Noojee · Victoria
NNEST — Bringing people and purpose together
for healthy forests and thriving communities.
NNEST, Nature, Nurture, Education & Sustainable Tourism, is a Noojee based incorporated community organisation working to strengthen the connections between people, place, knowledge and opportunity.
We work with residents, businesses, community groups, visitors and partner organisations to strengthen community resilience, support place based learning, care for our natural environment and build a healthier relationship between community and visitation.
Inaugural meeting held · Now fully incorporated · Seeking community members
Our Purpose
Strengthening the connections that help a small community thrive.
Noojee already has people, businesses, services, organisations, skills, knowledge and resources that contribute to our community. It is also supported by people and organisations well beyond the town itself.
NNEST's role is to help make those connections stronger, more visible and easier to access. We aim to:
Recognise what already exists
Identify and celebrate the people, businesses, services, knowledge and resources already supporting Noojee.
Strengthen community connections
Help people, organisations and ideas find each other and create opportunities for collaboration, participation and skills sharing.
Identify and address gaps
Better understand what is difficult to access or missing and whether those gaps can be addressed through stronger connections rather than unnecessary duplication.
Reach outward where needed
Build partnerships with services, businesses, educators, government, industry and organisations outside the immediate area that can bring useful knowledge, resources and opportunities into the community.
How we can help
Reach In, Reach Out
We don't need to have everything here. We need strong connections to what we have and what we need.
We look first at what already exists within and around Noojee.
Reach In
We ask who is already helping, what businesses and services support the community, what skills and knowledge already exist, and what could be better connected, supported or easier to discover. Then we help connect them.
Reach In: understand and strengthen what we have.
Where genuine gaps remain, we look outward.
Reach Out
We connect with businesses, services, educators, organisations, researchers, government, and neighbouring communities who may be able to bring useful knowledge, services, training and opportunities into Noojee.
Reach Out: connect with others for what we need.
Our intention
What We're Working On
We support practical community projects, local events, skills sharing and initiatives that connect people with the forests, places and communities around Noojee.
Community Connections
Mapping the businesses, services, groups, skills, spaces and organisations that already support Noojee and identifying opportunities to strengthen those connections.
Noojee Digital Discovery Platform
Developing locally managed digital resources that help residents and visitors discover businesses, services, attractions, community groups, events and useful local knowledge.
Noojee Noticeboard
Supporting an established online community information network with community moderators and clearer pathways to locally relevant information.
Former Noojee Primary School
Undertaking preliminary assessments and planning to explore whether the former school could become a flexible community resilience, visitor field and place based education and demonstration site.
Partnerships
Building relationships with local and external businesses, educators, service providers, environmental organisations, training providers and other partners that can contribute knowledge, resources and opportunities to the area.
What we stand for
Our Values shape how we work with our community and ourselves
Belonging for All
Creating pathways for people to connect, participate and contribute.
NNEST creates welcoming pathways into nature, learning and community for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds. We recognise that not every program suits everyone, and we commit to offering varied and increasingly accessible opportunities so more people can participate in ways that feel safe, supported and meaningful. Belonging is not assumed — it is intentionally built.
Collaboration Builds Strength
Stronger together.
We choose collaboration over competition. NNEST works alongside local groups, practitioners, volunteers and community members, valuing lived experience and place-based knowledge. We believe strong communities are built when skills, resources and leadership are shared openly and respectfully, with shared wins prioritised over individual recognition. Collaboration starts with listening — and continues through learning and adapting together.
Care for Place
Protect and nurture what matters.
We treat the land, stories, history and spaces of Noojee with respect and responsibility. Environmental stewardship guides our decisions — from reuse and repurposing to waste reduction, restoration and circular-economy practices. We support a balanced visitor economy that benefits the local community while protecting the natural character and wellbeing of place.
Rooted in Resilience
Strong relationships. Shared skills. Lasting strength.
By fostering connection, sharing skills and building community confidence, NNEST supports a community that can adapt and grow through change. Resilience is built through participation, practical learning and collective care — strengthening local capability over time.
Integrity in Action
Open, accountable, community-led.
We lead with transparency, accountability and thoughtful governance. Decisions are shaped by those who live here, with clear communication and financial integrity. We prioritise practical steps that create long-term social, environmental and economic benefit, so that what we create together endures. We earn community trust by doing what we say, learning from what doesn't work, and being honest about both.