Celebrating NAIDOC with a Bush Foods Workshop

This year, we celebrated NAIDOC week by hosting a two-day Bush Foods workshop and an afternoon tea “For Our Elders” in collaboration with the Koorie Academy of Excellence (KAE).

The program started with a discovery session on native plants and bush foods. Kylie and Kursty Coleman, founders of Your Green Prescription, took students and staff on a voyage through country, showing us the rich variety of tucker available in our own backyards. They then took us to the kitchen, demonstrating how many of these foods can be a tasty addition to our own pantries. Next, in the FoodLab, the students created chocolate (from scratch!) infused with natural bush food extracts such as lemon myrtle, wattle seed, and strawberry gum, just to name a few.

On day two, the students designed logos and packaging that best conveyed the flavour combination of their chocolate creations. They also prepared brownies with river mint and bush salt under the guidance of Kylie and Kursty. The program culminated in an afternoon tea where the students shared their chocolate and brownies with family, community members, and Elders.

The program was designed by our STEM Communication Officer, Misa Fujii, who worked in close collaboration with the Koorie Academy of Excellence Liaison Officer, Sharna Colgan. The FoodLab aspect of the program was developed by STEM Communication Officer Anne Jessup. We want to thank the KAE staff for helping bring this program to life, and Kylie and Kursty for sharing their deep knowledge of native plants and bush foods with us. This workshop was an enriching experience for all involved, and a wonderful opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate our Elders.