Girudala Community Co-operative Society

A Care Together Project

Girudala Community Co-operative Society

Project location

Bowen, Queensland

What is the market failure being addressed?

There is a shortage of care services in the area providing culturally sensitive programs to Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and South Sea Islander community members. Girudala has been in existence for 50 years but as demands for its services have increased, there has been a corresponding need to strengthen its resources.

What is the project seeking to achieve?

The co-operative currently manages affordable housing, home and community care services, homecare packages, NDIS support and Indigenous family and well-being programs and is now looking to expand its impact. Care Together is supporting Girudala in developing a robust strategic plan that focuses on enhancing membership engagement, strengthening governance and expanding services, ensuring long-term viability and sustainability. With the assistance of Care Together, Girudala is working to create a new business model that focuses on workforce development and growth in health and social care services. A key element of the partnership is supporting Girudala in developing a strategic plan that not only strengthens its operations but could also lay the foundation for replication of its model in other similar communities across Australia. The project is focused on governance renewal, updating Girudala’s constitution to align with cooperative principles and future needs. As the project develops, the co-operative’s capacity to offer culturally responsive care while contributing to the broader goal of building a sustainable, community-driven model that can be adapted to other rural and remote regions is being enhanced.

Where the project is at now

Building on more than 50 years of culturally grounded service and community leadership in Bowen and across the Whitsundays, Girudala Community Co-operative Society is embracing a period of renewal, taking bold steps to strengthen its foundations for the next generation.

In recent months, Girudala has focused on clarifying its vision, purpose and strategic priorities, all anchored in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of being, knowing and doing. Working with Care Together, the co-operative has crafted a new strategic plan and business model that sharpen its direction while honouring cultural values. This includes a refreshed focus on member engagement, with workshops and yarning circles strengthening the connection between the co-operative and its community.

A modernisation of Girudala’s constitution is underway, ensuring governance structures meet contemporary standards while embedding a cultural lens that reflects the “Girudala Way”. The new constitution will support stronger board operations, increase transparency and keep community voice central in decision-making. Alongside constitutional reform, the organisation is building the capability of its board, investing in onboarding, governance and compliance training.

Girudala is also driving workforce development, with an emphasis on culturally competent care and leadership. New strategies are being put in place to recruit, develop and retain staff, including operational improvements, targeted training, and partnerships for employment and volunteering. These efforts ensure the co-op can meet growing demand in areas like aged care, disability support and social housing, without compromising cultural integrity.

The expansion of core programs continues, particularly in affordable housing, aged care and family wellbeing. Service reviews and infrastructure upgrades are underway, with projects to improve housing quality and increase aged care capacity. Girudala is also actively exploring ways to diversify income streams, including through social enterprise opportunities and shared services, to support long-term financial sustainability.

Looking ahead, Girudala is deepening its partnerships, both locally and beyond. Engagement with Elders, other community organisations and networks is building cultural authority, while work with Care Together is supporting knowledge sharing and potential replication of this successful model elsewhere.

Through this period of renewal, Girudala is demonstrating how co-operatives, shaped by culture and community control, can deliver lasting impact for members, Elders, families and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.