Winner: Secretary’s Award
Finalist: Environmental Sustainability Award
The Bundaleer Project is a sustainability initiative enabling First Nations patients to give back to the community, build a connection to Country, whilst simultaneously reducing the hospital's environmental footprint.
The project supports rehabilitation through education and the growing of native plants and bush foods. With more than 16% of Forensic Hospital patients identifying as First Nations, the initiative improves mental health, cultural identity, and allows patients within a high secure mental health facility to meaningfully contribute to their community.
Supported by $25,000 from the NSW Health Sustainable Futures Innovation Fund, the project secured a greenhouse, a shade house, a rainwater tank, and a native stingless beehive.
As part of Bundaleer, local Aboriginal company IndigiGrow delivers a fortnightly program where patients learn to grow native plants using traditional knowledge and methods passed down from Elders. The program strengthens cultural connections, encouraging hands-on engagement with Country.
To date, patients have grown more than 4,000 native plants, including Wattle, Rosella, and the critically endangered Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub. Over 500 plants have been donated to local schools replenishing native species, supporting climate resilience, and increasing biodiversity. The project has also developed a unique partnership with Randwick City Council, now donating 150 native plants grown within the project, every month to the Australian Citizenship Ceremony, for each new Citizen to be given a plant as their ceremonial gift, a source of pride for the patients and organisation.
Meet the other finalists for the Environmental Sustainability Award.
