Noojee · Victoria
NNEST—Bringing people and purpose together
for healthy forests and thriving communities.
NNEST is a community-led hub taking shape in Noojee, Victoria — a place to learn, heal, connect, and teach.
Inaugural meeting held · Incorporation underway · Seeking community input
Our Purpose
A place where everyone in Noojee can belong, contribute, and grow.
Foster a sense of belonging
and shared growth in Noojee by creating opportunities for community connection and inclusion.
Activate under-utilised spaces
as accessible, multi-use hubs for learning, local skill development, and community-led initiatives.
Support a resilient local economy
and natural environment through place-based collaborations and sustainable engagement.
Sustain community-led assets
that benefit the local region and its visitors now and into the future.
Our intention
NNEST intends to create a place where everyone in Noojee can belong, contribute, and grow.
Specifically, we intend to:
- Activate the Noojee Library and former School Site as a thriving, multi-use community hub
- Strengthen belonging and connection across all ages and backgrounds
- Build local skills, employment, and self-sustaining capability
- Protect and restore our natural environment through education and stewardship
- Become a lasting community asset that strengthens Noojee for generations
What we stand for
Our Values shape how we work with our community and ourselves
Belonging for All
A place for everyone.
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.