Partnering for Impact
Orange Sky secures first federal NIAA grants
Ten years ago, the Lockhart River community, which is 750km north of Cairns, invited us to bring a truck fitted with three washers and three dryers to their community. Ever since, we’ve been working on ways to show up in remote Australia to support better health outcomes for First Nations people. Ten years, 159,629 washes, spanning more than 25 communities and 18 partnerships later; we are proud to share a significant milestone in Orange Sky’s remote program.
This is in direct response to a need, and to resolve something that simply shouldn’t exist in Australia: acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease (RHD). In many parts of remote Australia, essential health hardware, like a washing machine and reliable hot water, is not readily available, which stems from historical systems and policies that have consistently failed.
Despite being almost entirely preventable, these health conditions continue to disproportionately impact First Nations peoples in remote communities at alarming rates. Between 2017 and 2022, First Nations peoples accounted for 92% of acute rheumatic fever cases in Australia. (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024)
Federal funding secured for three communities
Today, we are proud to share that Orange Sky has secured its first federal National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) funding. Delivered through our Remote Community program, these grants will enable us to work in partnership with two Aboriginal-controlled organisations to support better health, wellbeing and community-driven outcomes in three new locations:
- Milingimbi, NT – in partnership with Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
- Ramingining, NT – in partnership with Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation
- Pormpuraaw, QLD – in partnership with Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Shire Council
Community-Led, Partnership-Driven
Local leadership and self-determination are the key factors that make this program work. By pairing remote laundry assets with local employment, and the leadership and expertise of local Aboriginal-controlled organisations, we can ensure decision-making on how the assets are used and the impact they create stays with the community, right where it belongs.
“We’re so proud today to work alongside 18 partner Aboriginal-controlled organisations across 28 locations driving better health outcomes, meaningful local employment and community controlled decision making. The addition of three new communities means the impact of the program will continue to expand.” Lucas Patchett, Co-Founder and CEO of Orange Sky.
We look forward to sharing updates as these services are established and continue to deliver lasting, positive impacts for Milingimbi, Ramingining and Pormpuraaw.
Lucas Patchett OAM is the CEO and Co-Founder of Orange Sky. Lucas, along with friend Nic Marchesi, co-founded Orange Sky in 2014 at just 20 years old. Starting from humble beginnings, with a couple of washing machines and dryers installed in an old van to provide dignity and improve hygiene standards of those sleeping rough around Brisbane, Lucas and Nic have expanded Orange Sky substantially. To date, Orange Sky has provided Australians doing it tough with over 4.4 million kilograms of free laundry, over 52 thousand showers and over 650,000 hours of genuine and non-judgemental conversation across more than 60 services across Australia.
