In 2025, the Health Promotion team supported Nairm Marr Djambana Aboriginal Gathering Place to secure $10,000 funding for the development of their garden program. Funds were used to establish a green house and compost bin setup that helps to feed the range of plants that grow on-site.
The garden program is a key feature of the Gathering Place and has a number of benefits for the community. The produce grown in the garden is used in the Bush Native Foods social enterprise, where traditional bush produce is grown by Gathering Place members and sold with profits being reinvested into the community. The program strengthens employment opportunities and builds capacity and skills for local First Nations People.
Produce grown in the garden is also used in Nairm Marr Djambana’s very successful catering social enterprise, which creates a range of tasty offerings using traditional ingredients and flavours from First Nations people. Just like the Bush Native Foods program, all profits are reinvested in the community. Djambana Catering is available to order on their website: DJAMBANA CATERING – Nairm Marr Djambana.
The garden program is also used for cultural education purposes where participants can learn from Aboriginal educators about a range of native plants and their traditional uses by First Nations people. This is helping to grow respect, understanding and appreciation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and providing local First Nations people a place where they can connect with land, community and stories.
For more information about the wonderful programs on offer at Nairm Marr Djambana, visit Nairm Marr Djambana – Gathering by the bay.
