Australia’s first First Nations-owned chocolate company, Chocolate On Purpose, has been awarded funding through the NSW Government’s Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program (RAPP) Round 2.

The grant will fund the Ngunggilanha Cultural Sensory Garden & Chocolate Nexus – a project that will combine chocolate production scaling with Cultural knowledge preservation.

Chocolate On Purpose founder and Wiradyuri woman Fiona Harrison said the project would address a critical industry inequity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people currently represent less than 2 per cent of Australia’s native bushfood and botanical supply chain. This disparity is more pronounced for women, who are traditionally the matriarchal keepers of these plant-knowledge systems.

“Our Cultural knowledge never disappeared – it went ‘inside’ during times when it wasn’t safe to practice our traditions,” Fiona said.

“Through ‘waynha’ – the Wiradyuri word for transformation – we’re creating spaces where this wisdom can re-emerge through working with native plants and sharing our stories through chocolate.”

The Ngunggilanha Cultural Sensory Garden & Chocolate Nexus project includes:
• Creation of a dedicated chocolate production facility
• Development of a native sensory garden in collaboration with Indigigrow, an Aboriginal-owned and managed Australian native plant nursery specialising in critically endangered bushfood plants and employment of disadvantaged youth.
• Implementation of an integrated employment strategy for local Aboriginal women aged 45-plus.
• Establishment of an immersive visitor experience

The enhanced production infrastructure will enable Chocolate On Purpose to scale operations while maintaining Cultural integrity.

Visitors will experience a complete sensory journey – touching, smelling, and learning about native botanicals before tasting their transformation through chocolate.

“This isn’t just about scaling production,” Fiona said.

“Research shows that when Aboriginal people engage in ancestral activities, it triggers healing responses. By combining chocolate-making with native botanicals, we’re creating meaningful employment that connects with Culture while addressing the significant underrepresentation of women in the native bushfood industry.”

The native sensory garden will showcase the botanicals used in Chocolate On Purpose’s products, offering visitors direct connection with ingredients and their stories. Through collaboration with Indigenous-owned Indigigrow, the project strengthens Indigenous-led supply chains while preserving Cultural knowledge.

This funding will also help support Chocolate On Purpose’s commitment to maintaining 100 per cent Aboriginal ownership while scaling operations to create sustainable employment opportunities, particularly for Aboriginal women aged 45-plus, a demographic of all Australian women facing increased risks of social isolation and homelessness.