A team from Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network (Justice Health NSW) has partnered with IndigiGrow to create the NSW Health Award-winning Bundaleer Project, where First Nations forensic mental health patients cultivate native plants onsite.
The Forensic Hospital is a high security facility for patients with complex mental health needs/issues. Through this project, First Nations patients can learn traditional methods, gain vocational skills and reconnect with culture while directly contributing to environmental sustainability.
More than 4,000 plants have already been grown, with many donated to schools and citizenship ceremonies fostering community links. The project:
- enhances biodiversity
- improves patient wellbeing
- strengthens cultural identity and community partnership.
The project directly supports Closing the Gap Priority Reform Areas by embedding culturally safe rehabilitation pathways and strengthening partnerships with Aboriginal-led organisations. It aligns with the NSW Aboriginal Health Plan 2024–2032 by prioritising programs designed with and for Aboriginal people, integrating cultural knowledge into healthcare and building sustainable community connections. The program fosters cultural identity, self-determination, and continuity of care that are key to improving Aboriginal health and wellbeing.
Reconnecting to culture through land
First Nations people face disproportionate rates of mental illness and contact with the justice system, and have limited options for culturally specific rehabilitation. Forensic Hospital staff identified an opportunity to partner with IndigiGrow to reconnect patients with land and culture through plant cultivation. IndigiGrow is a 100% Aboriginal-owned and operated not-for-profit social enterprise that runs native plant nurseries in Sydney, focused on reviving endangered local plant species and providing employment and training for Aboriginal youth.
The project team chose horticulture-based rehabilitation due to its proven mental health benefits, while also embedding environmental sustainability. They aimed to tackle cultural disconnection, improve patient outcomes and deliver visible contributions to the Aboriginal community and broader society.
Aboriginal patients and community partners, particularly IndigiGrow, were central to this project from the outset. The idea was shaped by recognising patients’ expressed need for culturally meaningful rehabilitation. IndigiGrow guided both the design and purpose of the program, ensuring it responded to Aboriginal-defined priorities and traditional ecological knowledge.
Aboriginal leadership shaping implementation
The project began in September 2024 with the installation of a greenhouse, shade house, rainwater tank, pump and native stingless beehive. IndigiGrow led fortnightly groups of Aboriginal forensic patients, who also took on daily plant maintenance tasks to build independence and vocational skills.
Patients cultivated more than 4,000 native plants in the first six months, with the project team establishing distribution networks to donate 150 plants monthly to Randwick City Council citizenship ceremonies and 500 plants quarterly to local schools. Plants are also used onsite in sensory gardens to support emotional regulation. Patients transferred to Bloomfield Hospital took plants with them, supporting the start of a similar program, while Corrective Services NSW (Long Bay Correctional Centre) is establishing a similar program.
Aboriginal leadership shaped every stage of implementation. IndigiGrow led the design and delivery, embedding Aboriginal ecological knowledge and cultural practices into daily rehabilitation. Patients were active participants in species selection and cultural activities, reinforcing identity and pride. Their leadership extended beyond the Forensic Hospital as they carried plants to new sites, enabling replication and Aboriginal-led continuity of care across NSW.
Cultural and therapeutic rehabilitation
Patients in the program experienced improved wellbeing, social skills and cultural connection, supported by horticulture’s known benefits for reducing stress and providing purpose. These outcomes were observed through:
- Staff observations of increased engagement, emotional regulation and social interaction during and outside of group sessions.
- Vocational participation in daily plant maintenance and NSW TAFE Horticulture program, which provided structure, routine and a sense of accomplishment.
- Patient feedback indicating pride in contributing to community initiatives such as the Randwick City Council Citizenship Ceremony and local school donations.
- Continuity of care outcomes, with patients transferring to Bloomfield Hospital continuing the program and expressing cultural connection through plant care.
- Supporting long term goals such as reducing recidivism, cultural preservation and improved mental health outcomes.
While formal surveys were not conducted during the pilot phase, qualitative feedback and consistent staff reporting suggest meaningful improvements in patient wellbeing. Future iterations of the program may incorporate structured evaluation tools to quantify these outcomes.
Nurturing sustainable practices and community connections
The project integrates sustainable practices into therapeutic rehabilitation by cultivating native plants using environmentally conscious infrastructure. A rainwater tank supports water-efficient irrigation, and a native stingless beehive enhances pollination and biodiversity. More than 4,000 plants have been grown to date, with a goal of 10,000 in the first year.
Distribution to local networks – such as monthly donations to Randwick City Council citizenship ceremonies and quarterly donations to local schools – extend the environmental impact beyond the hospital grounds. These efforts contribute to ecosystem restoration, climate resilience, and community awareness of native species.
Patients shaped decisions on plant distribution, including the Randwick City Council partnership, which they saw as a way to extend Aboriginal culture into community ceremonies. The project demonstrated that cultural rehabilitation and environmental sustainability can be achieved together, providing patients with cultural pride, vocational training, and a sense of contribution to Country and community. These outcomes align with Closing the Gap priorities by embedding cultural practices in rehabilitation and creating practical employment pathways.
