A new Aboriginal commercial catering venture in the Bega Valley is set to teach young Indigenous people to grow native plants, cook with them, and supply bush tucker to corporate catering clients and local tourism operators.
The Bega Local Aboriginal Land Council (LALC) has received $231,000 from the NSW Government to establish the bushfoods business using produce from its nursery and supplying product to its mobile youth catering service based out of Tathra.
The Katt-Hoo youth training café and Catering is part of the Bega LALC youth programs, providing young Indigenous people with opportunities to develop hospitality skills in a supportive environment.
The funding will help support the development of a commercial kitchen, including purchasing essential equipment, for hiring mentors and coaches, and for a new delivery van.
As well as giving young Aboriginal people the opportunity to learn how to grow, harvest and prepare native plants for use in cooking, the project will also teach them about circular systems that reduce waste and return nutrients back to Country through composting.
“This initiative is a powerful example of the great outcomes that can be achieved when Aboriginal entrepreneurship. culture and leadership are supported,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty, David Harris.
“By combining cultural knowledge with practical training and hands‑on experience, the Bega LALC is creating pathways that will empower young people for years to come.
“The Minns Government is proud to back projects like this that strengthen culture, build skills and create meaningful employment opportunities for Aboriginal communities across the state.”
He said the initiative will play an important role in opening long-term employment pathways for young Aboriginal people in the Bega Valley, where, according to Census data, the average age of Aboriginal people is 22 compared to 52 across the broader community.
The initiative currently supports several young people, including a nursery worker, four baristas and catering staff and two young mums leading the catering team. Additional young people are being invited to undertake work experience, gaining introductory skills in operations, marketing and social media.
“I will be able to grow technical skills in hospitality and learn how a commercial catering enterprise is established from the ground up,” said program participant, Kyra Kelly.
“This opportunity will be a valuable learning opportunity that will enable me to think more broadly about my future career and maybe even one day I can start up my own business.”
“This project will help us build a flexible and skilled workforce who can share bush tucker and culture with the wider community,” said Bega LALC CEO, Leanne Atkinson.
“Local young Aboriginal people will learn to grow native plants, cook with them, and supply the end product to our mobile café, corporate catering clients and local tourism operators where they can share the stories behind the ingredients.
“Alongside horticulture and hospitality skills, they’ll build confidence, teamwork and entrepreneurial skills that may lead to them establishing their own enterprise in the future.”
The project will also enable the passing on of cultural knowledge and learnings from Aboriginal Elders and community to youth within the region, said Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty.
“The NSW Government is backing Aboriginal businesses to build new opportunities that support economic independence and deliver real benefits for local communities,” she said.
“The Bega LALC’s horticulture and circularity project will help young Aboriginal people gain practical skills, strengthen cultural knowledge, and develop a pathway to long-term employment.”
The project has received support through the Aboriginal Economic Development Package, funded under the Minns Government’s $400 million Regional Development Trust.
For more information, go to: nsw.gov.au/regionaldevelopmenttrust.
