Thriving Communities
DRIVING BETTER HEALTH THROUGH NUTRITION
EON’s Thriving Communities Program is at the heart of our mission: improving health and wellbeing in remote communities by tackling preventable diseases caused by poor nutrition.
We partner with schools and communities to establish edible gardens that provide access to fresh produce. Alongside them, we deliver nutrition education and cooking classes, teaching children and families how to grow and prepare healthy meals that taste great.
Each program is tailored to the unique needs of the community. A dedicated EON Project Manager works consistently in community over the long term, supported by local Community Assistants who provide valuable local knowledge and on-the-ground support.
Beyond the school gates, we extend the reach and impact into the broader community, offering adult nutrition, cooking and home gardening workshops.
THE HEALTH GAP IN NUMBERS
POOR NUTRITION HAS DEVASTATING – BUT PREVENTABLE – IMPACTS ON REMOTE ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES
20x higher rates of kidney failure
High rates of type 2 diabetes
14% of children under 5 have malnutrition
60% of children affected by anaemia
2 in 5 people aged 7+ have hearing loss in one or both ears
11 year gap in life expectancy
EDIBLE GARDENS
HEALTHY FOOD GROWN LOCALLY
We create edible gardens with vegetables, fruit, herbs and bush tucker chosen to thrive in local conditions. These gardens provide hands-on learning for children and adults, teaching how to grow, harvest and prepare fresh produce. They also supply free, nutritious food while serving as vibrant outdoor classrooms and gathering places that bring communities together.
HEALTHY EATING
NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR LIFE
We teach children and families about the health benefits of fresh food, healthy cooking and balanced diets. Using produce from our gardens, we deliver cooking and nutrition education in primary and high schools, as well as community workshops for adults to promote lifelong healthy eating habits.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
LOCAL JOBS, LOCAL GROWTH
We provide training and skills development, creating job opportunities in community. Local Community Assistants are employed to maintain gardens, building local capacity to ensure the program’s sustainability in the long term. Many go on to further employment in community, helping strengthen local economies.
Our reach
BUILDING HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES ACROSS AUSTRALIA
Since its inception, the Thriving Communities program has reached over 45 communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory, engaging thousands of children and families. By combining local food production, nutrition education and long-term support, the program gives communities the tools to improve nutrition, build practical skills and create stronger, healthier futures.
Our ImpactLegend
Current full program
Current extension program
Completed program
Yarralin
Yarralin sits on the banks of the Wickham River within the Ngalkarrang-Wulngann Aboriginal Land Trust. Access via picturesque Jasper Gorge is often cut off during the wet season. EON has partnered with the community and school since 2022.
Kalkaringi
The Gurindji people are the Traditional Owners of lands around Kalkaringi and nearby Daguragu. The 1966 Wave Hill walk-off sparked Australia’s land rights movement. The local school serves both communities. EON’s program commenced in 2022.
Kadjina
Kadjina, near the southern foothills of the St George Ranges, holds deep cultural significance through ancestral connections to Walmajarri and Nyikina Law. Wullungarra is an Aboriginal Independent Community School. EON partnered with the community from 2010.
Koorabye
Koorabye is a small community home to Ngalapita School, named after a nearby billabong central to community life. Many residents have cultural affiliations with the Walmatjarri people of the Great Sandy Desert. EON partnered with the community from 2013.
Aeryonga
Areyonga, or Utju, sits at the western end of the MacDonnell Ranges. The population predominantly speak Pitjantjatjara, having come from the Petermann Ranges when forced to leave their country during a long drought. Their EON partnership commenced in March 2026.
Kalumburu
Kalumburu, on the banks of the King Edward River, is WA’s northernmost Aboriginal community. It is home to the Kwini and Kulari people, alongside other groups in the region. EON partnered with the community between 2013 and 2017.
Djarindjin-Lombadina
Home to the Bardi people, Djarindjin-Lombadina on the Dampier Peninsula hosted EON’s first pilot garden and program. Its success grew into the Thriving Communities Program, now supporting healthier food practices across remote communities throughout Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
One Arm Point
Also know as Ardyaloon or Bardi, and located at the tip of the Dampier Peninsular, One Arm Point is home to the Bardi/Jawi people. The community and school partnered with EON for over 5 years from 2008.
Derby
Between 2013 and 2015 EON partnered with the West Kimberley Regional Prison in Derby to deliver a horticultural training program to women in the prison.
Jarlmadangah Burru
Located in the Kimberley’s Grant Ranges near the Fitzroy River, Jarlmadangah Burru Aboriginal Community upholds Nyikina-Mangala Law and Culture. The school reflects this identity. EON partnered with the community to deliver the Thriving Communities program from 2016.
Yungngora
The Yungngora people were recognised as native title holders over Noonkanbah Station in 2007. Kulkarria Community School sits at the heart of the community and fosters Walmajarri and Nyikina languages. EON partnered with the community from 2008 to 2016.
Wangkatjungka
Wangkatjungka community sits within the Kurungal native title area, east of Fitzroy Crossing. The Remote Community School support students in learning and maintaining the local Walmajarri language. EON partnered with the school and community between 2013 and 2017.
Doon Doon
The Woolah Community, also known as Doon Doon, sits within a 1-million acre Aboriginal-owned cattle station. The community is predominantly Gija people. EON partnered with the community from 2013-2018.
Milyakburra
Milyakburra is located on Bickerton Island west of Groote Eylandt within the Anindilyakwa Land Trust. Anindilyakwa is the predominant language. EON partnered with the community from 2018-2023.
Umbakumba
Umbakumba is located on the north east coast of Groote Eylandt and is part of the Anindilyakwa Land Trust. Anindilyakwa is the predominant language. EON partnered with the community from 2018-2023.
Angurugu
Angurugu is located on the banks of the Angurugu River half way down the western coast of Groote Eylandt and within the Anindilyakwa Land Trust. Anindilyakwa is the predominant language. EON partnered with the community from 2018-2023.
Urapunga (Rittarangu)
Rittarangu is located east of Katherine on the Urapunga Aboriginal Land Trust between the Wilton and Roper River. EON partnered with the community between 2018 – 2022.
Hermannsburg
Known locally as Ntaria, Hermannsburg sits on the banks of the Finke River in the traditional lands of the Western Arrarnta people. The Ntaria School reinforces Western Arranta culture and language. Their partnership with EON commenced in March 2026.
Santa Teresa
The Arrernte name for Santa Teresa, established as a Catholic Mission, is Ltyentye Apurte, meaning ‘clump of beefwood trees’. The community’s Catholic school goes by the Arrernte name. Their EON partnership commenced in March 2026.
Jigalong
The Pilbara community of Jigalong, home to the Martu people, sits on the western edge of the Great Sandy Desert. EON partnered with the school and community to deliver the Thriving Communities Program from 2017 to 2022.
Beagle Bay
Home to the Nyul Nyul people, Beagle Bay is a remote community on the Dampier Penisular. They partnered with EON from 2008 to deliver the Thriving Communities Program. The partnership continued in various forms for over 10 years.
Broome (Milliya Rumarra)
Milliya Rumurra Aboriginal Corporation is an Alcohol and Other Drug Rehabilitation Centre located in Broome. EON partnered with Milliya Rumurra (meaning First Day or New Day) to run an edible garden and healthy eating program between 2015 and 2017.
Yandeyarra
The remote Aboriginal community of Yandeyarra, within the pastoral station of the same name, is part of Kariyarra country. The school teaches Nyangumarta language, and EON partnered with the community from 2014 to 2020. (38 words)
South Hedland
Located in the Pilbara, South Hedland Primary School caters for a majority cohort of Aboriginal students. EON partnered with the school, and the associated Early Learning Centre, in delivering a very successful Thriving Communities Program from 2014 to 2020.
Warralong
Warralong, a remote Pilbara Aboriginal Community, is home primarily to Nyangumarta people. Strelley Community School, the oldest operational Independent Aboriginal Community School in Australia, sits at the heart of the community. EON partnered with them from 2014 to 2020.
Marble Bar
The East Pilbara town of Marble Bar partnered with EON from 2016 to 2022 to deliver the Thriving Communities Program. The Nyamal people are the recognised traditional owners, holding native title to protect their heritage and culture.
Nullagine
Nullagine, an East Pilbara town with a strong Aboriginal community closely connected to Irrungadji, is on Nyamal country. From 2016 to 2022, the community partnered with EON to deliver the Thriving Communities Program.
Alice Springs
Yipirinya is an Aboriginal community controlled independent school located in Alice Springs. Since beginning their partnership with EON in 2024, the program has become a core part of school and community activities, centred around a productive fruit and vegetable garden.
Ampilatwatja
Ampilatwatja, a 4-hour drive from Alice Springs, is located on Aherrenge Aboriginal Land Trust. Their partnership with EON begin in 2024. Two years on, the program is embedded across school and community life, with a thriving garden as its centrepiece.
Urapunga
Rittarangu (or Urapunga) is located on the Urapunga Aboriginal Land Trust between the Wilton and Roper River. The school and community partnered with EON from 2019 to deliver the five-year Thriving Communities Program. A former EON employee continues to maintain an edible garden.
Ngukurr
Ngukurr is located on the banks of the Roper River south east of Katherine and is part of the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust. The school and community partnered with EON from 2019 to deliver the five-year Thriving Communities Program.
Bulman
Bulman is located on the Arnhem Land Aboriginal Land Trust. The school and community partnered with EON from 2019 to deliver the five-year Thriving Communities Program.
Katherine (Clyde Fenton PS)
Clyde Fenton School in Katherine, which serves a predominantly Aboriginal student cohort, began its partnership with EON in 2021. Following a successful five-year Thriving Communities Program, the school is now looking to move toward EON-supported independent delivery.
Katherine (MacFarlane PS)
MacFarlane Primary School in Katherine, with a majority of Aboriginal students, partnered with EON from 2021 to deliver the 5-year Thriving Communities Program and is now keen to progress toward EON-supported independent delivery.
Beswick
Wugularr (formerly Beswick), on the Waterhouse River, partnered with EON for the five-year Thriving Communities Program. The program is now in support phase, with quarterly visits, regular contact, and ongoing strong engagement with the CDP.
Bulla
Bulla is located in the Victoria Daly region, close to the Judbarra National Park. EON’s partnership with Amanbidji commenced in late 2025. With input from the community and the school, preparatory planning and work for edible garden spaces is underway.
Meekatharra
From 2019, EON partnered with Meekatharra on a successful five-year program and now supports the community with independent delivery through fortnightly visits. Senior students are working through ACCRA-aligned modules on Edible Gardening and Healthy Eating, opening up future employment pathways.
Bidyadanga
Bidyadanga is WA’s largest remote Aboriginal community. EON’s five-year core program was successfully delivered from 2015–2020. The program continues to be well-embedded in the school and used for cross-curricula teaching. EON provides support through quarterly visits and remote guidance.
Looma
Looma, on Nyikina and Mangala Country in the Kimberley, partnered with EON from 2015–2020. They now manage a community garden, supported by ongoing EON guidance. It’s a teaching tool and provides fresh produce for families and services including aged care.
Yakanarra
Yakanarra, on land connected to the Kimberley’s Walmajarri people, at the base of the St Georges Ranges, partnered in EON’s intensive delivery from 2015–2020. The relationship continues, with EON supporting independent delivery, including school classes and community garden enterprises.
Yiyili
Yiyili, on land of the Kimberley’s Gooniyandi people at the Margaret River floodplain fringe, partnered with EON for a successful five-year program. The partnership continues, with EON supporting long-term local employees to deliver key program elements, including home gardens.
Frog Hollow
Frog Hollow, a Kimberley community strongly connected to nearby Purnululu National Park, began its partnership with EON in 2024. Close school–community ties support integrated delivery of the Thriving Communities Program across both settings, with local employment a key feature.
Warmun
Warmun, on Gija Country in the East Kimberley, partnered with EON from 2013 on a successful five-year program. In 2024, the community sought EON’s support to reinvigorate the community’s gardens for a source of fresh produce and a healthy eating teaching tool.
Wyndham
EON’s five-year program began at St Joseph’s School, Wyndham, in 2024. Students created edible garden spaces, and hands-on nutrition classes became part of the timetable. Engagement extends to the wider community through a project with the Early Learning Centre.
Timber Creek
Timber Creek, located in the Victoria River escarpment country near Judbarra National Park, commenced the EON program late in 2025, thanks to funding from Aboriginal Investment NT. Students and community members are enthusiastically participating in edible garden design and construction.
Amanbidji
Amanbidji is located on the Nagurunguru Aboriginal Land Trust in the Victoria Daly region. EON’s partnership with Amanbidji commenced in late 2025. With input from the community and the school, preparatory planning and work for edible garden spaces is underway.
Pine Creek
From 2019, EON partnered with Pine Creek on a successful five-year program. With renewed interest in maintaining both community and school gardens, EON provides support and guidance through quarterly visits and regular communication.
Barunga
Situated on Jawoyn land and known for the annual Barunga Festival, Barunga partnered with EON from 2019 on a successful five-year program. With regular EON support, the community continues to maintain a thriving garden which supplies fresh produce and supports nutrition lessons and workshops.
Jilkminggan
Jilkminggan, near Elsey National Park on Mangarrayi Aboriginal Trust Land, partnered with EON from 2019–23 on the Thriving Communities Program. Strong school and community demand sees EON continue fortnightly visits, supporting the move toward independent program delivery.
Minyerri
Minyerri, on Alawa land west of the Hodgson River, partnered with EON from 2019 for a five-year program. With strong community and school interest in independent delivery, EON continues regular visits, collaboration with the FaFT program a key program strength.
Rangeway
Rangeway in Geraldton has strongly embraced the EON program. At the predominantly Aboriginal school, nutrition education is embedded and productive gardens support cross-curricula learning, with regular workshops extending the program into the wider Aboriginal community.
Mount Magnet
From 2019, EON partnered with Mount Magnet on a successful five-year program and now supports the community with independent delivery through fortnightly visits. Students, with an EON Community Assistant, take responsibility for maintaining productive gardens and sharing the produce with community.
Yalgoo
From 2019, EON partnered with the small Mid-West community of Yalgoo on a successful five-year program, and now supports the community to independently deliver key program elements. The employment of local Aboriginal community members has been a major strength throughout.
Mullewa
In 2025 EON partnered with Mullewa, on Southern Yamaji Country, establishing school edible gardens and embedding nutrition education into the timetable. The program is now extending into the community through a project with the local Aboriginal women’s art centre.
PROGRAM DELIVERY
DESIGNED BY COMMUNITIES, FOR COMMUNITIES
Community Engagement
For 20 years, EON has only entered communities by invitation. Community leaders reach out to us because they see the impact of declining health and want to take charge of their own future through preventative measures. Each EON community partnership is a multiyear engagement, allowing time for healthy habits to take root and real outcomes to emerge.
In the first phase, we work with school staff, Traditional Owners and community leaders to understand local opportunities. By co-designing the program from the ground up, we ensure the program is tailored, relevant and effective. EON walks alongside communities, supporting self-determination and building programs that are sustainable and aligned with their unique needs.
delivery
Together with EON staff, children and community members create and nurture gardens – planting, maintaining and harvesting. We provide the training, infrastructure and support needed to make it thrive. A dedicated EON Project Manager becomes part of the school, overseeing the management of the garden and running fortnightly classes with every year group.
The garden becomes an outdoor classroom, with curriculum-aligned lessons weaving in science, literacy, numeracy and communication. Students learn the joy of growing food and the importance of eating well, with clear links to health outcomes such as preventing type 2 diabetes.
extension
As the gardens flourish, opportunity and knowledge grows, the program expands into high schools, creating pathways for training and employment. This includes horticulture, gardening and enterprises where products made from garden produce are sold at local stores and markets. Some participants go on to work in the EON school nutrition program, aged care services or community stores.
Schools are supported to develop initiatives that fit their strengths and needs, from canteen programs to teacher-led nutrition lessons, while Project Managers provide ongoing guidance.
Beyond schools, the program can expand into other community spaces, with adult cooking workshops or home garden projects further extending the impact.
support
Towards the end of the initial 5-year engagement, our support shifts to mentoring, resource provision and technical advice, with Project Managers visiting around once a term to deliver programs based on school needs.
Communities receive lesson materials, practical modules and ongoing guidance to keep the work going. By fostering local employment and building capacity within the community, we ensure that the momentum is maintained and the impact felt for years to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find out more about how our program works, how we partner with communities and how your support helps create lasting change.
EON works only in communities that invite us. Local leaders reach out because they see a need and want support to make meaningful change. This ensures our programs are welcomed, culturally respectful and tailored to each community’s unique priorities.
In remote communities, isolation means that fresh food is often hard to access or expensive. For many children, this means going to school hungry, struggling to concentrate, feeling low on energy and missing out on learning. Focusing on school aged children ensures healthy habits, knowledge and skills take root early. Early intervention introduces children to a variety of healthy foods, broadens their palates and empowers them to make better choices – with lasting benefits for their health and development.
Access to fresh food alone isn’t enough. Teaching children and families how to prepare, cook and enjoy healthy meals ensures that produce is actually eaten and that healthy habits stick. Our lessons are hands-on, interactive and age-appropriate, showing children how to make fresh, nutritious food taste delicious.
We monitor progress through a structured framework, collecting both quantitative data (such as number of classes delivered, produce grown, or health statistics) and qualitative feedback from principals, teachers, students and families. Independent evaluations confirm the program delivers strong health, education and social outcomes. Visit our Impact page for more.
Beyond schools, we run adult cooking and nutrition workshops and support home gardens. Additionally, our Community Assistants receive training and employment opportunities that frequently lead to further jobs in the community, strengthening local economies and building capacity.
Meaningful, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Our program operates on multi-year partnerships – typically five years – because building healthy habits, practical skills and sustainable community programs takes time. We only enter a community when we can fund and resource the program properly, ensuring dedicated Project Managers, local Community Assistants and ongoing support are in place from day one. Long-term funding also allows gardens to thrive, programs to expand beyond classrooms into homes and community spaces, and the ripple effects on improved health and wellbeing become visible.
EON designs all programs in close consultation with community leaders and Traditional Owners. As an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) with a majority Aboriginal board and leadership team, we embed cultural knowledge and local perspectives in every aspect of our work. By engaging deeply with schools, families and elders, we ensure programs respect local customs, support self-determination and create meaningful, sustainable outcomes for communities.
While most donations go towards delivering the program across all communities, we do offer tailored partnership opportunities for organisations and major donors who would like to support specific communities.