Balgo (Wirrimanu) is one of Australian’s most remote Aboriginal communities located in the south-east Kimberley region of Western Australia on the northern edge of the Great Sandy Desert and on the western edge of the Tanami Desert. With a population of approximately 500-600 people, and eight different language groups including – Kukatja, Ngardi, Djaru,Warlpiri, Walmajarri, Wangkajunga, Pintupi and Ngaatjatjara

Piriwa Op Shop began operating in Balgo Community in early 2020. The Op shop is run by a team women who volunteer and sort donations for sale. The Op shop is currently managed by Kathryn Njamme (pictured). The sales from Piriwa Op shop enables the women to hold ‘on country’ day trips to do cultural activities such as hunting and for elders to share cultural and bush knowledge to young women.

The profits from Piriwa are also used for the women to make bush products and bush medicine to sell locally. Piriwa Op shop also acts as a training space for women and business with the women who work at Piriwa Op shop learning skills in money management, all aspects of a retail business, marketing and social media and is a platform to gain skills and confidence and test out enterprise ideas. Piriwa Op Shop is supported by Enterprise Partnerships WA. Piriwa Opshop is located in a sea container donated by Wirrimanu Aborignal Corporation.