$500k investment to support Bushfood businesses in WA

By PETER ROWE

A one-stop shop to support Aboriginal Bushfood Businesses has been launched in WA thanks to a $500,000 joint investment from the State and Federal Governments.

Regional Development Minister Don Punch launched the first specialist support program on Tuesday at Nambeelup in the Peel region.

“I was delighted to tour the new Aboriginal Bushfood Business Base today and see first-hand the potential of this unique initiative across regional Western Australia,” Mr Punch said.

“This program addresses the demand for business support specific to Aboriginal businesses, which builds on their capacity to increase ownership in the bushfood industry.”

The program has been developed through the Future Drought Fund for Farm Business Resilience.

The Food Innovation Precinct in the Peel region of Western Australia.

The base provides a ‘one-stop shop’ with space to conduct workshops, client meetings and events to showcase Aboriginal bushfood businesses to the wider food and beverage industry.

It is located adjacent to the Sustainable Innovative Food Technologies Centre which allows access to expert advice and specialist equipment to develop and trial new bushfood product lines.

Available services will include a combination of State-wide bushfood business workshops, individual client support, industry forums and connection events.

Training and capacity building workshops will be co-designed with business and industry expertise, supported by delivery partners Outback Academy Australia and the WA Indigenous Tourism Operators Council.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is delivering targeted programs in partnership with Aboriginal organisations bringing international expertise as part of the program.