IndigiGrow is a small business incubator for Aboriginal people in the horticulture space, giving indigenous people and unemployed youth-at-risk access to industry experience. It sustains people, land and culture through the propagation and growing of Australian native edible plants in the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS).
Created in 2018, IndigiGrow is a social enterprise based at La Perouse Public School Sydney, NSW. It employs 10 local Aboriginal staff including 7 Aboriginal apprentices. It operates an online shop and also has a retail nursery is at La Perouse Public School and a wholesale nursery at Matraville Sports High School.
IndigiGrow is underpinned by Culture, Connection to Country & Caring for Country, utilising native plants to pass down traditional knowledge and stories from elders to its young apprentices to instil a strong cultural foundation and connection to country whilst building resilience and identity.
In addition to focussing on education and training young Aboriginal people within a high demand sector, IndigiGrow helps Aboriginal people overcome barriers to inclusion and participation by ensuring that Aboriginal cultural knowledge is understood, respected & protected. This project is a working model that shows not only urban communities how to live sustainably, but also a scalable model for regional & remote communities.
IndigiGrow is fostering biodiversity and fauna habitats by replenishing many native species that are important to Aboriginal culture and the local ecosystem. It breaks down cultural barriers through a better understanding and appreciation of native plants & bushfoods, fostering a more inclusive community by providing opportunities for Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to come together around common themes.