The Social Sustainability Project
The Social Sustainability Project was established as a mechanism of support and a voice for “Down Here” as our voice doesn't have advocates that are there to ensure we have a voice.
To often those on the margins are judged as incompetent before even leaving the gate. The Social Sustainability Project recognises that just because someone is broken does not mean they don’t dream of more, does not mean they don’t want for more. The Social Sustainability Project believes everyone is capable of more and therefore all our initiatives are about supporting people with no means to achieve goals and move on in live.
Our bigger community based projects are listed below. This is just some of our work. We also work as Independent advocates for those seeking government accountability as well as supporting local indigenous people recovering from life’s truamas down here and seeking to develop themselves and grow via the realisation of their own business and the support needed to establish nd run a small business
Nurture Retail
Nurture by The Social Sustainability Project — Retail Outlets That Return the Village to the Community
Nurture by The Social Sustainability Project is redefining what a retail space can be. Our outlets are more than shops — they are socially sustainable village hubs built from lived experience, local knowledge, and a commitment to community wellbeing. Emerging from the heart of Sydney and guided by Indigenous partners and those from the margins, Nurture reimagines everyday retail as a place where connection, dignity, and belonging come first.
Each Nurture store is a vibrant mix of fresh produce, flowers, ready-made meals, home essentials, value-added goods, handmade items, and practical neighbourhood services. But behind the shelves is a deeper purpose: to make high-quality, nutritious, and affordable food accessible; to support local growers, makers, and micro-enterprises; and to create pathways to training and employment for those historically excluded from opportunity.
Nurture outlets are designed as working villages — places where people can shop, gather, ask for help, share stories, and contribute to a model of community life that is socially, culturally, and economically sustainable. Whether it’s a child collecting a free school lunch, a neighbour grabbing dinner on the way home, or a local artist showcasing their creations, Nurture provides an inclusive space shaped by and for its community.
Our stores also anchor broader local initiatives: community meals, subscription food boxes, small maker collaborations, sustainable accommodation partnerships, employment programs, and wraparound supports that respond to real needs identified by those who live and work “down here.” We prioritise circular local economies, ethical sourcing, low-waste operations, and regenerative social impact — ensuring that every dollar spent at Nurture directly strengthens the community it serves.
At its core, Nurture is built on a simple but powerful belief: when you return the village to the community, the community returns in strength.
Our retail outlets stand as living examples of social sustainability in action — warm, practical, inclusive spaces where everyone belongs, everyone contributes, and everyone is nurtured.
Commercial Urban Farming R&D
Proposed Project: Commercial Urban Farming Model — A City of Sydney & The Social Sustainability Project Partnership
The Social Sustainability Project is proposing a groundbreaking partnership with the City of Sydney to establish a commercial urban farming model that reimagines how food, community, and sustainability intersect in dense urban environments. Built from lived experience, Indigenous knowledge, community insight, and regenerative principles, this initiative positions Sydney as a leader in socially and environmentally sustainable city-making.
At its core, the project transforms underutilised urban spaces into productive, community-anchored micro-farms capable of supplying fresh, affordable, hyper-local produce directly to Nurture outlets, Auntys Markets, local residents, small businesses, and community food programs. By integrating soil-based growing, vertical farming, rooftop gardens, and culturally grounded planting methods, the model builds a resilient local food ecosystem that reduces reliance on long supply chains, cuts food miles, and strengthens Sydney’s capacity to sustainably feed itself.
But this project extends far beyond fresh food. Our urban farms will operate as training grounds, micro-enterprise incubators, and community skill-development hubs, creating employment pathways for those often excluded from traditional labour markets — including people from public housing, Indigenous community members, young people, single parents, and those seeking to rebuild their lives. Participants will gain practical skills in horticulture, small-scale agriculture, farm-to-market operations, sustainable business practices, and land stewardship guided by cultural knowledge holders and experienced urban growers.
The model also delivers measurable environmental benefit: improved biodiversity, reduced heat island effects, low-waste operations, regenerative soil practices, and an example of how cities can embed sustainability not as a concept but as everyday infrastructure. Each site becomes a living classroom demonstrating climate resilience, water efficiency, composting loops, and circular-economy principles embedded in practical local food production.
For the City of Sydney, this partnership offers a replicable blueprint for socially sustainable community developmentthat aligns with Sustainable Sydney 2030–2050, climate action goals, and the city’s long-term commitment to food security and community cohesion. The project directly supports local employment, reduces cost-of-living pressures, and integrates Indigenous ecological knowledge into the urban fabric in a meaningful, visible, and ongoing way.
For communities, it offers dignity, empowerment, connection, and the chance to participate in shaping a more sustainable city — not as passive recipients, but as essential co-creators.
Together, we can position Sydney as one of the world’s leading examples of socially and environmentally sustainable development: a city where food is grown locally, community is rebuilt from the ground up, and the village is returned to the people who live in it.
Nurture Aged & Disability Care
Coming Soon