Community Stories | Goods on Country

Community Voices

“We’ve never been asked at what sort of house we’d like to live in.”
Linda Turner
Tennant Creek, NT

That’s why Goods exists. Every bed, every washing machine, every product starts with a conversation — not a catalogue. These are the voices that shape what we build.

Storytellers

across 4 communities

500+

Minutes

of community feedback

Communities

across remote Australia

369+

Beds Delivered

and counting

Meet the People

Our Storytellers

The people who shape what we build. Every quote is from a real conversation.

Dianne Stokes

Elder

Elder & Co-Designer

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I'm a traditional owner and where I live is in the boundary of my totem. I've been here almost 24 years without shelter — the only thing I had was my car.”

Data SovereigntyCommunity ResilienceIntergenerational Knowledge TransmissionLanguage Preservation

Norman Frank

Elder

Warumungu Elder

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I want to see a better future for our kids and better housing — not only here but for the whole nation. We're all struggling today for housing.”

Data SovereigntyTraditional KnowledgeCultural ProtocolsHousing Sovereignty

Patricia Frank

Elder

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“We want to get bigger. We want to help other people, other language groups, other cultures.”

Kristy Bloomfield

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

0 recordings

“Knowing our history and our cultural connections has helped us become who we are today.”

Chloe

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

1 recording

“I've put up with clients going to hospital with pneumonia from sleeping on the ground because it's too cold. In summer they're scared to sleep because of snakes.”

Housing SovereigntyClimate AdaptationCommunity Resilience

Linda Turner

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“We've never been asked what sort of house we'd like to live in.”

Cultural IdentityHealing And TraumaSystemic Racism+6

Video

Cliff Plummer

Health Practitioner

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I've been in the health area for 38 years. I retired last year but found retirement life so boring — so back to work.”

Mental HealthFamily ViolenceEducation Access+2

Brian Russell

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I'm a Goa man — the only Goa man and Gangalidda man. My grandmother's side, my great grandmother, she's full Gangalidda. My grandfather's side, full Goa man from the Gulf country.”

Mental HealthConnection To CountryKinship Systems+2

Jimmy Frank

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“Climate change is coming. Those houses are not right for it.”

Data SovereigntyCommunity GovernanceCultural Protocols+3

Ivy

Palm Island, Queensland, Australia

1 recording

“Hardly any people around the community have got beds. When they got family members over, there's not enough for everyone.”

Housing SovereigntyEconomic IndependenceKinship Systems+2

Melissa Jackson

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“They like to have lower beds, especially for our older people.”

Housing SovereigntyTraditional KnowledgeKinship Systems

Shayne Bloomfield

Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia

0 recordings

“We could use this place as a healing camp — a cultural institute where kids learn to respect the land and the people around them.”

Tracy McCartney

Adelaide, South Australia, Australia

1 recording

“I don't call this work. This is where I come to meet my friends. For me it's about building relationships with people.”

Community ResilienceHealing And TraumaKinship Systems

Jason

Palm Island, Queensland, Australia

1 recording

“When it comes from an Aboriginal person, it works. That's what makes the difference.”

Community Resilience

Risilda Hogan

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I was living at the tin shed. Then I started working, got help from Stronger Families, and moved into this house.”

Housing SovereigntyCommunity ResilienceIntergenerational Knowledge Transmission

Georgina Byron AM

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

0 recordings

“Our role is to plug the gaps. There's quite a few gaps to plug. We can't do it all — but we can do our bit.”

Annie Morrison

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

1 recording

“I was looking at the beds — good. I was trying to ask them if they can make one for me.”

Intergenerational Knowledge TransmissionConnection To CountryTraditional Knowledge+2

Video

Hear from Community

Video testimonials and footage from communities across Australia

Testimonials

Jaquilane's Story

A community member shares their experience with Goods on Country.

Beds and Dignity

Cliff Plummer speaks about how essential goods connect to dignity and community health.

On Country

Building Together

Community members assembling beds together on country.

Community

Community gathering for bed delivery and assembly.

The Recycling Plant

Inside the containerised factory where community plastic becomes beds.

The Stretch Bed

Close-up of the bed assembly — no tools, under 5 minutes.

Stories

Every Bed Has a Story

Real journeys from the people behind the numbers

Housing Journey

“A good night's sleep is important... from a big day from work.”

Zelda Hogan

Tennant Creek, NT

Zelda moved her family from a tin shed to a house in Tennant Creek. For her, the bed wasn't furniture — it was the first real sign that things were changing. Her children go to school. She works. And at the end of the day, she sleeps properly. "It's better here. Yeah. At house." Simple words from a mother who knows what stability feels like because she lived without it.

“It's better here. Yeah. At house.”

On moving from a tin shed

“A good night's sleep is important... from a big day from work.”

On why beds matter

“They go to school. Yeah, they do go to school. It's okay. Yeah. They like it.”

On her children

Health

“It's gonna be home for me now.”

Brian Russell

Tennant Creek, NT

Brian had a heart attack last year. He has no bone in his feet. He chose Tennant Creek over his hometown of Doomadgee because the community here supports him. For Brian, a bed isn't comfort — it's medical necessity. Sleeping on the floor with his conditions risks pneumonia, falls, and slower recovery. When he says "It's gonna be home for me now," he means a place where he can rest properly and heal.

“I had a heart attack last year... I got no bone in my feet.”

On his health

“I like Tennant Creek more better than back home.”

On choosing community

“It's gonna be home for me now.”

On belonging

Dignity

“Hardly anyone around the community has beds.”

Ivy

Palm Island, QLD

Ivy slept on the floor for years. Not by choice — there simply weren't beds available on Palm Island. When family visited, everyone slept on the floor together. After receiving a Goods bed, the change was immediate. "It's more better than laying around on the floors... It was easy to make. Yeah, it's nice." Simple words that capture a shift in daily dignity. The bed was assembled in minutes, no tools required.

“Hardly anyone around the community has beds. When family comes to visit, people sleep on the floor.”

Describing the need

“It's more better than laying around on the floors... It was easy to make. Yeah, it's nice.”

After receiving a bed

Co-Design

“Working both ways — cultural side in white society and Indigenous society.”

Dianne Stokes

Tennant Creek, NT

Elder Dianne Stokes didn't just receive a bed — she helped design it. She sat around the fire with her family refining the bed's construction. She named the washing machine "Pakkimjalki Kari" in Warumungu language. When she received the first bed, she came back within two weeks requesting twenty more for her community. Dianne embodies the Goods philosophy: community members aren't recipients, they're co-designers.

Co-Design

“We've never been asked at what sort of house we'd like to live in.”

Linda Turner

Tennant Creek, NT

Linda Turner grew up in the bush. She watched the intervention reshape perceptions of Aboriginal men. She saw decisions made about her community without her community's input. "We've never been asked at what sort of house we'd like to live in." That single sentence captures why Goods exists — because the opposite of charity is asking people what they actually need. Linda is now setting up a business sharing culture and bush medicine. "We're setting this up for our kids and grandkids... independence, being in charge of your own destiny."

“We've never been asked at what sort of house we'd like to live in.”

On community voice

“We're setting this up for our kids and grandkids... independence, being in charge of your own destiny.”

On self-determination

Washing Machine

“They truly wanna a washing machine to wash their blanket, to wash their clothes, and it's right there at home.”

Patricia Frank

Tennant Creek, NT

Patricia Frank works at an Aboriginal corporation in Tennant Creek. She's from the Oo Tribe, White Cockatoo clan group. She sees the need every day — families without working washing machines, dirty blankets contributing to skin infections, children missing school. "They truly wanna a washing machine to wash their blanket, to wash their clothes, and it's right there at home." Patricia helped connect Goods with language groups across the NT, building relationships that made the Pakkimjalki Kari washing machine possible.

“They truly wanna a washing machine to wash their blanket, to wash their clothes, and it's right there at home.”

On the need for washing machines

“We wanna help family throughout the NT and their First Nation People.”

On extending reach

Voices

What Communities Say

Organised by theme — every quote is from a real conversation

Basic Needs

Why this work is necessary

“Hardly anyone around the community has beds. When family comes to visit, people sleep on the floor.”

Ivy

Palm Island

“I want to see a better future for our kids and better housing for our people.”

Norman Frank

Elder, Tennant Creek

“I like to do more, you know, but helping all the people.”

Annie Morrison

Elder, Tennant Creek

Dignity & Safety

The emotional impact of having a proper bed

“Having a bed is something you need; you feel more safe when you sleep in a bed. It's different than sleeping on the couch or the ground.”

Alfred Johnson

Palm Island

Product Feedback

What people say about the beds

“It's more better than laying around on the floors... It was easy to make. Yeah, it's nice.”

Ivy

Palm Island, after receiving bed

“I think it's a great bed. Nice bed. And it's more lower, um, more comfortable.”

Melissa Jackson

Tennant Creek

The Freight Tax

Every remote community pays a remoteness premium

“You can't just go down to the store and buy beds. It's a big muck-around. You have to bring them on the barge, pay for freight, and still, not everyone gets one.”

Alfred Johnson

Palm Island

“The freight is very, very dear.”

Carmelita

Palm Island

Community Voice

Built with communities, not for them

“Working both ways — cultural side in white society and Indigenous society.”

Dianne Stokes

Elder, Tennant Creek

“We've never been asked at what sort of house we'd like to live in.”

Linda Turner

Tennant Creek

“Without your culture, I feel lost.”

Norman Frank

Elder, Tennant Creek

“Our strengths is our culture, our country, you know, and our language.”

Jimmy Frank

Cultural Liaison, Tennant Creek

“We don't need fancy solutions. We need beds that don't break, washing machines that can be fixed here, and people who actually listen.”

Community voice

Palm Island

Washing Machines

Clean bedding breaks the scabies cycle

“They truly wanna a washing machine to wash their blanket, to wash their clothes, and it's right there at home.”

Patricia Frank

Tennant Creek

Health & Wellbeing

Beds and washing machines as health hardware

“You got to get health messages across.”

Cliff Plummer

Health Practitioner, Tennant Creek

“A good night's sleep is important... from a big day from work.”

Zelda Hogan

Tennant Creek

“Something as simple as a good bed makes a huge difference — it improves their health, helps with mobility, and gives them dignity.”

Chloe

Support Worker, Kalgoorlie

“The new mattress design is not just about comfort — it's about dignity and health.”

Tracy McCartney

Support Worker, Mt Isa

“Scabies often leads to Rheumatic Heart Disease, so washing machines are essential to be able to clean infected clothing, bedding and towels.”

Jessica Allardyce

Miwatj Health

From the Empathy Ledger

Deeper Analysis

AI-assisted analysis of community conversations — themes, impact, and insights

Chloe

Kalgoorlie, Western Australia, Australia

Chloe is a compassionate advocate and Aboriginal Homeless Fringe Rela Support Worker, devoted to transforming lives in the Boulder Camp and Ningamai communities. Each day, she extends her unwavering support by providing essential resources like breakfast, hot drinks, and cold water, while addressing any issues her clients face. Chloe's deep empathy and connection with the community reveal the resilience and warmth of its members, despite facing the harsh realities of homelessness. Her innovative efforts, such as creating portable sleeping solutions, tackle challenges from extreme weather to safety concerns, demonstrating her commitment to improving lives and fostering dignity. Chloe's work is a testament to her profound dedication and impact on those she serves.

“I've put up with a few of my clients going to hospital with pneumonia from sleeping on the ground because it's too cold. And then in the summer I've put up with them telling me constantly like, we're scared to sleep here, we're scared to sleep there because of snakes.”

Housing SovereigntyClimate AdaptationCommunity Resilience

1 transcript

Cliff Plummer

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Cliff Plummer is a dedicated Aboriginal health practitioner and advocate, renowned for his profound commitment to community well-being. As a proud Warga man from Tenant Creek, with roots in the historic Phillip Creek mission area, Cliff has spent 38 years transforming health education in his community. Despite a brief retirement, his passion brought him back into the field, now focusing on health promotion through creative avenues like music and YouTube. Cliff tackles pressing issues such as alcohol and drug abuse, striving to deliver impactful health messages that resonate deeply with his people. His work embodies resilience and serves as a beacon of hope and support for his community.

“Well, I've been in the health area for 38 year. I retired last year, but found retirement life so boring. So back to work.”

Mental HealthFamily ViolenceEducation Access

1 transcript

Brian Russell

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Brian Russell is a dedicated community member and a beacon of resilience, deeply rooted in the landscapes of Mount Isa and Doomadgee. Born in 1974, Brian's journey has seen him cultivate lasting friendships and profound connections, despite being distanced from his homeland for many years. His role with the Northern Territory government highlights his commitment to service and community engagement, where he has worked for over seven and a half years. Brian's affection for Tennant Creek is a testament to his love for the simplicity and camaraderie he finds there, as well as his appreciation for comfort and wellbeing, symbolized by the cherished bed shared with friends.

“I'm a Goa man. The only one Goa man and Gangalidda man. Myself, my grandmother's side, my old great grandmother, she's a full Gangalidda, and at the same time when I'm on my part of my life, my grandfather and my grandmothers father's, the full Goa man from C Hill, from the Gulf country”

Mental HealthConnection To CountryKinship Systems

1 transcript

Jimmy Frank

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Jimmy Frank is a dedicated cultural liaison and advocate, deeply rooted in the traditions of Tenant Creek, where his rich heritage from both his father's and mother's sides fuels his passion for community development. Growing up with ties to the land as a traditional owner, Jimmy's journey began with crafting artifacts alongside elders, which ignited his profound commitment to preserving cultural knowledge. His work as a liaison officer in a cultural center is infused with the wisdom gleaned from past generations, and he actively channels this into vibrant community projects, including traditional arts and dance. Jimmy’s unique impact lies in his ability to blend the old with the new, fostering a space for cultural preservation and communal growth.

“I think a lot of people benefiting from Aboriginal people in this town and these are non, non-indigenous people. These are, these are organizations that come from down New South Wales, Victoria, somewhere like that.”

Data SovereigntyCommunity GovernanceCultural Protocols

1 transcript

Ivy

Palm Island, Queensland, Australia

Ivy is a resilient community advocate rooted in the vibrant life of her island home. Surrounded by family and the azure expanse of the ocean, she navigates the challenges of remote living, emphasizing the importance of communal support and family connection. Striving to enhance the quality of life for her fellow islanders, Ivy highlights the struggles with accessing essential goods like beds and white goods, crafting innovative solutions such as makeshift bed frames for comfort and ease. Her dedication to uplifting her community is reflected in her commitment to fostering gathering spaces where family and friends can thrive together.

“Hardly any people around the community haven't got hardly any beds. When they got family members out for siblings.”

Housing SovereigntyEconomic IndependenceKinship Systems

1 transcript

Dianne Stokes

Elder

Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia

Dianne Stokes is a devoted traditional owner and guardian of her ancestral lands, living within the boundaries of her totem in a place she's called home for nearly 24 years. Her journey is one of resilience and deep connection to the land, where she initially found shelter under the vast trees, braving the elements with only her car as refuge. Dianne is passionately committed to revitalizing her community, honoring the legacy of her ancestors while fostering a vibrant space for future generations. With a vision to build a cultural and youth center, she aims to provide a nurturing environment for young people, offering them the opportunity to engage in cultural activities and outdoor education. Her unwavering dedication to her community is a testament to her profound love for her country, which calls her back time and again.

“I'm a traditional owner and where I live is where it's in the boundary of my totem and I been here for really 24 years, but almost 24 it's 23 years without shelter, just living here, having the only thing was my shelter when I first moved in was my car, my little car.”

Data SovereigntyCommunity ResilienceIntergenerational Knowledge Transmission

1 transcript

From the Empathy Ledger

Highest Impact Quotes

The most impactful words from 35 storytellers across 16 conversations

“And what do you think of the mine? Mine? It's getting close. Too close?”

Walter

Impact: 5.0

“Because I always stay here. I went to school here.”

Walter

Impact: 5.0

“I've put up with a few of my clients going to hospital with pneumonia from sleeping on the ground because it's too cold. And then in the summer I've put up with them telling me constantly like, we're scared to sleep here, we're scared to sleep there because of snakes.”

Chloe

Impact: 5.0

“Some of them are elders, so I've had a few sent down to Perth because of it, because they're old and the coldness is affecting them, that it could kill them.”

Chloe

Impact: 5.0

“Because we are family. They help a lot to me. Helping me.”

Gloria

Impact: 5.0

“It's Aboriginal community control, because there was some people saying things about, oh, you know, communities aren't involved, or communities, because they run the place, they own it.”

Clive - CEO Bega

Impact: 5.0

Data Sovereignty

Community Owned Stories

Every story, photo, and video is owned and controlled by the storyteller

Ownership

Storytellers own their content. Stories belong to the people who share them.

Control

Full control over how, where, and when stories are shared.

Access

Storytellers decide who can access their stories and media.

Possession

Original content stays with the community. We only display with permission.

Want to Add Your Voice?

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Tell us about your experience. Write, share a photo, or record a video.

Review

Your story goes through elder review. You control who can see it.

Own

Your story stays yours. Update, change, or remove it anytime.

Share Your Story

Every bed has a story.
Be part of the next one.

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Our Storytellers

Dianne Stokes

Norman Frank

Patricia Frank

Kristy Bloomfield

Chloe

Linda Turner

Cliff Plummer

Brian Russell

Jimmy Frank

Ivy

Melissa Jackson

Shayne Bloomfield

Tracy McCartney

Jason

Risilda Hogan

Georgina Byron AM

Annie Morrison

Hear from Community

Testimonials

On Country

Every Bed Has a Story

What Communities Say

Basic Needs

Dignity & Safety

Product Feedback

The Freight Tax

Community Voice

Washing Machines

Health & Wellbeing

Deeper Analysis

Chloe

Cliff Plummer

Brian Russell

Jimmy Frank

Ivy

Dianne Stokes

Highest Impact Quotes

Community Owned Stories

Ownership

Control

Access

Possession

Want to Add Your Voice?

Share

Review

Own

Every bed has a story.Be part of the next one.

Deeper Analysis

Chloe

Cliff Plummer

Brian Russell

Jimmy Frank

Ivy

Dianne Stokes

Highest Impact Quotes

Every bed has a story.
Be part of the next one.