Topsoil Garden

The Topsoil Garden has a special story in the Adelaide foothills, where two worlds and two cultures converge. In collaboration with Kaurna/Narrunga elder Jack Buckskin, we have discovered that this location was once a meeting ground, a hunting ground, and a place of the deep connection between the Kaurna and Peramangk peoples. We acknowledge and highlight the significance of this place as a source of healing.

Mission: At Topsoil, our mission is to revolutionise healthcare in a meaningful and natural way. By embracing nature and fostering a sense of community, we aim to restore individualised support and empower members of our community with disabilities and those experiencing mental ill-health. Grounded in a strengths-based, multi-disciplinary model, we provide quality, innovative, and person-centred services within a community-based, natural environment.

We strive to develop community-based, nature-centric wellness services that cater to the needs of individuals facing mental ill-health and psychosocial disabilities. Our vision is to establish the Adelaide Hills as a thriving ecosystem of well-being, where people can access clinical care, support work, and holistic services, all within a supportive and inspiring community.

We believe this approach will yield better outcomes for our clients, fostering a greater sense of connectedness and acceptance. To achieve this, we propose the following initiatives:

• Invest in a diverse, evidence-based, and holistic range of offerings through an allied health hub model.

• Empower clients to choose and develop relationships with their preferred support workers, providing them with assistance in brokering and refining those connections.

• Enable community members to become support workers through experience-based and formalised training programs.

• Facilitate nature-based learning, skill development, and potential employment opportunities for clients through our horticulture therapy garden and integrated hotel business.

Together, we can create a regenerative space where healing and growth flourish, cultivating a community that supports, enables, and inspires individuals on their wellness journey.