"Last financial year ALPA contributed $35.4 million into our member communities in capital upgrades, local employment, community care programs, community sponsorships and other support."

Community Care Programs

For the communities in which it operates, ALPA has given back to the community since its inception. Being owned by the members of the Galiwin’ku, Gapuwiyak, Milingimbi, Minjilang, and Ramingining communities we contribute significantly back into these communities for the benefit of our members living there. How we distribute our community care funds is determined by local store committees, as well as at the discretion of our Board of Directors, made up of Indigenous representatives from our member communities.

Being owned by indigenous communities, our vision is directed towards generational change, so that our members will benefit from our business for generations to come. This is reflected in how we give back to the community, building for sustainable growth well into the future.

Education and Development

The Education Fund assists students that wish to further their education away from the community, as opportunities may not exist at home. The fund is primarily to assist with the costs of secondary and tertiary education, excluding travel.

Amongst those supported through this program, ALPA has assisted many individuals as well as the Marrma Rom Foundation in Geelong, Victoria who are working to support boarding students from Arnhem land to attend St. Ignatius College in Geelong. View the video on the left for more information about this program.

We also fund international education, Goyma Gondarra (featured in the photo right) attended and completed his secondary schooling in Fiji. He was then accepted into The University of the South Pacific. We encourage all types of education for our members.

Education and Development funding also assists with business development in our region and drives real jobs, training, and economic development.

Funeral Funds

During times of family bereavement, ALPA helps families in communities to cover the substantial costs of funerals. ALPA assists members with costs including transport of the deceased to and from their communities, mortuary expenses, providing a Manapan coffin if requested, and food to assist the family when visitors arrive for the ceremony.

The support for traditional funerals is also reflected in our employment practices with our indigenous team, which allows them to take leave to fulfil their cultural obligations.

Cultural and Community Events

We provide funds to support the rich culture of our indigenous communities, through assisting with the provision of food and other needs at both men’s and women’s cultural events and ceremonies. These traditional ceremonies are vital to maintaining the indigenous culture of song (manikay) and dance (bungul). We also provide major sponsorship for other local events such as community festivals and sporting events.

Indigenous Leadership Development

We make a significant contribution to indigenous leadership development through support of the Yolŋu Nations Assembly. This organisation supports local traditional leaders and facilitates engagement with the NT Government and Australian Government on matters of law, as well as local community development.

Medical Escort

Often our people are required to travel interstate for specialist medical assessment and/or treatment.

This fund provides travel and accommodation assistance for a family member to act as an interpreter or as an escort offering moral support for patients that are nervous about travel and frightened about what lies ahead.

Health and Nutrition Strategy

The Health and Nutrition Strategy remains a core activity and is a significant commitment to our overall community care program financial commitment. ALPA now employs two Nutritionists to drive positive nutrition practices across our community activities and stores. Our priority with this program is to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal people in our communities. It also aims to assist in the prevention and management of diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disease; and to continue to help reduce dependency on social welfare. We also promote the development and harvesting of traditional foods for consumption by local people.

Youth Services

The East Arnhem Land Youth Model, also aptly named Guŋga’yunga Djamarrkuḻiny (Helping our Children), is a pilot research program that is facilitated by ALPA and funded as part of a joint venture between The Northern Territory Government and National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA).

Freight Subsidy

The cost of freight to member stores is the most contributing factor to higher prices. ALPA subsidises the cost of freight of a range of healthy options in our store range, to help counteract the impact. This includes fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen and tinned vegetables, tinned fruit in natural juice, fresh milk, yogurt, and cheeses.