”
Ipsita Wright, Executive Director, Reece Foundation, said, “At the Reece Foundation, we’re committed to harnessing the power of trade skills to increase access to clean water and sanitation where it is needed most. At home, in Australia, this need is disproportionally high in First Nations communities and accessing the trade skills to build in remote areas can present a challenge. In addition to connecting our trade volunteers with an opportunity to work on a culturally-led project, we are looking forward to the opportunity to learn from the First Nations communities and partners we are working with to bring this project to life.”
In addition to improved infrastructure, the Mimal Water & Sanitation Project will provide further water, sanitation and hygiene awareness and educational activities in the local area, with the aim to support long-term operations and maintenance of improved systems. School children from the surrounding community will be hosted onsite during the project, with hands-on work experience provided for older students interested in the plumbing trade.
“With IWSH international experience working in First Nations communities – primarily in the Navajo Nation, USA – we’re looking forward to supporting the local community at Mimal,” said Grant Stewart, IWSH International Program Director. “By convening and mobilizing plumbers to install systems with a focus on inclusive and practical skills development for all participants, we can ensure lasting change.”
Follow updates from the project via IWSH social media channels, @IWSHFoundation.
To learn more about how to support IWSH global work in First Nations communities, contact IWSH Managing Director Sean Kearney or download the IWSH program guide to learn more.
Learn more about Mimal Land Management.
About Reece Foundation
In 2022, Reece Australia established The Reece Foundation, with a clear vision of creating a world where all people have access to clean water and sanitation. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, the Reece Foundation works with volunteer tradies and local community partners both in Australia and overseas. Since its launch, working with tradies and community partners, the Reece Foundation has improved access to clean water and sanitation facilities for over 20,000 people. Find out more: https://www.reecefoundation.charity/.