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Styphelia viridis is more than a plant. Known as ‘Five Corners’ or ‘Fivies’ this endangered native berry tastes like bush lollies and holds deep cultural significance - and proud Bidjigal man Peter Cooley is on a mission to save it in his local area.

On Country in La Perouse, Peter founded , a 100% Aboriginal-owned social enterprise dedicated to cultivating native bushfoods and critically endangered local plants. Here, cuttings of  are carefully propagated, as the seeds are notoriously difficult to germinate.

“Some of our old people say the fruit has to pass through the stomach of an animal before it can germinate,” Peter Cooley has said. “And we do know it responds to fire. When all our old people can go into their backyards and share the Five Corners fruit with the young kids and tell them about their experiences growing up with Fivies, that will be our proudest moment.”

Passing down traditional knowledge is central to IndigiGrow’s . The nursery keeps cultural practices alive as young apprentices learn directly from mentors and community Elders, gaining both horticultural training and a deeper connection to culture, identity, and Country.

Indigenous Social Enterprise Model

IndigiGrow’s model blends ecology, employment, cultural education and plant propagation. It provides full-time, paid opportunities for local Aboriginal youth, combining accredited horticultural training with place-based knowledge. Apprentices develop skills in propagation, land management, and retail while reconnecting with traditions that strengthen community ties.

Since launching, IndigiGrow has demonstrated the strength of its Indigenous-led social impact. It employs 10 local Aboriginal people in culturally safe, supportive roles, including five full-time apprentices, with all staff reporting increased cultural pride and wellbeing. The enterprise is a hub for public education providing more than 8,000 hours of hands-on learning, hundreds of community sessions, and 1,200 accredited TAFE hours. It has a growing network of 25 partnerships, reflecting strong backing for its social enterprise model.

Collective Action to Scale Social Impact

Cooley’s latest collaboration brings his journey full circle. In 2015, he became the first Indigenous graduate of the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact at �ʹڲ�Ʊ CSI, a course he credits with helping transform his vision into action.

“It helped me understand how to design impact-led models, build partnerships and tell our story in a way funders and stakeholders could understand,” Peter says.

Nearly a decade later, Peter is collaborating with the �ʹڲ�Ʊ Centre for Social Impact to scale the very enterprise his studies helped shape. As part of the , postgraduate students will work alongside IndigiGrow to co-design strategies, exploring everything from native plant supply chains to digital engagement.

“This is what engaged scholarship looks like,” says Professor Danielle Logue, Director of �ʹڲ�Ʊ CSI. “When education, research and community come together, we can create scalable solutions that drive meaningful social change. We are proud to work alongside Peter and IndigiGrow as we all work to grow the next generation of social entrepreneurs.”

“Having �ʹڲ�Ʊ CSI students involved to look over the project and work on ways of scaling IndigiGrow is a dream come true," explains Peter. "I’ve known it needed this type of scrutiny for a long time and I’m very proud to partner with �ʹڲ�Ʊ CSI as I came through the Graduate Certificate in Social Impact. I can’t imagine I would have had the foresight, skills and knowledge to create IndigiGrow without completing the course. This collaboration will hopefully allow me to attract more funders so we can continue to improve and scale IndigiGrow into the future to the benefit of Australians,” reflects Peter Cooley, Founder of IndigiGrow and proud �ʹڲ�Ʊ CSI alumnus.