Skip to main content
"Cultivating Community" in dark teal and navy text beside a circular icon combining a person and leaf motif, on a white background

Cultivating Community

Email ABN ACNC

Who we are

Cultivating Community is a social enterprise that has worked alongside communities across Victoria for more than 25 years. It was founded on the belief that food security, community connection, and economic participation are deeply interconnected, and that thriving communities are built when people have genuine opportunities to connect, contribute, and grow. Its vision is of thriving communities where everyone has access to fresh food, green spaces, social connection, and meaningful work.

The organisation's mission is to help communities overcome economic, social, and nutritional barriers through food growing, community building, and employment pathways. It takes an integrated approach, delivering programs across horticulture, education, employment support, and social enterprise services.

Gallery

Three large oval corrugated metal raised garden beds planted with tomatoes, herbs and flowering plants under a bright blue sky
Two people walking and chatting along a lush urban garden path between apartment buildings on a sunny day
A freshly harvested bunch of purple and orange carrots laid on a weathered timber bench beside raised corrugated metal garden beds
Two women laughing together while making fresh pasta on a hand-cranked pasta machine at a community cooking class
A person tending to garden beds beside a Cultivating Community notice board and a street library, with a large portrait mural on a building behind them
Two women wearing green lanyards focused on a hands-on food preparation activity at a community cooking workshop
A smiling woman in gardening gloves holding a freshly harvested round pumpkin in front of a lush trellis of climbing vines
A group of people gathered around a rustic wooden table shelling dried beans and sorting seeds into small clay bowls

What we do

Cultivating Community's work is delivered through four integrated program areas.

Productive gardens and placemaking

Cultivating Community transforms underutilised spaces into community gardens and green assets. This work increases local access to fresh food, strengthens neighbourhood connections, and creates safer, greener environments. Projects are designed and delivered in partnership with the communities they serve.

Employment pathways

Cultivating Community supports people who face barriers to employment, including those with limited work history, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, and others who may need additional support to enter or re-enter the workforce. Participants receive training, work experience, mentoring, and practical assistance to build the skills and confidence needed to move into meaningful, sustained employment.

Food and horticulture education

Cultivating Community delivers hands-on learning programs covering food growing, sustainability, nutrition, and community participation. These sessions build practical skills and knowledge while supporting participants to engage more fully in their communities.

Horticulture and maintenance services

Cultivating Community's social enterprise arm provides professional garden design, build, and maintenance services to external clients. This generates revenue that funds the organisation's programs while creating paid employment and training opportunities for community members gaining real-world horticulture experience.

Our work

Head office:

  • Victoria

Type(s) of actor:

  • Social enterprises
Team portrait photos - contact us

We’d love to hear from you!

Reach out to one of our team members, and share input and ideas about how we can evolve Understorey.

Get in touch
Cultivating Community | Understorey