One Bite at a Time Cairns

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One Bite at a Time empowers at-risk young people in Cairns through a culturally safe, therapeutic cooking and independence program. As part of Cairns support services, we use food as a practical and healing tool to strengthen identity, build essential life skills, confidence, and social skills, while deepening family and community connections. Our community engagement approach emphasizes that change cannot be rushed; young people can create change in small bites, one bite at a time, fostering their journey towards empowering independence through our Youth independence program.

Founded in early 2024, this youth independence program has focused on building foundational life and independence skills for young people in Cairns, while strengthening cultural identity, pride, and belonging. Over time, it has evolved into a holistic early-intervention model aimed at improving emotional wellbeing, resilience, and self-confidence. This program has worked to reconnect participants with their families, culture, and communities, thereby enhancing community engagement and reducing antisocial behaviour through positive role modelling and peer support networks. Throughout its operation, the Cairns support services have consistently supported participants in developing practical cooking and independence skills, strengthening their basic literacy and numeracy, and enhancing emotional regulation and self-awareness. As the program grew, it demonstrated an ability to foster stronger engagement with family and community, deepen participants’ sense of identity and belonging, and reduce risk factors associated with antisocial behaviour and crime.

One Bite at a Time was founded in early 2024 by Director of Family Focus, Sam Stitt, and business owner of Eat Real, Elsa Lim. They combined their extensive expertise in trauma-informed care, child welfare, disability, social inclusion, nutrition, and youth mentoring to create a robust youth independence program. Their shared vision and complementary skills laid the foundation for a program designed to empower young people through culturally safe, therapeutic, and practical learning. Family Focus, co-founded and led locally in Cairns, brings over 20 years of experience working directly with young people and families. Through family intervention, in-home support, supported family time, youth outreach, and mentoring, the Family Focus team provides the relational, therapeutic, and cultural framework that underpins the program. Eat Real, a well-known Cairns support services provider, contributes its passion for nutrition, community, and skills development. Renowned for mentoring young people and adults of all abilities in their kitchen, the Eat Real team provides hands-on learning, work experience opportunities, and meals that generously support vulnerable members of the community. Together, these partners form a dedicated, community-driven team committed to community engagement and helping young people build confidence, independence, and connection—One Bite at a Time.

Young people engage in community engagement as they learn to work together in a busy, hands-on environment where communication, cooperation, and shared responsibility are essential. Each cooking session becomes an opportunity to practice real-life skills—listening, supporting one another, planning, problem-solving, and celebrating successes as a group. This aligns with Cairns support services' mission to empower independence through their Youth independence program.

As young people step into the kitchen and engage with Cairns support services, they try new skills and realize what they’re capable of. As they follow recipes, make decisions, and overcome small challenges, they begin to see their own progress. Through community engagement, successes—big or small—are celebrated, helping them feel proud of their efforts. Even mistakes become learning moments that contribute to empowering independence, building resilience and self-belief through the youth independence program.

In the kitchen, participants engage in community engagement by taking responsibility for their own tasks—prepping ingredients, following recipes, managing time, and cleaning up. Each step encourages them to make decisions, problem-solve, and trust their own abilities. These experiences, supported by Cairns support services, empower independence and help participants feel more capable in everyday life as part of the Youth independence program.