EON Aboriginal Foundation

What EON Aboriginal Foundation does

EON Aboriginal Foundation is a Perth-headquartered Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) and registered charity founded in 2005 that operates the Thriving Communities Program across remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Its core delivery model combines three integrated components: establishing edible gardens in schools and community spaces, delivering hands-on nutrition and cooking education using garden produce, and creating local training and employment pathways through Community Assistant roles. The program runs on a 5-year phased engagement framework (Community Engagement, Delivery, Extension, and Support) and operates exclusively by community invitation, with services provided at no cost to partner communities.

The organisation is funded through a diversified mix of individual donations (one-time and monthly recurring), corporate partnerships (tiered grants, workplace giving, matched funding), government grants (NIAA, Aboriginal Investment NT, Remote Jobs and Economic Development, Lotterywest), and family foundation support. Since 2008, EON has reached more than 45 communities, currently operates actively in 25 communities, and maintains a waiting list of over 40 communities seeking partnership. As of 2025, it reports 1,000+ classes delivered, 32 community gardens maintained, 10,000+ meals produced, 700+ field days in community, 60% Aboriginal employment, and KPMG-validated health outcomes including reduced type 2 diabetes prevalence in long-term partner communities.

EON is governed by a 10-member board with majority Aboriginal representation and led since February 2025 by CEO Kathryn Taylor, supported by operations leads in Perth (Leisha Aberle, WA) and Broome/Katherine (Erika Wells, NT), with field Project Managers deployed across both jurisdictions. The organisation has received multiple state and national recognitions including the 2024 Australian Food Educator of the Year award, Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for founder Caroline de Mori, and the WA Education Excellence in Wellbeing and Learning Award.

Name

EON Aboriginal Foundation

Legal name

EON Foundation

Website

https://eon.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

EON Aboriginal Foundation is a Perth-based Aboriginal Community Controlled charity that operates the Thriving Communities Program, delivering edible gardens, nutrition education, and local employment pathways to remote Aboriginal communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Community Health and Nutrition Programs

NAICS

Community Food Services (62421), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (61171), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems (Fair Trade, Food Access, Regenerative) (BPAGALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Security, Agriculture & Nutrition Aid Programs (BPADABAD), Community Center Education Programs (EDAAAFAB)

Keywords

• Edible garden programs
• Nutrition education services
• Aboriginal community health
• Food security programs
• Remote community outreach

Headquarters

HQ city

Subiaco

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly recurring donations from individuals supporting the charity's mission. Donation options include preset amounts ($50, $100, $250) and custom amounts.
2. Fundraising: Community and individual fundraising activities including sporting events, school fundraising, social fundraising with friends, and workplace giving programs.
3. Corporate Partnerships: Tiered partnership opportunities for corporate organisations including grants, workplace giving, matched funding, and major donor programs aligned with ESG and community investment priorities.
4. Government Grants: Funding from government agencies including National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), Aboriginal Investment NT, Remote Jobs and Economic Development (RJED) program, and lotterywest. Multi-year funding agreements support sustained program delivery.
5. Bequests and Estate Gifts: Legacy giving through wills and estate planning to support long-term sustainability of the organisation's mission.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

EON Aboriginal Foundation delivers the Thriving Communities Program, a structured five-year intervention that establishes edible gardens in remote Aboriginal community schools and delivers hands-on cooking and nutrition education. The program operates across four phases (Community Engagement, Delivery, Extension, and Support), uses garden produce as outdoor classrooms, and creates local employment through Community Assistant roles. All services are provided free of charge to partner communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Product overview

EON Aboriginal Foundation operates the Thriving Communities Program as its unified core offering, which combines three integrated components: Edible Gardens (establishing productive gardens in schools), Food & Nutrition Training (hands-on cooking and nutrition education), and Training & Employment (local capacity building through Community Assistant roles). The organization also produces supplementary educational resources including Edible Garden Resources, Healthy Eating Resources, and Healthy Eating Recipes that support program delivery across remote Aboriginal communities in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Thriving Communities Program: EON's core program improving health and wellbeing in remote communities by addressing preventable chronic disease through better nutrition, delivering edible gardens, food and nutrition training, and training and employment opportunities.

Products and services

• Thriving Communities Program EON's flagship five-year community program improving health and wellbeing in remote Aboriginal communities by addressing preventable chronic disease through edible gardens, hands-on nutrition education, and training and employment pathways. Operates across four phases: Community Engagement, Delivery, Extension, and Support. Delivered free to partner communities across Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
• EON Edible Garden Resources Practical guides and resources to help schools create edible gardens and teach students how to grow, harvest, and enjoy fresh healthy food. Complementary to the Thriving Communities Program.
• EON Healthy Eating Resources

Quantifiable outcome

• Type 2 diabetes prevalence declined in 4 out of 6 NT communities compared to predicted rates where EON program delivered for 5+ years
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered important and core.

• MEEDACimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Leading Aboriginal employment service in the Mid West providing additional funding to strengthen program delivery in Mullewa.
• Yamagigu ConsultingimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Conducted extensive consultation report on Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities, confirming community priorities including growing food locally and building practical life skills.
• Alawa Aboriginal CorporationimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Partnered with EON in Minyerri to complete planting of fruit trees and garden beds at age care facility.
• Communities for Children (CDP)importantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Community Development Program partnered with EON in Minyerri for planting activities. Also involved in community engagement in Kalkaringi and Yarralin programs.
• The Smith FamilycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022As Facilitating Partner for Federal Government's Communities for Children initiative in Katherine, The Smith Family provides vital funding for EON's program in Kalkaringi and Yarralin since 2022. Connects EON into the Communities for Children Katherine network of organisations working to strengthen outcomes for children and families.
• Roper Gulf Regional CouncilimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022In Bulman, the council supplies raw materials for gardens and provides facilities at Sport and Rec Hall and Women's Centre for after-school cooking and nutrition workshops.
• Sunrise HealthimportantStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Key partner in Bulman joining EON for gardening classes, cooking workshops, and communicating health messages around disease prevention and healthy eating.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• OzHarvest: Australia's leading food rescue charity with nutrition education programs including school-based cooking and food-waste curricula. Larger and broader national footprint than EON, with overlapping nutrition-education mission though different primary mechanism (food rescue versus edible gardens).
• SecondBite: Major Australian food rescue organization redistributing surplus food to communities in need, including nutrition education components. Comparable food-security mission and donor base; differs in primary delivery model (rescue and redistribution vs. community gardens and in-community training).
• Foodbank Australia: National food relief organization addressing hunger across Australia. Operates at much larger scale than EON across all states, with school nutrition programs (including in remote and Indigenous communities). Overlapping mission around food security but with a national food-rescue distribution model rather than a community-garden focus.
• Mission Australia: One of Australia's largest community-services nonprofits with extensive programs for Indigenous Australians including remote-community employment, education, and housing services. Much broader service portfolio than EON but overlapping remote-Indigenous community-development footprint and corporate/foundation funder base.

Direct peers

• The Smith Family: Long-term EON partner through the Communities for Children initiative in Katherine, funding EON's Kalkaringi and Yarralin programs since 2022. The Smith Family runs children's education and family support programs targeted at disadvantaged Australian children, including Aboriginal communities, with overlapping donor and beneficiary constituencies.
• Food Ladder: Food Ladder builds edible food gardens in remote Indigenous communities across Australia, including in the Northern Territory. Its model of combining productive gardens with nutrition and education outcomes for remote Aboriginal communities closely mirrors EON's Thriving Communities Program, making it the most directly comparable peer.
• Foodbank WA: Western Australia's largest food relief organization, Foodbank WA tackles food insecurity across the state with nutrition education and school programs in remote communities (EON's WA Operations Manager previously led nutrition education teams there). Geographic and mission overlap make it a direct peer despite a food-distribution rather than garden-build focus.

Emerging players

• Children Ground: Indigenous-led organization operating in remote Central and Northern Australia (including near Katherine), combining education, health, and economic development with a focus on children and families. Smaller and earlier-stage than EON but with significant overlap in remote-Indigenous, holistic-community-development approach.
• Streat: Melbourne-based social enterprise addressing youth disadvantage through food (bakeries, cafes) and supported employment programs. Comparable social-enterprise structure combining food, training, and employment pathways, though focused on urban youth rather than remote Aboriginal communities.

Others

• Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia: Peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) in WA. Sector counterpart rather than direct competitor; comparable ACCO governance structure, advocacy on Indigenous health funding, and member organizations that may partner with EON on community-nutrition initiatives.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/eonfoundation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eon-aboriginal-foundation
• Instagraminstagram.com/eonaboriginalfoundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EON Aboriginal Foundation