WA Secondary Schools Bush Food Competition - Pilbara and Kimberley Adventure.
WA Secondary School Bush Foods Competition: A Unique Opportunity for Teachers and Students Across WA
The WA Secondary School Bush Foods Competition is an exciting and meaningful program that goes far beyond a traditional cooking competition. It offers students and teachers a unique opportunity to explore Western Australia’s rich culture, connect with Country, and engage in hands-on learning that links directly to real-world career pathways.
Designed as a regional-to-metro initiative, the program brings together students from remote, regional, and metropolitan schools to celebrate bush foods, cultural knowledge, and creativity. It’s a competition with a difference — where storytelling, culture, and food come together on the plate.
Through a series of engaging workshops delivered across WA, students and educators are introduced to native ingredients and the stories behind them. Recent workshops in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions have highlighted the strength and generosity of local communities, with many remote schools sharing their seasonal bush foods and cultural knowledge. These sessions are guided by an outstanding team of mentors, including chefs Tanay Healy and Melissa Palinkas, alongside non-alcoholic beverage specialist Susan Whelan, who support students to transform native ingredients into contemporary and culturally respectful dishes.
For teachers, the program offers valuable professional learning and classroom engagement opportunities. Workshops are designed to build confidence in using bush foods within school programs and to connect curriculum outcomes with lived cultural experiences. Teachers gain access to industry insights while strengthening relationships with local communities, Elders, and producers.
For students, the competition provides hands-on, practical learning that builds skills in cooking, teamwork, creativity, and storytelling. Participants are guided by Elders, chefs, TAFE educators, and Prepare Produce Provide (PPP) youth ambassadors, creating a supportive and inspiring environment. The program empowers young people to take pride in culture, develop new skills, and explore pathways into hospitality, tourism, agriculture, and food industries.
The competition structure ensures accessibility for all schools. Regional heats are held across key areas, allowing students to participate within their own communities. Finalist teams are then invited to Perth for the State Showcase, where they experience professional kitchens, connect with industry mentors, and take part in high-level training opportunities.
Importantly, the program recognises the challenges faced by remote and regional schools. Flexible planning and strong partnerships help support participation despite travel barriers, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to be involved.
Students also have the opportunity to represent Western Australia on a national stage, with teams progressing to a national competition in Sydney. Looking ahead, expanded partnerships are opening even more doors — including support for an additional WA team and international pathways, such as participation in the Apprentice of the Year competition in Vietnam in 2027.
This program is about more than competition — it is about connection, culture, and creating futures. It strengthens relationships between schools and communities, celebrates First Nations knowledge, and inspires the next generation of leaders in food and agriculture.
To learn more or get involved, visit:
https://www.prepareproduceprovide.org/wa-secondary-schools-bush-foods-competition/overview
