At Ngemba Services, we believe construction and labour hire are about more than delivering projects — they are about creating opportunities, strengthening communities, and leaving a legacy that endures across generations. Our work is guided by the principle: “For the People, By the People.”
One of our proudest projects to date is on Cabbage Tree Island (Nyangabul, Bundjalung Nation), where our team is helping to rebuild not only homes but also cultural pride, community strength, and connections to country.
The Project: Cabbage Tree Island
On the ground, Ngemba Services has a crew of nine workers. What makes this project truly unique is that six of those workers are Bundjalung people, several of whom have direct family ties to the very houses they are helping to strip out and restore.
For many, this is more than just employment. It is deeply personal — a chance to work with their hands to rebuild homes that hold family history, cultural significance, and generational stories.
Community, Culture, and Construction
Cabbage Tree Island, known as Cabbo, holds a special place in the hearts of the Bundjalung Nation. It is more than land — it is a living repository of family history, cultural connection, and lived experience. Every house carries a story, and every step of the rebuild is an act of respect for that heritage.
By employing local Bundjalung workers, Ngemba Services ensures that the benefits of this project stay within the community. This approach not only delivers quality construction outcomes but also:
Restores pride by empowering community members to lead the work.
Creates jobs that build skills and provide economic independence.
Strengthens cultural connection by involving those who carry the island’s stories.
Leaves a legacy for future generations who will live in the homes their own families helped rebuild.
This is what happens when community, culture, and construction come together.
More Than Just Work
The Cabbage Tree Island project demonstrates that construction can be a vehicle for healing and empowerment. Workers are not only rebuilding houses; they are contributing to a bigger story of resilience and renewal.
Every wall stripped, every material removed, and every home rebuilt is a testament to the idea that those most connected to the land should have a hand in shaping its future.
As one Bundjalung worker shared, “Cabbo holds a lot of history and cultural connection through family stories and lived experiences. It’s something we want to pass down to our children and future generations. We are all very excited to see the rebuild start and return home.”
Ngemba’s Ongoing Commitment
For Ngemba Services, the Cabbage Tree Island project is not an exception — it is the standard we set for ourselves. Our commitment is to meaningful social impact, ensuring that every project we deliver also invests in people, community, and culture.
We are proud to stand with the Bundjalung people in this journey and to demonstrate what’s possible when Indigenous-led services are empowered to make a difference.
The Cabbage Tree Island rebuild is a powerful reminder that construction is never just about buildings. It is about people, heritage, and the stories that live within the walls we restore.
Ngemba Services will continue to live by the principle of “For the People, By the People” — building projects that strengthen communities today while leaving a legacy for tomorrow.
📖 Interested in learning more about Ngemba Services and our community-driven projects?
Visit Ngemba Services or get in touch with our team to explore how we can work together to deliver outcomes with lasting impact.
Ngemba Services acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Isander people as Traditional Custodians of the country on which we live and work. We pay our respects to the Traditional Custodians and Elders past, present and future, and honour their connection to the land and ongoing contribution to society.