Planting the Seed: Revitalising Australia's Native Flora
IndigiGrow's initiative on how we can all play an important role in native plant restoration and biodiversity by reintroducing endangered local plants.
Arts Centre/Bula'Bula Arts/Daphne Banyawarra.jpegFirst Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
IndigiGrow is a 100% Aboriginal-owned and run nursery
IndigiGrow is a not-for-profit native plant project that sustains people, land and culture through the propagation of local critically endangered native plants and the revival and sharing of cultural knowledge with the plants on offer to the general public.
IndigiGrow native plant seedsFirst Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
Founded by First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
IndigiGrow supports and employs local young Indigenous apprentices and senior staff in permanent, culturally safe and supportive jobs on country. The IndigiGrow team passes down traditional knowledge to its young Indigenous staff who pass this on to visitors to the nursery.
Indigigrow native plant, Peter CooleyFirst Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
Reviving the local endangered plant community
The Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub (ESBS), is currently listed as critically endangered by State & Federal Governments with only 3% of ESBS remaining on Sydney’s coastline between the Royal National Park, in the south, and North Head on Sydney Harbour.
Exploring native flora on Adnyamathanha Country at Wilpena Pound Resort (2018) by Tourism AustraliaOriginal Source: Tourism Australia Image Gallery
Caring for Country
IndigiGrow’s recently launched Caring for Country program offers the community access to affordable native plants whilst educating them on the benefits of planting natives, ensuring communities work alongside IndigiGrow to speed up the process of increasing biodiversity.
Wider community access to engage and learn about culture
IndigiGrow helps drive biodiversity by focusing on hard-to-grow plants that need the care and culture of their young staff who are trained to grow them on Country with the guidance of elders and senior staff.
Arts Centre/Injalak Arts/Djibigula Djayhgurrnga.jpegFirst Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
Connecting to Country
“Plants are connectors. They connect all of us regardless of age, background and gender,” explains Peter Cooley, CEO of First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation, whose passion for native plants, sustainability and increasing biodiversity is at the forefront of IndigiGrow.
IndigiGrow Plant Nursery_teamFirst Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation
Positive social change, using critically endangered plants
IndigiGrow creates positive social change by engaging, employing and connecting young local Aboriginal people to country while undertaking four-year apprenticeships in horticulture. They also engage the community by offering them access and the knowledge around how to grow them.
"IndigiGrow's young staff are driving change for our biodiversity and environment and we want to bring you all on our journey", continues Peter Cooley.
Creating a food source by propagating edible plants
"We are making gardening more affordable, particularly for our older generations and with the rising cost of living.
Gardening is also a great physical and social activity for health & well-being and gives the community an opportunity to help improve the environment".
Get involved
Visit IndigiGrow's nursery in La Perouse for all your native plant needs and book a workshop or nursery visit to contribute to the rejuvenation of native planting in your community.
To learn more visit
IndigiGrow nursery
IndigiGrow, First Hand Solutions Aboriginal Corporation.
