Indigenous Bush Tucker Set - Witchetty Grubs & Coolamon

The National Quality Standard (NQS) makes it essential for Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services and educators to understand, and help children learn about, the history, culture and contemporary lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Australian Aboriginals have eaten native animal and plant foods for an estimated 60,000 years.

Our Bush Tucker range celebrates this cultural knowledge and traditions by allowing Educators to quickly incorporate traditional bush foods into their curriculum. Did you know an uncooked witchetty grub tastes like scrambled eggs but taste like popcorn and almonds when cooked? Witchetty grubs are found in the roots of the witchetty bush (Acacia kempeana) and some river red gums.

Harvested all year round, great care is taken to ensure that the witchetty grub tree isn't harmed when collecting the grubs never digging up more than three of the bush's shallow roots at any one time. Gathering between 1-6 grubs into their coolamons per bush. Witchetty grubs are extremely rich in easily assimilated proteins and fats (it has 38% protein and nearly 40% fat) and are one of the best-known bush tucker foods.

The Witchetty Grub is actually the larva (caterpillar) of a large cossid wood moth and generally only found in Central Australia however other grubs are found and eaten in other areas. Witchetty Grubs are also used as bush medicine when crushed into a paste and spread over a burn or wound. Witchetty grubs feature in many dreamtime stories and as an Individual totem to be protected. 

Developed in respectful partnership with Lavina Bennell Art and Noongar Elder Neville Collard, an Aboriginal consultant for Awe & Wonder.

Made from felt. Dimensions and design may vary due to the handmade nature of each piece.

EYLF Learning Outcome Connections

Outcome 2.1: Children develop understanding and respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, cultures and traditions as they explore the cultural significance of Bush Tucker.

Outcome 2.4: Children deepen their understanding of Australia's natural environments by learning about native species, sustainable harvesting practices and traditional ecological knowledge.