At Compass Group Australia (CGA), we believe good health begins with good food and that access to nutritious meals is a right, not a privilege. Yet for many remote First Nations communities, food security remains out of reach. Limited availability, high costs (up to 60% more than urban areas), and low quality are compounded by poor infrastructure and fewer opportunities for healthy living.
To help address this, particularly in the communities where we work, CGA, together with our procurement partner Foodbuy, joined forces with Menzies School of Health Research and Central Australia Health Science Network to co-design the Nutritional Hunger Project (NHP). This initiative works directly with First Nations communities to improve access, affordability and nutrition education, with local voices leading the way.
Find out about some of the projects within this extensive initiative below.
Cooking Up More Time
In Port Hedland, the Youth Involvement Council (YIC) has been a vital support for at-risk youth for nearly 35 years, providing hot meals to young people three nights a week. This commitment, however, often took precious time and resources away from their core youth programs, while relying on less efficient and less nutritious meal options. That’s where CGA stepped in to help.
Since 2023, CGA Chefs have cooked and served over 10,000 nutritious meals, freeing up more than 3,200 hours for youth counsellors to focus on critical support programs, especially for 5-7-year-olds (a critical age).
“Having Compass Group Chefs in our kitchen was a game-changer,” shares Tania Murray, CEO of YIC. “These are skilled professionals who understand food not just as fuel, but as a tool for healing, connection, and dignity. 3,200 hours freed up from meal preparation equates to 3,200 more moments of being present with a young person. More time to sit down and listen, de-escalate a crisis, support someone through Centrelink or school re-engagement and so much more. We want to give a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved.”
Turning Surplus into Support
We know food waste is a challenge that affects everyone. That’s why CGA is using our scale, expertise, and resources to back community-led initiatives like Martu Patrol, turning surplus into opportunity. Known locally as ‘the Patrol’, this Martu people-led mobile outreach service works after hours to keep young Martu people safe, offering food and transport to secure locations in their trusted van.
In one of our longest-running collaborations within the NHP, CGA has donated more than 11,000 leftover meals from our BHP sites since 2021. The site freezes the meals, and The Patrol re-heats and then delivers to those who need them most, ensuring nutritious food reaches the community, not landfill. With new sustainable packaging now being trialled, we’re also ensuring this good work is even gentler on the planet.
The impact:
- Around 100 nutritious, homemade meals reach vulnerable communities every week.
- Food is saved from waste streams and landfill, enriching both people and our planet.
Strengthening Health through Community
In Maningrida, a town in the Northern Territory, the Manayingkarírra Health Women’s Project is empowering women to take charge of their health and strengthen their community. Led by the Menzies School of Health Research, this is part of a larger study to reduce diabetes-related risks within these rural communities.
With funding from the Compass Group Foundation, CGA’s DE&I team was able to support the roll-out of vital health and wellness sessions between late 2023 and April 2025. This included 36 programs and workshops, reaching over 150 participants. It also created opportunities for First Nations employment and leadership, funding the roles of several First Nations women whose skills and cultural knowledge have enriched the program.
The Head of Compass Group Foundation, Jeannet Lingan, praised the collaboration. “It’s fantastic to see how much the Compass Group Australia’s team has contributed to this project. We’ve been incredibly proud to have partnered with you and we really appreciated all the hard work you’ve put into making this program a success.”
Find out more about how Compass Group Australia is serving a better future here.
