Opportunities for Aboriginal involvement in Western Australia’s bushfood industry will be discussed at a two-day industry event and workshop in Roelands, near Bunbury, next month.
The Supporting Aboriginal businesses in the bushfood industry event aims to provide existing and aspiring business owners with key information and advice to help grow the emerging industry.
The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), in partnership with Outback Academy Australia, is hosting the free event on 2-3 November at Roelands Village.
DPIRD will also release two information guides ‘Setting up for success: Bushfoods’, and ‘Protection of Indigenous Ecological Knowledge for Bushfood Businesses’.
Aboriginal Economic Development manager Melissa Hartmann said the event was about supporting and celebrating Aboriginal businesses in the bushfoods industry.
“There has been a dramatic interest in animals, insects and plants traditionally used as food by Aboriginal people, commonly known as bushfoods,” Ms Hartmann said.
“For this event we will have presentations from industry leaders including Outback Academy Australia, ‘Dark Emu’ author Professor Bruce Pascoe, Binyaarns Bush Medicines’ Vivienne Hansen, Badgebup Aboriginal Corporation and Noongar Land Enterprises.
“There will also be a farm tour of Roelands Village, before ending the day with a bushfood catered sundowner.”
Ms Hartmann said a workshop would be held on the second day for participants to take part in bushfood product and business planning, led by Indigenous Business Australia (IBA).
Register online for day one industry presentations and sundowner [1] and day two workshop [2] or call 0459 867 908. Registrations are essential by 22 October 2021.
A targeted bushfoods event will be held in northern Western Australia in 2022.
[3]Media contact: Megan Broad/Donna Coleman, media liaison, +61 (0)8 9368 3937