FareShare’s Brisbane kitchen is committed to finding ways to address critical difficulties faced by First Nations peoples in accessing affordable, nutritious food.
Heart Futures, one of our Indigenous charity partners, focuses on strengthening communities and closing the gap through the power of food and education. Heart Futures distributes FareShare meals to regional communities around New South Wales and Queensland.
When we give out FareShare meals to our communities’ most vulnerable, we are reminded of this beautiful picture of reconciliation, what it truly means to stick together, and how blessed we are to be in a position to give. I am filled with joy that our partnership with FareShare has resulted in the lives of First Nation people being significantly impacted in Yugembeh (Gold Coast), Bundjalung (Tweed Heads & Northern NSW) Turrbal & Jegera (Brisbane) and Kuku Yalanji Nation (Cape York).
Levi-Joel Tamou, Co-Founder of Heart Futures.
Providing nutritious meals is one step. Educating communities about the benefits of eating well is also vital with many of the poor health outcomes experienced by Indigenous communities linked to poor diet. Recently, Levi sat down with nurse Lee from Bugalwena General Practice in the Tweed Shire to discuss the importance of nutritious meals.
‘Some of the major challenges seen in Indigenous diet-related health is the lack of awareness around the importance of looking after yourself and how eating well will benefit you in the future by lowering your risk of diabetes and heart disease,’ she said.
‘If people are homeless or living in motels, they don’t have the facilities to cook for themselves. Usually, they’ll only have access to a microwave and that’s why a FareShare meal is so great as all you have to is heat it up.’
Sam, a Bundjalung woman and member of the Tweed Shire, says the meals are making a difference.
‘Everyone is really appreciative of the FareShare meals we receive from Bugalwena General Practice. In our complex, there are elders, singles, and families, and it means a lot to have the support when you’re struggling. The meals are easy to heat up, healthy and get us eating all kinds of new foods. I am yet to have one I haven’t liked.’
