Dear Educators

Aboriginal students from your school are invited to participate in the Djinda Ngardak (DN) Culinary Youth Program – Bunbury.

Students participate in different intercultural activities such as identifying traditional foods and designing art pieces. They will visit different sites while sharing stories and participating in team exercises to build knowledge and resilience. The activities are facilitated by renowned Aboriginal elders and leading WA chefs. In 2025 these included Paul “Yoda” Iskov (Fervor), Melissa Palinkas (Young George), Romain Lassaille (Maison Lassialle), our PPP Head Chef Tanya Healy and well-known Chef Dan Lyndon. You can find out more about these Chef’s here.

The program supports strong cultural values while developing different skills and an understanding of the hospitality industry. Throughout the program students and teachers will be involved in masterclasses working with industry professionals and elders to develop artworks and food dishes using indigenous and local produce. The experience will culminate in preparing and serving high tea and supper on the final evening.

To support the program, DN will be partnering with the Southern Regional TAFE. The culinary experiences often extend past the classroom to support job opportunities and pathways for further education and training in a range of fields.

The workshops, masterclasses and various activities are mapped to competencies for Cert I & II Hospitality and the Aboriginal Cultural Standards Framework. This will allow students to meet a variety of elements and criteria towards their final qualification(s). For teachers, this experience contributes to the requirements for industry currency and is an opportunity for professional development and networking.

Djinda Ngardak is a Nationally accredited and endorsed program.