Joondalup Family Centre was successful in their Lotterywest grant application to create a Community Sensory Garden for everyone to enjoy.

Nature Based Play was engaged to design and construct the garden, featuring natural play elements, native flora, a bush tucker garden, a yarning circle, and a fire pit. A custom bird waterer marks the entrance, leading into a winding path filled with interactive sensory posts, a log abacus, a looking glass, and various surfaces for climbing, walking, and exploration.

The garden’s design was shaped in consultation with Indigenous leader Walter McGuire, incorporating the Dreamtime story of Charnok Woman—an important narrative in the Joondalup region. Lake Joondalup, known as “the water that glistens,” is a central theme, symbolised through carved Koolbardi (magpies) and other artistic elements.

A striking mural by local Indigenous artist Gabrielle Bruce flows from the wall onto the ground, uniting the colours and stories of Lake Joondalup with the centre’s role as a vibrant community hub.

The sensory garden was officially opened with a Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, celebrating unity, culture, and community connection.