Nutrition – Gunawirra

Nutrition from our Native Garden

The Nutrition Program is focused on empowering young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mums to enjoy cooking real and nourishing meals for themselves and their children.

At Gunawirra, we believe cooking and sharing meals together is an event for growth, nourishment, family, confidence and culture and it can enrich health physically, mentally and spiritually.

“Our goal is to nourish a curiosity within the mothers and children about food health and healing. We incorporate cultural connection and indigenous wisdom on the seasons and harvesting of native animals and plants as well as their traditional uses and preparation methods that liberate more nutrients, reduce potential toxic substances and make foods more edible and tastier.”

Susan Kath
Young Aboriginal Mothers Program Nutritionist

Growth and Nourishment

Nutritious food is incredibly important for healthy growth and development of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island children. Our community nutritionist supports mothers in learning about how to best nourish themselves during all stages of motherhood. The program focuses on helping to support mothers to shop for and cook simple, affordable and nourishing meals for themselves and their babies, toddlers and preschoolers.

Our beautiful native garden was planted at Gunawirra in 2020 and is already becoming a resource for harvesting food. Sustainability is being implemented through recycling of food waste in the compost and worm bins so that they will provide nutrients to continue to sustain the garden.

Confidence and Community

Cooking and eating is a family, community and cultural activity that nourishes the body and mind. Our program is community focused and meals are eaten together with the Gunawirra family, reinforcing the social importance of how food brings us together and connects community. It also helps the children to develop healthier habits around eating behaviour.

Increasing variety and diversity of food choices and working to desensitise food challenges with the children is incorporated into the program. Our nutritionist provides additional support for managing fussy eating and emotional eating.

Culture

Gunawirra understands the importance of culture in developing a healthier relationship with food and cooking for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island mothers, families and communities. The mothers have access to a garden with lots of fresh produce. We also share traditional recipes from Aboriginal culture and discover about the medicinal properties of native bush food.

We are developing recipes incorporating native ingredients to continue to connect the community with their culture.

Download Native Cookbook

In partnership with Shared Knowledge

Drew Roberts is an Arakwal, Bundjalung man from the Northern Rivers who transfers knowledge to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island mothers at Gunawirra.

“At Shared Knowledge, we deliver an authentic Aboriginal experience on country around bush food identification, collection, processing and cooking. I am teaching the skills that I was lucky enough to grow up with. We look at songlines, with awareness to only collect certain things at certain times. This transfer of cultural knowledge is a part of their identity, and they can pass along this knowledge to their kids.”

Drew Roberts | Director at Shared Knowledge

Shared Knowledge is an Aboriginal-owned, small business that delivers customised Aboriginal cultural workshops, specialising in multifaceted, innovative and culturally incorporative practices. At Shared Knowledge they were taught that Knowledge is not something that you own in Aboriginal Nations, but something you share. Their vision is to contribute to a thriving Community with Responsibility, Respect and Reciprocity.

Growth and Nourishment

Confidence and Community

Culture

In partnership with Shared Knowledge

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