DRAFT | 2025 Year in Review: Wuu-rri Delivers Growing Impact Through Partnership and Purpose

2025 marked a significant year of growth and impact for Wuu-rri, with contributions generated through the Wuu-rri Vending Program continuing to support Indigenous entrepreneurship, youth leadership and community-led economic participation across Australia.

Across the year, everyday transactions made through Wuu-rri vending machines placed with host organisations nationwide were reinvested into programs that strengthen Indigenous business capability and create pathways for future leaders.

2025 Contributions and Impact

Throughout 2025, Wuu-rri’s national network of vending partners collectively generated meaningful contributions that supported the delivery of Indigenous capability-building initiatives, leadership development opportunities and entrepreneurship programs.

These contributions directly supported:

• Indigenous business capability and procurement readiness initiatives

• Leadership and professional development programs

• Networking and connection opportunities for Indigenous enterprises

• The launch of Wuu-rri’s first Microgrant Program, supporting Indigenous youth leadership

Together, these outcomes reflect the strength of Wuu-rri’s model — turning everyday commercial activity into long-term, community-led impact.

Q4 2025: Key Outcomes

The final quarter of 2025 represented a milestone period for Wuu-rri, with several key achievements delivered in partnership with members, hosts and communities.

During Q4, Wuu-rri:

• Delivered its first-ever microgrant, supporting an Indigenous youth leadership program in regional New South Wales

• Celebrated outstanding vending partners through the Wuu-rri Awards at The Summit 2025, recognising impactful corporate-community partnerships

• Hosted end-of-year member and partner networking events, strengthening relationships and collaboration across the Indigenous business ecosystem

• Continued national expansion of the Wuu-rri Vending Program, increasing awareness and funding for Indigenous enterprise initiatives

These outcomes demonstrate Wuu-rri’s growing ability to translate participation into tangible results.

Powered by Partnership

Every outcome delivered in 2025 was made possible through collaboration — from host organisations and partners to community-led program delivery and youth participation.

By choosing to host a Wuu-rri vending machine, organisations directly contributed to strengthening Indigenous enterprise, supporting future leaders and building a more inclusive economy.

Looking Ahead to 2026

As Wuu-rri enters 2026, the focus remains on scaling impact responsibly — expanding vending partnerships, delivering further microgrants, and continuing to invest in programs that support Indigenous youth, entrepreneurs and communities.

With strong foundations in place, Wuu-rri is well positioned to continue growing its impact through partnership, purpose and everyday action.

Wuu-rri Launches Its First Microgrant Supporting Aboriginal Youth Leadership

Wuu-rri has proudly delivered its first-ever microgrant, supporting the Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service – Aboriginal Corporation (TAMS-AC) to deliver its 2025 Youth Leadership Program for Aboriginal young people across the Tamworth and Manilla region.

This milestone marks the beginning of Wuu-rri’s microgrant program, which reinvests funds generated through Wuu-rri Vending into community-led initiatives that strengthen Indigenous youth leadership, capability and long-term economic participation.

About the Program

Delivered over three days in November 2025, the TAMS-AC Youth Leadership Program brought together Aboriginal students from five local schools to participate in a culturally safe and engaging leadership experience.

The program combined facilitated yarning circles, leadership discussions, cultural learning, and hands-on activities designed to build confidence, encourage self-expression, and support young people to explore future pathways in health, community services and leadership.

Students were supported by experienced facilitators, mentors and community leaders who created space for open dialogue, learning and connection.

What the Wuu-rri Microgrant Supported

The Wuu-rri Microgrant helped cover essential program costs, including catering and workshop materials, ensuring participants felt welcomed, supported and able to fully engage throughout the program.

By removing practical barriers, the microgrant enabled TAMS-AC to focus on delivering a high-quality, culturally grounded experience that prioritised the wellbeing, confidence and leadership development of each participant.

Program Impact

Feedback from students, schools, Elders and mentors highlighted strong outcomes, including increased confidence, stronger cultural identity, and clearer aspirations for future education and career pathways.

Participants reported feeling more connected to community, more comfortable expressing their ideas, and more confident stepping into leadership roles within their schools and peer groups.

“This program created a culturally strong and supportive space where young people could grow in confidence, leadership and connection to community,” shared TAMS-AC representatives.

A Milestone for Wuu-rri

This first microgrant represents an important milestone for Wuu-rri, demonstrating how everyday commercial activity through Wuu-rri Vending is reinvested into meaningful, community-led outcomes.

As Wuu-rri grows nationally, microgrants will continue to support Indigenous youth, entrepreneurs and communities to turn ideas into action and strengthen long-term economic participation.

➡️ Learn more about Wuu-rri Microgrants

➡️ Explore Wuu-rri’s impact

Image credit: Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service – Aboriginal Corporation

Wuu-rri Awards Recognise Impactful Vending Partnerships at The Summit 2025

Wuu-rri proudly recognised outstanding vending partners at The Summit 2025, celebrating the organisations whose participation in the Wuu-rri Vending Program has generated significant impact for Indigenous enterprise and youth capability building.

Presented during the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce’s flagship annual event, the Wuu-rri Awards highlighted the power of corporate-community partnerships in turning everyday workplace purchases into meaningful, long-term outcomes for Indigenous businesses and communities

About the Wuu-rri Vending Program

Established in 2018 by the NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Coke Vending, the Wuu-rri Vending Program is a national social enterprise that provides vending machines to approved host organisations at no cost.

Every purchase made through a Wuu-rri machine directly contributes to programs that build Indigenous business capability, support entrepreneurship, and strengthen economic self-determination. With more than 140 machines operating nationwide, Wuu-rri continues to expand its reach — most recently reinvesting revenue into the launch of its Microgrants Program supporting the next generation of Indigenous leaders

Wuu-rri Vending: Outstanding Individual Machine Performance Award

This year, Wuu-rri introduced a new award category recognising an exceptional single vending machine that has delivered unprecedented results within the program.

The Wuu-rri Vending: Outstanding Individual Machine Performance Award celebrates the host of the highest-performing Wuu-rri vending machine in Australia. Over the past 12 months, this individual machine generated an extraordinary $7,300, demonstrating the significant impact that meaningful participation can achieve.

The 2025 recipient of this award was The University of Sydney Business School, recognised for its leadership, engagement, and outstanding contribution to Indigenous enterprise outcomes

Celebrating Partnership and Impact

Presenting the Wuu-rri Awards at The Summit 2025 reinforced the connection between enterprise, collaboration and impact — recognising the organisations helping bring Wuu-rri’s giving model to life.

Together, through every machine, every sale and every partnership, Wuu-rri and its host organisations are empowering Indigenous enterprise, investing in future leaders, and building a stronger, more inclusive economy.

Image credit: NSW Indigenous Chamber of Commerce / The Summit 2025