Welcome To Nganana Inc.
Nganana means “all of us” in the Pitjantjatjara language of the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara people of remote central Australia. However the meaning goes beyond the straightforward assumed from everyday use within a modern Australian context. From a traditional perspective Nganana is an statement of inclusivity; everyone is included, even the speaker. Using an example relevant to community services, when asked who is included within a support network, the answer for most comprises of key stakeholders and nominated family and significant others. From a traditional perspective the answer to the same question is “Nganana” – “all of us”; all family, kin, community, country, the land a person is born to, the spirits that still reside. It is a powerful concept that defies understanding from within a modern context. And from within that lack of understanding arguably there is a loss of value that occurs during translation into a language and discourse that does not contain the dimensionality and sophistication necessary to convey conceptually the depth of connectedness implicit in the meaning of the word – Nganana.
Nganana Incorporated is a new not for profit with a focus on, and in, communities. Nganana, with a board representing over 200 years collective experience providing support within the community services sector, recognises the need and value for supporting and empowering individuals within the context of their own experiences that make up their identity. Communities are essential to healthy living. From a cultural perspective, the beliefs, values, norms, and customs that make up an individual’s social environment are fundamental to the development of effective and efficient supports. Nganana is a community development organisation; supporting disadvantaged groups and individuals via their community and culture.
We have chosen an Aboriginal name (Nganana means “all of us” in Pitjantjatjara) out of respect for the nations first Australians, and because our work empowering and building capability within Australia’s disadvantaged communities will begin by supporting Aboriginal people in need of services, especially those living in rural and remote locations and retaining traditional practices.
Nganana as a name of the organisation is also a statement of commitment toward a fully inclusive operational business model, where in everyone is included in the process of providing services, in particular individuals, families, and the communities in which supports are to be delivered. It is a declaration of understanding that a consumer cannot be supported in isolation – a consumer as a social entity comes with valued connections within their family, community, and culture.
“All of Us” are needed to bring meaning and wellbeing into an individual’s life –“All of Us” can have a component role to play – “All of Us” have a right to be heard and be included.
Nganana is becoming an NDIS registered provider; applications across a variety of registration groups have been submitted. We have significant experience and expertise within the disability sector, our executive group and founders having worked with and significantly developed current providers within the industry over the past 20 years. We have specialisations of addressing complex support needs for individuals living with psychosocial disability, forensic disability, case management (Support Coordination), and of course Aboriginal cultural services.
While Nganana’s initial service offerings will be NDIS focused, we will in the future be branching out into the development and implementation of community support initiatives across the service spectrum. Nganana will focus into the future on the delivery of innovative services within Aboriginal communities, in particular the remote indigenous communities within the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands of remote central Australia. These regions have a vast depth, richness and beauty that encompasses both the lands, and the people. We see need, and welcoming, for services offered from a culturally committed perspective (what this means is being developed into an engagement model currently in progress). Our approach is where discussion and listening becomes a cyclic process, and solutions/service delivery options evolve as a result to that process. This approach works, and is currently in planning for NDIS supports delivered for and with the people of the APY Lands.