Snow Foundation Rheumatic Heart Disease Strategy – We pursue a holistic strategy supporting a First Nations-led, community-focused response to rheumatic heart disease (RHD) in Australia. In this story we share the initiatives we support that address the underlying causes of RHD, such as overcrowded housing, poor access to hygiene, and systemic inequality. These broader social and environmental factors—known as the social determinants of health—significantly influence a person’s risk of disease and overall wellbeing.

Walking Together on Country: Community-led Solutions in the Northern Territory

At Snow Foundation, we believe that the most effective and enduring solutions come from the people closest to the challenges—and closest to the strength. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Aboriginal-led organisations and allies who are reshaping systems from the ground up, grounded in community, culture, and Country.

CEO Georgina Byron and team member Sally Grimsley-Ballard travelled to the Northern Territory to deepen partnerships, connect with local leaders and experience several powerful initiatives firsthand. The visit included time in Jurnkkurakurr (Tennant Creek) and Mparntwe (Alice Springs), alongside some of our partners working on the frontline of community-led change.

Empowering Solutions – The Goods Project

In Tennant Creek, we travelled together with Nicholas Marchesi OAM and Benjamin Knight from A Curious Tractor, where their Goods project—co-designed with Aboriginal communities—is delivering practical, empowering solutions. One highlight was the Greate Beds: innovative, stackable crate beds with memory foam and a washable mattress topper. Ideal for the tough conditions of the NT, these beds are easy to assemble, wash, and move—offering flexibility and dignity and healthy living in settings where both are often in short supply.

Snow Foundation are thrilled to fund these beds, that Warumungu Elder LT described as “deadly” and “transformative,” and we saw that in action as community members and whole families gathered to build, share, and adapt the beds together. It was a moment that captured the spirit of the project: hands-on, locally led, and filled with pride.

Homes are Rooted in Culture – Wilya Janta

We were honoured to visit the site of Wilya Janta’s first housing prototype on Patta Country, a bold reimagining of what housing can look like when designed by and with Aboriginal communities. Wilya Janta—meaning “Standing Strong”—is an Aboriginal-led collaboration dedicated to creating culturally safe, climate-appropriate homes that honour how families live, connect, and care for each other on Country.

The prototype uses materials like mud bricks to help regulate indoor temperatures in the face of the NT’s extreme climate shifts. But it’s about far more than bricks and mortar. As Founders Norman Frank Jupurrurla and Patricia Frank Nurururla, along with COO Dr Simon Quilty, shared with us—it’s about self-determination and homes that support health, cultural identity and belonging.

We’re proud to support this visionary work and were deeply moved by the generosity of the Traditional Owners and Elders who welcomed us and shared their stories.

Dignity in Every Load – Orange Sky and Children’s Ground

In Mparntwe, we enjoyed visiting a joint initiative between Children’s Ground and Orange Sky—a remote mobile laundry service that brings practical, high-impact support to communities. These services are about more than clean clothes and blankets; they’re about health, connection, and restoring a sense of care and dignity.

In 2017 we provided seed funding for Orange Sky Australia to establish a remote service in Maningrida, NT and we’re excited to support this essential service for the community of Mparntwe.

Children’s Ground have enhanced the service further by adding rakes, garbage bags and yard cleaning supplies—supporting families to create cleaner, safer outdoor living spaces. They’re also introducing talking poster boards on the outside of the laundry truck, featuring in-language information about preventing RHD—a thoughtful and culturally responsive health education tool.

At Burt Creek, despite the rain, we met families who were washing blankets ahead of a big cook-up. There was laughter, warmth, and a strong sense of togetherness—people showing up for one another in the most human way.

Collaborating for Healthy Homes and Stronger Futures

We were fortunate that our visit coincided with the Working Together for Healthy Homes workshop, hosted by Anyinginyi Aboriginal Health Corporation and NACCHO. The gathering brought together local leaders, environmental health professionals and community organisations from across the Northern Territory to share insights, challenges, and forward-thinking solutions for housing and health.
It was a valuable opportunity to contribute to the conversation and highlight several of the initiatives we’re proud to support. Elders Patricia Frank Nurururla and LT shared the powerful co-design process behind Wilya Janta’s housing prototype, while Nic Marchesi and Ben Knight presented on Goods and Orange Sky’s remote laundry service—including a hands-on demonstration of the washable, transportable bed.

We also spoke about the Deadly Heart Trek and the RHD Champions4Change program, reinforcing the importance of community-led health advocacy and early screening for rheumatic heart disease in children.

A Shared Commitment

Each project we visited reflects a deep understanding of local needs and strengths. Whether through better beds, stronger housing, or mobile health supports, they all share a common thread: community leadership, cultural wisdom, and practical design working hand-in-hand.

We are proud to walk alongside these changemakers and to continue backing initiatives that honour the power of community-led innovation.

Learn more about these powerful projects:

https://www.wilyajanta.org/
https://orangesky.org.au/
Goods (by A Curious Tractor) – https://www.act.place/