Indigenous Catering
for boarding schools in Australia
gather by Cater Care provides specialised catering for Indigenous students and boarding schools with a unique “whole of business” focus, and we incorporate our real-world knowledge of the unique needs of Indigenous Australians into our services at every level.
Indigenous students often walk in two worlds, making it important for school administrators to work with families and communities to cater to their unique emotional, physical, and nutritional needs.
Considerations we make when developing Indigenous catering services include curating meals to provide the right nutrients for dietary and medical reasons, and ensuring that Indigenous boarding students feel safe and respected while practising their culture away from their communities.
Australian owned and operated, Cater Care, is a leading catering and facilities service provider which has been in operation since 1999. The decision to develop and invest in the education catering landscape saw the launch of the gather. by Cater Care brand in 2022.
The gather brand and its unique initiatives are built on the core values of Care, Pride, and Community.
At the forefront of gather’s approach is the creation of a positive mealtime experience for Indigenous students. This approach helps to drive student engagement and enduring connections with their communities.
Support the community
gather. is proud to be involved with and champion the Indigenous communities in which we operate, through various initiatives.
Initiatives, such as sponsoring the Indigenous Education & Boarding Australia Symposium and its awards, developing Native Ingredients and Flavours to celebrate National Reconciliation Week, NAIDOC Week and more.
During 2023 NAIDOC Week, the catering team at Blackheath & Thornburgh College in Queensland looked forward to assisting the Elders and families in handling all the cooking. And seeing the students jump to help serve and celebrate this significant event in First Nations’ calendar was heartwarming.
The gather by Cater Care team usually serves 240 people per lunch; however, during NAIDOC, that number increased to more than 500 people, including Elders and family.
Native Ingredient program
*On average, Indigenous Australians living in remote areas have higher rates of disease burden and lower life expectancy compared with those in non-remote areas. Key contributors to this include differences in educational and employment opportunities, in access to health services, in housing circumstances, and in other factors that support healthy behaviours (such as the availability and cost of fresh fruit and vegetables).
gather. Healthy Eating Program created by our General Manager of Food, in conjunction with our team of Dieticians is at the heart of gather’s success and helps to address the unique dietary needs of Indigenous students. gather. Healthy Eating Program allows for the tailoring and review of every menu to specifically address the nutritional needs of Indigenous students.
Ensuring we have the right people to support our gather initiatives is a key priority for the gather team. Providing opportunities of empowerment such as traineeships and apprenticeships to students, and ensuring there is continual improvement and review of our Indigenous knowledge and practices is a priority that is led by our Indigenous Participation Manager. Indigenous engagement remains steadfast within all our operations.
Source *https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/australias-health/indigenous-health-and-wellbeing
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Braised Kangaroo, Native Thyme and Ground Pepperberry Flaky Pastry Pot Pie
The recipe’s flavour is enhanced with native thyme and ground pepperberry. Native thyme has an earthy, peppery mint flavour and originally used by Indigenous Australians for its medicinal properties. Pepperberry was also used by indigenous Australians as a medication, but today is valued and used for its unique fruity and spicy flavour.
talk to David O’Brien
David is the Client Development Manager for gather, and he’s looking forward to learning the ins and outs of your Indigenous catering needs. Get in touch with him today to have a quick chat about how gather can provide your students and boarders with a well-rounded and culturally enriching mealtime experience.
