Australia's first Aboriginal-owned chocolate company, Chocolate On Purpose, has been awarded funding through the NSW government's Regional Aboriginal Partnerships Program second round.
The grant will fund "Ngunggilanha Cultural Sensory Garden & Chocolate Nexus," a project combining chocolate production scaling with Cultural knowledge preservation.
Operating on Gundungurra Country, the Wiradyuri-owned business will establish a dedicated chocolate production facility alongside a native botanical garden. The project addresses a critical industry inequity: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people represent less than two per cent of Australia's native bushfood and botanical supply chain, despite it being built on the foundation of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual property.
Chocolate On Purpose founder and chief executive Fiona Harrison, said: "Our Cultural knowledge never disappeared - it went 'inside' during times when it wasn't safe to practice our traditions."
"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," she said.
The 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+; and the establishment of an immersive visitor experience.
The state government said 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.
Ms Harrison said the project "isn't just about scaling production".
"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," she said.
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 aims to strengthen Indigenous-led supply chains while preserving Cultural knowledge.
The funding supports 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+, a demographic facing increased risks of social isolation and homelessness.
Chocolate On Purpose is a certified social enterprise.
