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Sodexo Australia Supports Roebourne Community Garden in the Pilbara Region
Sodexo and Stop Hunger fund Roebourne’s new community garden to boost food security and create a vibrant local hub for wellbeing and connection.
Sodexo Australia and Stop Hunger are contributing $120,000 over the next three years to help boost food security and create a collaborative hub for the Ieramagadu community. Ieramugadu (Roebourne) locals and visitors celebrated the launch of the town’s first Community Garden on Tuesday 19th August, a project led by the Ieramugadu community.
When it comes to full maturity, the community-led garden will help supply fresh fruit and vegetables for the town’s only supermarket, Ieramugadu Store Maya, a social enterprise. It will also serve as a collaborative hub for education, mentoring and community gatherings.
Sean-Paul Stephens, CEO of Ngarluma-Yindjibarndi Foundation Ltd (NYFL), said that the lack of access to fresh food is a major barrier for the Roebourne community:
"The Ieramugadu community have championed Traditional Owner-led liveability, which in this community means more than houses and services — it’s about having spaces that nurture wellbeing and connection. The Elders have been clear that place-based healing is a priority in Ieramugadu, and this garden is a direct response to that vision. It’s a living symbol of the community shaping its own future."
The garden is designed to be fully circular, with food waste from the Store and Café composted into mulch. Community members are encouraged to bring their own food scraps to contribute to the composting efforts. Mr Stephens acknowledged:
"The garden is already sparking conversations about how culture, environment and community aspirations can come together. From traditional knowledge about planting seasons to innovative sustainability practices, this space brings people into dialogue about what a thriving and healthy Roebourne looks like."
In partnership with NYFL, Sodexo Australia and Stop Hunger are supporting the project to sow the seeds for long-term success. Once established, the garden will empower the community through collaborations with local schools, introducing activity programs that include hands-on horticultural training and skill development.
Roebourne Nannas, Nanna Pansy and Nanna Violet, and Senior men such as Elder Timmy Douglas, along with emerging leaders from across the community, are instrumental in this project. Their cultural knowledge and ongoing guidance are invaluable, particularly in advising on seasonal plant varieties that align with traditional practices.
The garden features shade trees, native groundcover and fruit trees, alongside bush foods and popular kitchen seedlings such as carrots, tomatoes and cucumbers.
Since the idea was first discussed, Ngarluma woman Dolly Samson has played an active role to help establish the garden.
“It's good for community to have the garden. They know they have a place where they can go and enjoy food and grow whatever they want to grow. It's important for everyone to know that we are growing food for our community to share."
Keith Weston, Managing Director of food and facilities management company Sodexo Australia said that he was delighted to see the community-led initiative come to life in Roebourne and that its concept stands as a symbol of women's empowerment, making it Sodexo’s first joint initiative of its kind under this banner in Australia. She said:
"Women play an essential role in the fight against hunger, especially in vulnerable communities. By empowering women and their communities, and ensuring access to food relief in remote and regional areas, we can make a meaningful difference. Sodexo Australia and Stop Hunger are deeply honoured to support this vital work."
According to the WA Council of Social Service (WACOSS), rural and remote communities in the Pilbara are 30% more likely to experience food insecurity compared to urban households. Chronic food insecurity leads families to choose less nutritious foods, resulting in higher obesity rates and creating negative impacts on employment, education, economic prospects, and mental health.
The official opening of the garden took place on Tuesday 19 August at 42 Roe St, behind the NYFL offices. The activities began with a Welcome to Country, followed by an introduction, garden tours, a community impact discussion, and a BBQ celebration.
Source: Sodexo & Stop Hunger
