Named Boodja to Bowl – a title chosen by the community – the booklet reflects a shared commitment to celebrating food, culture and lived experience.

The project is being guided by ongoing consultation with a group of local Elders and community members, whose recipes, ideas and perspectives are shaping the booklet from start to finish.

EMHS is funding and leading the project, while our Nutrition and Education team is responsible for the nutritional analysis, recipe testing, photography and graphic design of the booklet.

Central to the project is the Aboriginal consultation group, which meets at Langford Aboriginal Association and leads all decisions around recipe sourcing and selection, book content, artwork and design.

This collaboration represents the first recipe booklet of its kind in the East Metropolitan catchment to be developed through full, end‑to‑end consultation with Aboriginal communities.

To date, the group has sourced and selected the final 10 recipes to be included in Boodja to Bowl, with decisions made across several community consultations. Foodbank WA Nutrition Education Team has completed the nutritional analysis and supported two community cook-ups, providing opportunities to test the recipes and gather feedback directly from the community.

In mid‑April, the project reached another milestone with a two‑day photoshoot capturing the final dishes and step‑by‑step methods. Making the shoot all the more meaningful was that Aboriginal Health Promotion staff from EMHS and local Aboriginal community members featuring as hand models throughout.

This school term, EMHS is extending the project into local primary schools through an art competition, inviting Aboriginal students to submit artwork for inclusion on the cover and within the pages of the booklet. The winning student will receive a nom! session for their school and an individual prize pack.

Boodja to Bowl is expected to be finalised early in the new financial year, bringing together months of collaboration, creativity and community leadership into a resource that truly reflects country, culture and community. Watch this space!