Reimagining Essential Products Through Community Leadership
We work hand-in-hand with Aboriginal Elders, Traditional Owners and community to create sustainable solutions that transform challenges into opportunities. Our mission extends beyond products – we're exploring a new model for community-led innovation in remote Australia.
Community Focused
Empowering communities through innovative, sustainable product development and collaboration.
Real Solutions
Creating impactful products that address the unique challenges faced by remote areas.
Why Traditional Products Fall Short
Traditional products often fail to meet the unique needs of remote communities. They are not only impractical but also contribute to ongoing environmental issues.
Durability Issues
Traditional goods cannot withstand extreme weather conditions found in remote areas.
High Costs
Transport expenses make these products prohibitively expensive for many communities.
Goods. Design Principles: Created With and For Community
Respecting Country and Community
Circular Design: Connecting Environmental Care with Community Benefit
Community-Driven Construction
Built for Local Success
Place-Based Adaptation
Made for Country
Introducing The Greate Bed
Designed to meet the unique needs of remote communities. Our stackable frames and washable mattresses provide durability and convenience in challenging environments.
The journey so far...
Communities
Beds constructed (100 more to build next week on Palm Island)
minutes of community voices providing feedback and direction
Our Implementation Process: From Design to Community Deployment
Community Consultation Phase
Deep listening in communities from Palm Island to Kalgoorlie and Tennant Creek, we learnt about specific sleeping challenges, environmental conditions, and community aspirations. This phase has revealed critical insights about durability needs and cultural preferences.
Co-Design Phase
Working alongside community members, particularly engaging service providers, men's groups and Rangers we develop and refine prototypes. The Greate Bed design evolved through direct feedback from women at Ninga Mia and community on Palm Island, considering practical functionality and cultural appropriateness.
Local Production Development
Converting plastic waste into valuable materials happens locally. We're exploring processes that communities can own and operate, creating both environmental and economic benefits. The flat-pack design emerged from community input about transport and assembly needs.
Community voices
"From Palm Island to Kalgoorlie, communities are reimagining what's possible. These are the voices of people who've not just tested our beds, but helped create them. Their wisdom, feedback, and leadership shape every aspect of our design process, ensuring solutions that truly work for remote Australian communities."
"It took just five minutes to put together, and it's properly comfortable. I reckon it'll last a long time... there's a bunch of fellas who'd want something like this."
Community member
"I want a good mattress. so I can rest my back. It's hard to find one. Plus, I have disability, I want to wash my mattress."
Community Member
"That's what I believe in - finding ways to make things work for us, here, in our community. Because at the end of the day, it's not about what we have or don't have, it's about supporting each other and building something that works for everyone."
Community Member
" I think it's a great and interesting solution and surprised that no one has explored this before. I hope it gives ownership to communities and families."
Red Dust
Greate Bed FAQs
The Greate Bed project is currently in the design and protype phase. As questions come in from the community we will aim to answer them here. Please reach out with your own questions below.
One of the core aims of the project is to collect plastic waste and melt it down to inject mould crates for the beds. This is planned to be tackled in Phase 2 of the project. Remote Australian communities often have a significant amount of plastic waste, including crates and other containers.
These typically come from:
1. Food and beverage packaging: Many goods are shipped to remote areas in plastic crates or containers to protect them during transport.
2. Shipping materials: Due to the reliance on imported goods, there's often an accumulation of shipping materials, including plastic crates and pallets.
3. Water containers: In areas with limited access to clean water, large plastic containers for water storage are common.
While we only have about 10 or so case studies of people that have used the beds, the overall feedback is they they are comfortable. The goal is to create products that are both environmentally friendly and comfortable.
Here are some points to consider:
1. The project aims to produce high-quality, functional products, comfort is a key consideration in the design process.
2 The exact comfort level may depend on the specific design and materials used, which tailored to preferences gathered from
3. Comfort is subjective, so the project may offer different options or customisable features to suit various needs.
1. High Costs: Remote communities often face significantly higher prices for goods due to transportation costs and lack of competition. A bedframe and mattress that might be affordable in urban areas can be prohibitively expensive in remote locations.
2. Logistical Difficulties: Transporting large items like beds to remote areas is challenging and expensive. Roads may be poor or non-existent, and extreme weather conditions can further complicate delivery.
3. Limited Availability: Many remote communities lack furniture stores or have very limited options, forcing residents to order from distant suppliers, which increases costs and waiting times.
4. Durability Issues: The harsh climate in many remote areas can lead to faster deterioration of furniture, including beds. Standard mattresses may not be designed to withstand these conditions.
5. Cultural Considerations: Traditional sleeping arrangements in some Indigenous communities may differ from Western-style beds, making typical bedframes less suitable or desirable.
6. Housing Constraints: Many homes in remote communities may be smaller or have different layouts that don't easily accommodate standard bed sizes.
7. Economic Disparities: Higher rates of poverty and unemployment in some remote communities make it difficult for residents to afford quality bedding.
8. Maintenance and Replacement: When beds or mattresses need repair or replacement, the process of getting new ones is just as challenging, leading to people using worn-out or damaged beds for longer periods.
We are currently testing durability feedback for the Goods project's beds, we can consider some potential advantages of furniture made from recycled plastic:
1. Resistance to moisture: Plastic-based furniture is often more resistant to moisture than traditional frames, which is beneficial in humid or flood-prone areas.
2.Weather resistance: Properly engineered recycled plastic can withstand extreme temperatures and UV exposure better than some traditional materials.
While we don't have exact pricing information for the Goods project's beds, we can consider factors that might influence their price point:
1. Lower transportation costs: By producing beds locally from recycled materials, transportation costs could be significantly reduced compared to importing traditional beds.
2. Reduced material costs: Using recycled plastic as a primary material could lower production costs compared to traditional materials.
3. Scale of production: As the project scales up, economies of scale could further reduce costs.
4. Social enterprise model: As a social enterprise, the project may aim for affordable pricing to maximise community benefit rather than profit margins.
Traditional beds in remote areas often come with significant markups due to transportation costs and limited competition.
However, the exact price difference would depend on:
1. The project's production costs
2. Local economic conditions
3. Pricing strategies to ensure sustainability of the initiative
4. Any subsidies or support from partners or government programs
A key goal of the project is to offer a more affordable option than what's currently available, while still ensuring quality and durability.
Get in Touch
Every conversation helps us better understand community needs and improve our solutions. Share your thoughts, questions, or ideas about bringing Greate Beds to your community.
.svg)