A collaboration between Wounds Australia, Savers Australia, Galaxy Enterprises and Textiles, and the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress ('Congress') has delivered 330 pairs of high-quality recycled shoes and 600 pairs of new socks to people living in remote communities around Alice Springs.

Access to affordable, appropriate footwear can be limited in remote communities, yet good quality closed-toed shoes can play an important role in protecting skin integrity and helping to prevent wounds and other complications.

Partnering for positive impact

Wounds Australia was in a position to connect partners with the potential to make a practical difference to communities in need. When CEO Jeff Antcliff visited Alice Springs in 2025 to help deliver wound care training to local health professionals, a conversation with podiatrists at Congress highlighted the limited access to affordable, appropriate footwear that could help protect feet and support wound healing.

"Our friends at Congress told me that footwear choices were limited and often more expensive than in metropolitan areas because of the cost of transporting goods to Central Australia," Mr Antcliff said. "Our Savers partner store had opened in Marleston, Adelaide, just three months earlier, and it occurred to me that its relative proximity, combined with the generosity of spirit I know exists at Savers Australia, could bring about something wonderful."

Savers Australia, a partner of Wounds Australia, collected 330 pairs of high-quality recycled shoes from its Marleston store and transported them to Alice Springs in June, where podiatrists from Congress have been delivering them to patients who could benefit from appropriate protective footwear.

Savers Australia Managing Director Michael Fisher said the initiative demonstrated the value of partnerships that can turn community generosity into tangible benefits for people who need them.

"As a for-profit retailer, we purchase donated goods from our not-for-profit partners, providing funding that helps support the important programs and initiatives they deliver in communities across Australia", Mr Fisher said. "We're proud to work alongside Wounds Australia and support the important work they're doing within First Nations communities, including initiatives like this that help provide practical items such as protective footwear to people who need them."

To complete the arrangement, Wounds Australia also secured a generous donation of 600 pairs of new socks from Victorian business Galaxy Enterprises and Textiles.

Managing Director David McNamara said he was delighted his company could support a good cause and help provide people in Central Australia with an everyday essential.

Delivering healthcare to remote Australia

Congress delivers evidence-based healthcare to Aboriginal people across a vast geographical area of Central Australia, including in many remote communities. Wounds Australia partnered with Congress in 2025 through our national Be Wound Aware campaign, which educates consumers on acute and chronic wound care in accessible and easy to understand ways. Congress played a pivotal role in helping us reach high-risk Australians by allowing us to share culturally safe education to support better wound prevention and care. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples have 38 times the rate of amputation compared to non-Indigenous people.

A Podiatrist in the Congress's Foot Health Team said access to essentials such as shoes and socks could make a genuine difference to the health and wellbeing of clients.

"As podiatrists, we know that keeping feet healthy isn't just about treating problems – it's also about prevention, dignity, and making sure people have the basics they need to look after themselves," the spokesperson said. "Acts of kindness like this make a genuine difference, particularly for our Indigenous clients who often experience significant barriers to accessing healthcare and essential items.

"There's an old saying that 'happy feet make for happy people' – and thanks to you, there will be a lot more warm and happy feet walking around our community."

Supporting Wounds Australia through Savers

Our partnership with Savers Australia provides another innovative way to support our work. At Savers Marleston, members of the community can donate clothing and household items, which are accepted on behalf of Wounds Australia. Savers pays Wounds Australia for these donations collected through the partnership, generating funds that support our work to reduce the harm caused by wounds and supporting the reuse and recycling economy.

This new collaboration shows what can happen when strong partnerships connect resources with local knowledge and community need.

We thank Savers Australia and Galaxy Enterprises and Textiles for their generosity, and Congress for ensuring the shoes and socks reach people in Central Australia where they can make a meaningful difference.