Power Up
4 Dust Up builds community connections

There was plenty of energy in our commercial kitchen during the last week of July as students, volunteers and community members came together for the Power Up 4 Dust Up program.

The initiative brings together young people from metropolitan and remote communities across Western Australia to prepare thousands of meals that will support the annual Dust Up Sports Carnival in the Ngaanyatjarra Lands.

More than just a meal preparation project, the program creates opportunities for participants to connect through food, shared experiences and cultural exchange.

This year was particularly special, with students from the Ngaanyatjarra Lands travelling to Perth to take part in the meal preparation process. Working alongside volunteers, students and community members, they helped prepare and package meals that will be transported to support the carnival, while also sharing stories about life in their communities and the importance of the Dust Up.

We were also honoured to welcome His Excellency the Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM, Governor of Western Australia, and Mrs Darrilyn Dawson, who visited us during the week to see the program in action. They met participants, learnt more about the initiative and saw first-hand how food can help build connections between people and communities across the state.

The program continues through to the Dust Up Sports Carnival itself, a much-anticipated event that brings together more than 350 students and their communities from across the Central Desert to celebrate sport, culture, music and community connection.

By working side by side in a commercial kitchen environment, participants gain practical skills while contributing to an initiative that supports young people living in remote Western Australia. The experience highlights the power of food to bring people together, creating opportunities for learning, teamwork and greater cultural understanding.

We are proud to be part of a program that helps provide nutritious meals while strengthening connections between communities. Through collaboration, cultural exchange and a shared commitment to supporting young people, Power Up 4 Dust Up continues to demonstrate the positive impact that can be achieved when people come together with a common purpose.

Published on 19 August 2026.