ACT Churchill Fellow Fiona Buining is featured in Winston’s Harvest, a national video series from the Winston Churchill Trust Australia highlighting Australians applying global knowledge to local challenges.
Through her Churchill Fellowship, Buining travelled to the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands to explore urban farming enterprises that combine food production with paid workforce training for people facing barriers to employment. Her research identified international models achieving employment outcomes of 80–90% while strengthening local food systems, improving food security and building more connected communities.
Inspired by those programs, Buining now runs an urban farm training initiative for migrant and refugee women in Canberra, helping participants build skills, confidence and employment pathways through agriculture.
“The Churchill Fellowship allowed me to work alongside people facing barriers to employment and see firsthand that growing food truly transforms lives,” Buining said.
Winston’s Harvest showcases how Churchill Fellows are translating international learning into practical outcomes for Australian communities, industries and regional development.
You can read Fiona’s Churchill Fellowship report here.
Watch all the Winstons Harvest here