Ngarliyarndu Bindirri Aboriginal Corporation to take the helm of Roebourne post shop in win for community

In a move aimed at preserving essential services for the local community, Ngarliyarndu Bindirri Aboriginal Corporation has announced plans to take over the Roebourne post office service effective March 5.

The decision comes in the wake of the post shop’s closure on February 28 due to the retirement of its licensee, leaving a void in vital services for Roebourne residents.

NBAC chief executive Francois Langlois told Ngaarda Media the post shop was a vital service for many in the community.

“Our plan is to co-locate the post office counter next to our Centrelink offices in the front office and our office,” he said.

“We need to do a little bit of refurbishment and redo some work to our premises before that can start.

“Australia Post has been very kind to us in relocating what they call a mobile van which will be able to operate the post office services for the next eight weeks or so until we’re finalised and finish all the refurbishment we need to do in preparation for having everything within our premises.”

The closure of the post office raised concerns within the community, given its role as a hub for various essential services.

Roebourne residents relied on the post office for banking services, purchasing pay-as-you-go electricity cards, mobile phone transactions, bill payments, and receiving crucial government communications.

With the closure, many residents, particularly those less technologically savvy, faced challenges accessing these services locally.

The significance of this transition extends beyond preserving essential services.

NBAC, a 98 per cent self-funded organisation, aims to not only sustain the post office but also contribute to the local economy.

Through its social enterprises, Brida and Handy Hands, NBAC has created more than 200 local jobs, with Indigenous employees constituting over 55 per cent of the workforce.

Over the past eight years, NBAC has injected more than $60 million in wages directly into the City of Karratha.