Food for All How local government is improving access to nutritious food

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au

Foreword

Australia is seen as the land of plenty but to food policies and that strategies support food The eight councils (covering nine large numbers of don’t have security for everyone, with a specific focus on municipalities), funded for three years regular access to affordable nutritious foods. people living in the most disadvantaged areas. through Food for All, are offering practical and sustainable ways to help residents living in Try buying healthy fresh food if you don’t have With this in mind, we partnered with the disadvantaged areas regularly access a variety an adequate income, or affordable outlets you Department of Human Services to fund two of nutritious foods. These practical activities, can reach, or somewhere to store and cook food security demonstration projects in 2001. together with a greater focus on connecting the food. These projects (one in the this issue within councils, have shown and the other in the , under the ‘Food insecurity’ is much more common progress in several areas. Many initiatives are auspices of North Yarra Community Health than we think or would like and it has much showcased in this publication. The stories Services) showed that local sustainable action broader consequences than just diet – it demonstrate each council’s leadership and is needed to reduce the barriers that make it impacts on people’s physical, mental and success at working together within council difficult for people to have access to food for social wellbeing, and their ability to work. and in pulling together a diverse range of healthy eating. organisations and people to contribute their In , food security* problems are To have an impact, food insecurity solutions skills, ideas and services. invisible to most people. Resources to address need to be linked to other community and food security issues are limited; and a lack of As well as providing funding for local government activities, such as housing awareness and understanding of food security governments, we are supporting projects to strategies, community and urban planning, means there are few frameworks or models to share information and experiences about ways neighbourhood renewal, shopping strip address the problem. to improve food security. These include a revitalisation and tourism. Also food security web-based Food Security Network hosted by Those most at risk of food insecurity include must be built into policy frameworks, such the Victorian Local Governance Association; people with low or no income, and those as local government Municipal Public Health regular meetings for funded projects to who live in poor quality or insecure housing. Plans and Municipal Strategic Statements, exchange knowledge and expertise; external Often the groups who are most affected are in order to provide focus and leadership and evaluation; free annual public forums, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, refugees, ensure there is action at the local level. specifically designed communications single parents, people with chronic illnesses or The demonstration projects helped to build resources and strategies to raise awareness disabilities, people living in remote or isolated experience and knowledge to develop of food security in . areas and young unemployed people. potential frameworks and models. In Drought, climate change, increasing prices Most strategies to improve access to nutritious particular, they informed the development of petrol and food, and housing stress food for these vulnerable groups have focused of our long-term program, Food for All. have escalated issues related to not having on short-term emergency food relief or We work with local governments in areas enough food to eat, even in a country like individual counselling and health education. of socioeconomic disadvantage to improve Australia. We have a head start in trying to integrated planning to access nutritious food, As far back as 1995, the ABS National find strategies to improve access to nutritious and develop sustainable programs that make Nutrition Survey found that food insecurity foods and food security, and it’s important it easier for people to source, store and cook was experienced by 5% of people aged 16 that we share what we have learnt. healthy foods. years and over. More recently, 53 of Victoria’s I hope you find these stories food for thought. 79 local government areas have reported that We used existing SEIFA (Socio-Economic one in 20 of their residents ran out of food in Indexes for Areas) data to reach out to the the last 12 months and could not afford most disadvantaged groups: Only local to buy more. government areas with more than 20% of their population living in areas with low SEIFA scores Based on these figures, several hundred were eligible to apply. thousand Victorians are at risk of food Todd Harper insecurity. We also made food access the key focus. Chief Executive Officer Victorian Health Promotion Foundation At VicHealth we have long recognised that Our primary partners are local councils having adequate and nutritious food is the because we believe they are best placed to basis of good health. We know that the greatest develop relevant, integrated and long-lasting population health gains can be achieved by strategies to tackle this problem. ensuring a coordinated government approach

* Food security is the ability to consume quality, affordable, culturally appropriate nutritious food from non-emergency sources. www.vichealth.vic.gov.au   Food for All Contents

Welcome to Brimbank 4 Fact sheets on food preparation and food purchasing, and a handy map, are key features of a new ‘Welcome Kit’ for emerging communities in the City of Brimbank.

CHOICE: Choosing Healthier Options in Casey and Cardinia 6 Two councils create an awards scheme for local eateries, encouraging them to provide good-value nutritious meals.

From Little Things, Big Things Grow 8 Amid global predictions that the next generation will be one of the unhealthiest ever, a child nutrition project in the City of Greater Dandenong is hoping to buck the trend.

Food for All in Frankston 10 Cementing food security in Frankston City Council’s Municipal Public Health Plan required good connections, good timing and some good old-fashioned luck.

Mapping Uncovers ‘Food Deserts’ in Maribyrnong 12 A mapping project in the City of Maribyrnong produced startling evidence that residents in two-thirds of the municipality don’t have easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

People, Partnerships & Research 14 Research projects involving the residents of the Shire of Melton have put an increased focus on food security and helped pave the way for new local responses.

Growing Better Community Health 16 On the third Saturday of every month, the Robinvale Community Growers Market in Swan Hill becomes the place to be.

Sharing the Load 18 An innovative partnership between Wodonga Council and Wodonga service agencies will revolutionise the way the city’s residents access emergency food relief.

Acknowledgements This publication was written by Tess Pryor for the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (VicHealth). VicHealth thanks those who generously shared their stories and photos. We would particularly like to the thank the local councils and their partner organisations who have made such a difference at a local level.

More Information To find out more about why VicHealth promotes and invests in healthy eating, go to www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/healthyeating

Cover illustration: Toby Quarmby, Vishus Productions. Draws on information and concepts from the Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab.

Left: At VicHealth we have long recognised that having adequate and nutritious food is the basis of good health. Photo: Mark Farrelly

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au  Welcome to Brimbank Fact sheets on food preparation and food purchasing, and a handy map, They were are key features of a new ‘Welcome Kit’ for emerging communities. “very excited Many new arrivals and people from refugee Developed in consultation with settlement when they backgrounds call the western suburbs of workers and community guides (key points home. In the City of Brimbank, of contact for new arrivals) it was initially could identify 43% of residents were born overseas and published in Arabic, Amharic, Somali and 54% of the community speaks a language Tigrinya. It is now also available in Khmer their own other than English. and Dari. To help residents make the transition to a new Ingrid Phyland, project officer for promoting street and life a lot healthier and less stressful, Brimbank healthy eating in Brimbank, says that African City Council and project partners developed new arrivals were the primary target for the work out where an easy-to-use ‘Welcome Kit’. Unique in information. they could its content and layout, it is helping people familiarise themselves with fresh fruit and “It is known that many new arrivals and people shop locally for vegetables as well as healthy and safe from refugee backgrounds are unfamiliar food practices. with Australian produce, particularly fruit and vegetables. Many have difficulty locating fruits and The resource is colourful and easy to read and familiar foods and lack an understanding of has high-quality photos of common fruits and our common food preparation practices and vegetables and instructions on how to buy, use of cooking equipment,” says Ingrid. vegetables. prepare, cook and store each item. Cooking classes and shopping tours run by It also contains a map highlighting fruit and local agencies led to wide acceptance and vegetable outlets in the Brimbank municipality, promotion of the kit, especially among ” encouraging people to shop locally. African communities. The kit was produced as part of Brimbank City Council’s Food for All program, in partnership with the Migrant Resource Centre North West Region, ISIS Primary Care and WestNet.

 Food for All Left: Participants in the Sudanese Learning Program use the Welcome Kit to find fresh produce in Brimbank. Photo: Migrant Resource Centre North West Region

Council-run focus groups with Sudanese “The women loved the photos. I will never women have revealed how the kit is being forget the smile on their faces when they could used and whether it has influenced shopping identify some familiar foods,” says Syl. “They What made the difference? habits and food preparation. also loved using the map – they were very • Partnerships between local government excited when they could identify their own and key community, welfare and “Many women say they keep the kit in street and work out where they could shop settlement agencies to develop and their kitchen and regularly refer to it. One locally for fruits and vegetables.” distribute the ‘Welcome Kit’. woman said her son has cooking classes at school and shows her at home, from the The project has also identified the need for • Valuable cultural expertise and linkages kit, the fruit and veggies he used, so he is training and support around healthy eating to the target community provided by educating her as well. Many are from very for workers who are in contact with newly members of the ‘Welcome Kit’ working close-knit communities and say they pass arrived communities. They are often the main group. the information they have learnt on to their dissemination point of food and nutrition friends,” says Ingrid. messages and sometimes misconceptions • Testing the translated material with new about diet and food safety are transferred. arrivals to check cultural nuances and Claudia Garzon Ribeiro from the Migrant comprehension. Resource Centre North West Region says Unique in its content and layout, the kit is the project has highlighted a number of a valuable health promotion tool that gives • Sharing resources and knowledge cultural issues. critical support to many new arrivals. But it between Brimbank City Council and has also been used by many other agencies other Food for All projects at the City “New arrivals sometimes come from refugee in their food-related activities, and is a of Greater Dandenong and Maribyrnong camps where they have had no electricity valuable resource that can help other groups City Council to increase the number of or access to running water. They arrive in at risk of food insecurity, including people translations and extend the distribution Australia and it’s taken for granted that they with low literacy levels or disabilities. of and access to the ‘Welcome Kit’. will know how to use a microwave or an oven. Many won’t drink from a tap because they And as Ingrid Phyland says, the kit has are used to boiling water before they drink it. increased understanding across the council The community guides are often new arrivals of the issues associated with food access themselves, and in the middle of their own and the barriers new arrivals face in settling settling process and learning all of this too,” into a new country. “We have new links with says Claudia. Asset Management who helped develop the maps, as well as with Economic Development, To reach new arrivals as early as possible, the Communications and Environmental Health,” Council collaborated with Adult Multicultural she says. Education Services to incorporate the kit into their English-language classes. Welcome Kit fact sheets in multiple languages can be downloaded from the Brimbank City “We wanted to catch people early in their Council website at www.brimbank.vic.gov. resettlement, before they adopted some of au/welcomekit. For further information, contact the unhealthy eating habits common to our the Community Planning & Development western lifestyle,” says Ingrid. Department on (03) 9249 4030. The kit has also been incorporated into local parenting programs. Syl Legane, who teaches English as a Second Language, used it with Sudanese mothers at Sunshine Primary School.

Right: The Welcome Kit assists with familiarisation of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as healthy and safe food practices.

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au  Left: To receive a CHOICE award, food outlets had to achieve standards in three key areas, including excellence in hygiene and food handling. Photo: Courtesy and Cardinia Shire Council

CHOICE: Choosing Healthier Options in Casey and Cardinia Two councils create an awards scheme for local eateries, encouraging them to provide good-value nutritious meals.

CHOICE In the City of Casey and Cardinia Shire, the The councils hoped the CHOICE awards “attracted demographic and geographic features of would build social support by providing these areas put residents at a high risk of the outlets with the opportunity to create a participants food insecurity, poor food intake and diet- health-promoting environment, and enable related diseases. residents to make better food choices for their individual health needs. And that the from a Both municipalities are characterised by rapid availability of healthy food choices may also development and population growth, a lack of attract customers looking for healthier options variety of public transport and a heavy reliance on car – a win-win situation. usage for everyday travel. More people are businesses consuming meals away from the home and To receive a CHOICE award, food outlets there are more take-away food outlets than were required to achieve standards in three including school greengrocers and supermarkets in the area. key areas: Excellence in hygiene and food handling; and provision of nutritious affordable Mindful of these issues, the City of Casey and canteens, food options for healthy eating. the Cardinia Shire Council looked at ways hotels, cafes, of increasing the access, affordability and Local health practitioners ran workshops on availability of healthier foods for their residents. safe food handling and how to incorporate healthier options into menus. take-away To encourage local food outlets to provide good-value nutritious meals, the councils Once a business met the criteria, it received food premises, developed an award scheme – CHOICE: an award and was promoted by council in Choosing Healthier Options in Casey and newsletters and media releases. A CHOICE restaurants and Cardinia Eateries. sticker adorned the premises’ windows. a bowling club. Sara McAlister, Sprouting New Ideas project Compliance was assessed by environmental officer for Cardinia Shire Council and the City health officers and a community dietitian. of Casey, says that with the growing rates of CHOICE attracted participants from a variety obesity and other diet-related diseases they of businesses including school canteens, wanted to ensure that there was a large variety ” hotels, cafes, take-away food premises, of healthy options for residents who didn’t eat restaurants and a bowling club. at home. Kelly’s Hotel in Cranbourne, which serves “We know that people are time-poor and that 2500 meals a week in its cafe and bistro, many families find it easier to buy take-away has been part of the awards since they food than cook themselves,” says Sara.

 Food for All began three years ago. Chef Darren Bronsema Cardinia Shire Council’s senior environmental said CHOICE offered ‘the whole package’. health officer, Gareth Little-Hales, a member What made the difference? of the working group, agrees: “In hindsight, “We already had quite a few nutritious choices we may have put the cart before the horse. • Council engaging businesses to help – we catered for coeliacs, we had a lot of People who aren’t making healthy choices them create healthy eating options. salads and we use cholesterol-free oils – but don’t know what to look for. We need to it was really helpful when the dietitian went • Council and businesses working together educate the public – if the public can’t see through our menu and talked about how to fully understand the challenges in the any benefit, then it won’t happen.” important it was for people to have choices. marketplace. Anthony Basford, Manager of Community “We trim 100% of our steaks now, and are • Council’s commitment to effective Services at Cardinia Shire Council, says selling a lot more salads. People are asking for program delivery by reviewing the best sustainability is the key issue: “The idea of smaller servings. We are more aware of what ways to promote healthy eating. the CHOICE awards is a really good one, but people want – people are thinking more about it needs to sit within a bigger picture of how • Acknowledging that alternative healthier eating,” says Darren. local government works with business, and models need to be explored to achieve The awards were reviewed by a working group, it needs to be sustainable within existing sustainability. which decided not to continue with the current structures and activities.” model. The group is using valuable learnings One option is to incorporate the CHOICE from three years of implementation to look at awards into the council’s business awards, options for the future. which recognise the contributions of local Sara McAlister explains: “We really have learnt businesses to the community. a lot. We were focusing on the needs of the businesses when we should have also focused For further information about the CHOICE on the residents – raising their awareness of awards, contact Cardinia Shire Council on 1300 the choices available. We need to go a step 787 624, www.cardinia.vic.gov.au or the City of back and do some social marketing. We need Casey, (03) 9705 5200, www.casey.vic.gov.au to provide more information to the community about why healthy eating is good and then show them the healthy options that are available locally.” Below: The award scheme encouraged local food outlets to provide good-value nutritious meals. Photo: Courtesy City of Casey and Cardinia Shire Council

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au  From Little Things, Big Things Grow Amid global predictions that the next generation will be one of the Being able to unhealthiest ever, a child nutrition project in the City of Greater “share the Dandenong is hoping to buck the trend. In the City of Greater Dandenong, the council The initiative, which uses peer educators knowledge is harnessing community and council expertise to target parents of children aged 0 to 5, is to help parents access information about a partnership between the council’s Food with her wider healthy eating and nutritious foods, particularly for Everyone project and Mission Australia’s for their children. It will lay the foundations for Communities for Children and Pathways to community healthy eating habits for life. Prevention Family Nutrition program. has given her Being the second most culturally diverse In consultation with workers from the council’s municipality in Australia, with over half of its Maternal and Child Health Service, as well as residents born overseas, Greater Dandenong refugee nurses and community health and tremendous Council was particularly keen to involve settlement workers, a training program was families from newly arrived and emerging developed based on peer education principles. joy and faith communities. Local community members who had in a healthier “Many factors can have a significant impact experience working with groups in early on whether people establish healthy eating years settings and strong links with culturally future. patterns, including low income, a limited grasp and linguistically diverse communities were of English and unfamiliarity with local foods, recruited to participate in the training. shopping practices and cooking methods,” Last year, 22 people were trained, explains Jenny Trezise, project officer for Below: Burundi dads, Syriake and Berthrand, representing communities and cultures from cooking a stir fry. Photo: Antonietta Vatta, Food for Everyone. ” Croatia, Serbia, Sudan, Burundi, Congo, Mission Australia

 Food for All Liberia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Vietnam, “Mothers now bring fruit and wholemeal bread the Cook Islands, Afghanistan, Indonesia, and vegetables to playgroup instead of sweets. Bangladesh and China. And at church we have things like carrots and celery with special feasts for family services. The council employed nutritionist Daphne Everything is healthy!” Amailuk to deliver a four-week peer leader/ playgroup leader training program, exploring One of the challenges the peer educators the social and health context of nutrition, faced when delivering nutrition training to nutrition in infancy, nutrition in early childhood their communities was how to incorporate key and shopping skills. messages into their traditional lifestyles. Some cultures have particular beliefs, especially Other topics included breastfeeding, about breastfeeding and whether certain foods introducing solids, healthy lunchboxes, food are safe to eat, such as canned and frozen safety, shopping tips, reading food labels, food. Educators were encouraged to look at healthy cooking ideas and practical food ways of maintaining the healthy aspects of preparation for age-appropriate meals. people’s traditional diets while incorporating Colourful resources (including a ‘Welcome new local foods. Above: Cook Island peer educator Mona with Kit’ with illustrations of fruits and vegetables Antonietta from Mission Australia. Photo: Helen Mission Australia has attracted funds from developed by the City of Brimbank and the Ansems, Mission Australia George Weston Foods, allowing it to build Migrant Resource Centre) were used to on the learnings of the training program overcome language barriers and demonstrate and continue its reach into culturally and what fruit and vegetables look like, how to linguistically diverse communities. Nutritionist prepare and cook them, and portion size. Antonietta Vatta has been employed to Practical activities were included in the training support and work with the current peer program as they are generally well received educators and playgroup leaders to deliver What made the difference? and a fun way to share knowledge. a healthy eating program for parents and • Leadership by the City of Greater children aged 0 to 5 years. “Cooking demonstrations are central to Dandenong and Mission Australia improving knowledge and understanding “I have basically followed on from Daphne’s to develop collaborative partnerships of nutrition. We also ran shopping tours to work. My job is to re-energise and encourage between key agencies with similar explore the range of pitfalls families often them to deliver healthy eating messages in agendas, as well as across relevant experience when shopping and to demonstrate their communities through parent groups and council departments. ‘smart’ shopping that reinforces healthy food playgroups.” • Sharing resources and learnings choices,” says Jenny. “It’s really about giving the communities the between key stakeholders, other After completing the training program, the peer knowledge and the resources they need, and councils and government to develop educators went back to their communities with in the most appropriate way,” says Antonietta. a peer educator/playgroup leader kit. the aim of empowering them to make healthier The partnership between Mission Australia • Adopting an evidence-based peer food choices in culturally appropriate ways. and the City of Greater Dandenong has education model as the most effective Playgroup leader Teremoana ‘Mona’ Topa, one played an important role in raising the profile way to share information with the of the newly trained peer educators, came to of food security and healthy eating, both target group. Australia from the Cook Islands 15 years ago. within council and across local health and • Partnerships between stakeholders She says that learning about nutrition has welfare agencies. The project won the leading to an increase in workforce changed her family’s life enormously. Being Victorian 2007 Heart Foundation Kellogg capacity in the health promotion sector able to share the knowledge with her wider Local Government Award. to understand and promote healthy eating community has given her tremendous joy and Many workers in primary health care agencies to reduce food insecurity. faith in a healthier future. and early childhood services have a better “We are used to thinking that if something tastes understanding of food security and are able good then it is good for our bodies. I learnt this to deliver consistent messages about healthy wasn’t true especially with sweets such as cakes, eating and nutrition, promote the importance lollies and fizzy drinks,” says Mona. of breastfeeding, and dispel food myths in a variety of innovative ways. Mona passed on her learnings to the mothers at her playgroup and says that their positive For further information about the Food for response has led to major changes in the Everyone project, contact the Manager of community’s eating habits. Social Development on (03) 9239 5199.

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au  Food for All in Frankston The Cementing food security in the council’s Municipal Public Health Plan “ Food required good connections, good timing and some good old-fashioned luck. for All program In Frankston City Council’s innovative Municipal Family Services, Social Strategy and Planning, Public Health Plan, priority has been given to Environment, Marketing and Infrastructure. was fortuitously actions and strategies that will help residents “It was a good project for people to collaborate access more fresh, nutritious foods. placed within on because it’s tangible. People feel like they For the first time, the Plan (Frankston Healthy can contribute, as opposed to policy which the social City: Health and Wellbeing Plan 2007–2011) can seem like just a lot of big words,” focuses on the determinants of health (such as says Christine. income, education and environmental factors) strategy and From November 2005 to June 2007 the new rather than the prevention of infectious diseases, plan was developed. Partnerships were formed and includes food security as a key plank. planning with 17 members from eight organisations The plan’s author, council’s then Community to form the Health and Wellbeing Steering area. Wellbeing Coordinator, Christine Burrows, says Community. Nearly 80 participants contributed that the Food for All program was fortuitously to stakeholder roundtables, 30 council placed within the social strategy and planning staff participated in a health plan priorities area. “This was all very timely as we were workshop, and 446 people responded to a ” starting to review the old health plan and community survey. develop the new one,” explains Christine. Developing the plan also involved 14 council Food security is a new area of work for departments, nine other government or Frankston, although local awareness had statutory authorities, and 16 community begun with the Frankston Community Kitchens groups including schools, food retailers/ pilot project, underway at the Frankston wholesalers and community garden groups. Community Health Service. The Food for All program (which started in “Community Kitchens focus on increasing July 2005) fed into the plan, as did research social connectedness and healthy eating from a Monash University survey. – they are a health promotion model, not a The survey found that 12% of respondents welfare model. They target people at risk of or had gone without food in the previous six experiencing food insecurity. This project was months because of a lack of money; 7% already tilling the soil in Frankston and raising because of a lack of transport. Eighty-seven awareness of the issues with the council per cent of respondents lived in a ‘fresh food and agencies such as the Brotherhood of St desert’ – they had to travel more than 500m Laurence,” says Christine. (walkable distance) to access fresh fruit and At the same time, a group of community vegetables. From this local evidence, it was members approached the council wanting to clear that food security was an issue. establish a community garden in Montague The enormous process of developing the Park, Frankston South. This project was health plan was not without its challenges. very much in line with council’s community development approach and resulted in a “There is often a balancing act between number of cross-council actions between identifying difficult community issues Parks and Gardens, Economic Development, and keeping a positive perception of the municipality and its community,” says Christine. “There is often a fear of anything Left: Getting kids to eat and enjoy fruit being put in a negative light.” was one of the key outcomes of the Food for All program. Photo: Courtesy Frankston City Council 10 Food for All There were also challenges around definitions, two ways – into their toilets and onto our Local volunteers will be able to attain certificates perception and language. garden!” says Regina. in food handling, develop customer service skills and increase community connections. “Food security is often confused with food “Council’s support has made more things safety. We put food security under the priority possible and positive. It’s made such a The community enterprise is not happening of healthy eating – people understand the difference to getting a good result.” in isolation. “Both primary schools have concept of healthy eating more readily than community gardens, and there are three Another innovative spin-off from Food for food security,” says Christine. community kitchens with a fourth on the way. All is the community enterprise in Frankston The secondary college has a garden and an The Food for All program, with its focus on North, an area with poor access to fresh orchard, and Pines Patch Community Garden council departments working together on fruit and vegetables. has 13 beds and a water tank,” says Amanda. issues about food access and encouraging Community groups and schools are working local governments to take the lead in working The school and community gardens are together to increase the supply of fresh with community members, has had some further linked by a garden network that meets produce and create a healthier outlook for inspiring spin-offs in Frankston. to share ideas and resources. the community. The community garden destined for Montague Having food security embedded in the Amanda Leck, manager of Community Park is now up and running. Known as Municipal Public Health Plan enables and Renewal Frankston North, says local Groundswell Community Garden Incorporated, supports the development of these valuable action and communities can make a real it’s a flourishing cooperative led by passionate community initiatives and contributes to their difference to food security. “A plan is not a fresh-food advocate and local community sustainability. living document until local communities are member, Regina McLeod. empowered to put something on the ground,” “It’s all about seeing connections, making Regina says the organisation’s relationship she says. connections and being proactive,” says with the council, and especially the Food Christine Burrows. Under the auspices of Community Renewal for All program, has been crucial to the and in partnership with the Brotherhood of establishment and sustainability of the garden. For further information about Food for All in St Laurence, they have received funding Frankston, contact Jo Patten, Coordinator, “Through Food for All we were able to meet for the development of a local community Policy & Planning, (03) 9784 1734. with the council to discuss water-saving ideas. enterprise that will sell good-quality, reasonably From this we secured a federal water grant of priced fruit and vegetables, with a home $10,000 in partnership with the local scout delivery service for seniors and people group. Water from their tank is now directed with disabilities. What made the difference?

• Extensive consultation with the key stakeholders and community members who would be most affected by the policy.

• Identifying synergies and activities to solve food security issues.

• Supporting and developing on-the-ground community activities that reflected the policy.

• Incorporating education and training into local activities.

Left: Mahogany Community Kitchen participants plant food for the future at Pines Patch Community Garden. Photo: Courtesy Frankston North Community Renewal

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 11 Left: Not a single business is open in this Maidstone shopping strip. Photo: Timothy Marshall

Mapping Uncovers ‘Food Deserts’ in Maribyrnong A mapping project in the City of Maribyrnong has produced startling The graphic evidence that residents in two-thirds of the municipality do not have “portrayal easy access to fresh fruit and vegetables. that in Workers at the Western Region Health Centre The survey showed that although fruit and (WRHC) in Braybrook and Footscray knew from vegetables were cheaper than the municipal talking to the locals that food security was a average, they were harder for residents to Maribyrnong big issue. But without hard evidence, the true reach by public transport and easy, safe it is easier for situation was not really known. walking routes. The Centre initiated the Mapping Maribyrnong: With the help of the council’s Geographic people to walk Fruit and Vegetable Access project as part of Information System, specialist maps were their Integrated Health Promotion Plan. The produced that showed the reality of the to a poker project aimed to find out how accessible and situation and clearly identified three large affordable fruits and vegetables were, and what ‘food deserts’ in Braybrook, Maidstone and machine than a interventions would be needed to improve West Footscray/Kingsville. the situation. fruit shop has ‘Food deserts’ are areas where there are no fruit Two student dietitians from Monash University, or vegetable outlets within a 500m radius. Esti Adithama and Giang Nguyen, surveyed 40 resonated A survey of people living in identified food food outlets across the municipality in 2006. deserts revealed that 25% found it difficult to strongly. Jaime Edge, health promotion team leader shop for fruit and vegetables mainly because of at WRHC and key worker for the mapping physical disabilities or an inability to carry heavy project, said the results confirmed the shopping. New arrivals and refugees also had to workers’ suspicions. navigate an unfamiliar public transport system with children and trolleys. ” “We guessed that the situation was bad, but we wanted to prove how difficult it really was The maps show the presence of fruit and for people in the area to access fresh and vegetable shops and the comparative costs nutritious foods,” she says. of produce across the municipality. They also show the ratios of fruit and vegetable shops to take-away stores, and public transport and toilet access. 12 Food for All “It was important that we looked at things knowledge of what different fruits and veggies “The graphic portrayal that in Maribyrnong it like public transport routes and the location are, or how to prepare them – this is especially is easier for people to walk to a poker machine of public toilets. If you are an elderly person relevant to new arrivals. Also, people may not than a fruit shop has resonated strongly,” he who is reliant on public transport and has to have the right cooking facilities or they may be says. “The mapping project has provided the catch two buses to get your fresh food, then time-poor and find it too hard to cook a meal council with additional data to mount appeals having access to a public toilet will significantly from scratch and so it’s easier to buy fast, against the addition or transfer of poker influence your decision to travel,” says Jaime. less-nutritious foods.” machines within the city, and to negotiate with developers for the contribution of land for Lucy Marshall, Maribyrnong City Council’s The municipality is the second most community gardens.” coordinator of the Fruit and Veg for All project, disadvantaged in the metropolitan area. It has says the maps have become an invaluable lower than average car ownership, and more According to Lucy Marshall, the project has resource, but is mindful that the data is already than one-third of its residents are from non- acted as a needs assessment for Maribyrnong out of date – three fruit and vegetable shops English speaking backgrounds. The mapping Fruit and Veg for All and has also influenced have closed since the survey was completed. showed what was really going on and how policy development within the council. different departments within council could have “We have been running food security programs “Our sustainable transport officer put in a a direct influence on food security. for years but this data shows councillors the submission to the Department of Infrastructure’s extent of food insecurity in their wards, and the Nick Matteo, manager of Community Planning Local Area Access Program to get the West maps clearly demonstrate that there are many and Advocacy for Maribyrnong, confirms the Footscray train station upgraded. Many aspects to food security,” says Lucy. value of the project. residents rely heavily on the train to get access to food, and we knew from the maps “We know that access is a strong barrier to “The maps are visually powerful and a useful that this area was part of a ‘food desert’. The people not eating enough fruit and vegetables trigger and catalyst for a range of new council officer was able to use this new evidence but there are many other reasons,” she says. activities,” says Nick. to support his application,” says Lucy. “It could be that they don’t have the skills or Food security is one of the principles now underpinning the council’s annual community grants program, and community kitchens will now be included in the planning and design of new community centres and community hubs.

For more information about the Mapping Maribyrnong: Fruit and Vegetable Access project, contact the Community Planning and Advocacy Department on (03) 9688 0200, [email protected], www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au

What made the difference?

• Collaboration between the Western Region Health Centre and Maribyrnong City Council.

• Presenting data in an engaging, visual map format.

• Recognising that good data can be a powerful advocacy tool for council and local community agencies.

• Allocating dedicated resources to the project.

Left: Map: Courtesy City of Maribyrnong

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 13 Left: The Shire of Melton consulted a broad range of older people to find out how it could improve access to nutritious foods. Photo: Courtesy Shire of Melton

People, Partnerships & Research Interesting and informative research projects involving the residents of the Shire of Melton have put an increased focus on food security and helped pave the way for new local responses.

The Shire of Melton is characterised by a mapping food outlets and transport routes and diversity of settlement and land use and an a Needs Assessment Survey in Diggers Rest. unevenness of service provision. Some areas The survey revealed that 88% of the residents have good public transport and easy access to surveyed found fruit and vegetables difficult to supermarkets and fresh food supplies. Others, access. Almost 60% said they would eat more such as the small community of Diggers fruit and vegetables if these foods were more Rest, with a population of 2000, have no easily available. supermarkets and one general store with The residents limited access to fresh foods. Erin Bonavia, health promotion officer at Djerriwarrh Health Services, says that the Council’s Food for All program supported “ research activities generated a stronger really liked the Djerriwarrh Health Services, Merrimu Services understanding of food security issues in and the council’s Department of Aged & the area. She says there is a real sense of fact that they Disability Services to look at ways of increasing community cohesiveness in looking at people’s access to fresh foods. were being these issues. One of the strategies was the introduction of “The students went into the community and a mobile Veg Out Van, which targeted people heard – that through face-to-face meetings were able living in areas that lacked public transport to get really valuable data. A lot of people and had limited food outlets. It replicated a their opinion didn’t understand what food security was successful project that had been trialled in the but when we explained it as a lack of regular City of Maribyrnong. mattered. and adequate access to nutritious foods, they Insufficient resources, planning and demand understood. The residents really liked the fact meant that the service was unsustainable, but that they were being heard – that their opinion it gave the council an opportunity to look more mattered,” says Erin. ” closely at how it could work with community Below: David Vella from the Shire of Melton The council regularly holds community organisations to improve food security. with offerings from the mobile Veg Out Van. development meetings in Diggers Rest, bringing Photo: Courtesy Shire of Melton Council engaged Djerriwarrh Health Services together representatives from schools, residents to do some promotional work for the Food for associations, playgroups and the Lions Club All program, using its existing health promotion to discuss issues of community interest. Food resources and incorporating extra activities in security is now firmly on the agenda, and the community to promote the benefits of fresh people are excited about being part of the fruits and vegetables. solution.

These activities complemented the research “People have come up with ideas such as work led by dietetic students from Deakin and having a regular farmers market. Others are Monash universities: Investigating Food Security interested in setting up a community garden, within Melton Shire, and Melton Healthy Food where residents could meet and interact. Connection. The students’ research included Currently they have nowhere to meet – there isn’t even a coffee shop,” says Erin.

14 Food for All People have also expressed an interest in that 23% had sought food assistance in times By integrating and disseminating research learning horticultural skills so that they can of emergency. There was a substantial level of findings within council, it has been able to work grow their own vegetables, and they are keen illiteracy amongst the culturally and linguistically with the community to find solutions to a very for a resource listing the produce that is grown diverse participants, which has implications for common problem. locally so that people can access fresh foods other services in Melton Shire. themselves from local growers. For further information about the Shire of The research highlighted areas where the Melton’s Food for All activities, contact Social “The momentum and excitement is there. council is working well to improve access Development on (03) 9747 7200. We now need to work in partnership with the to nutritious foods for older residents, and council to see where we can go with these where further planning is needed. It has also ideas,” says Erin. reinforced the importance of really listening to what people are saying. As part of the Food for All program, another What made the difference? body of research is giving valuable insight “Our relationship with a shopping centre that • Establishing internal and external into what is happening for older people in the provides free home deliveries for residents who partnerships and identifying shared community. An assessment of the barriers to use the community bus is a great success, needs. older people accessing nutritious food in Melton and we will be developing relationships like Shire was commissioned by the council’s Aged this with more supermarkets,” says Coral. “The • The availability of dedicated student & Disability Services and undertaken by RMIT community bus takes elderly people shopping resources to conduct research with a and Monash University, using language-specific four days a week. It provides important social strong community-participation focus. facilitators in the focus groups. connections for many older people. For • Learning from pilot projects and some, this is their only social activity for the Coral Crameri, acting manager for the council’s disseminating research findings week. Sometimes the importance of this is Aged & Disability Services, says that the strategically within council. overlooked.” research project provided a great opportunity • A commitment from council to put for consultation with a broad range of older Coral says the council knows there will be research into practice and use results people, including those using public housing enormous growth in the shire’s eastern corridor, from the research to plan for future and council’s community transport services, so they have already planned for a new bus activities and services. members of the senior citizens groups, and and driver. people from culturally and linguistically diverse The partnerships and research have provided backgrounds. a solid base of local evidence and momentum The research showed that 30% of respondents for food security that will help inform council’s were unable to shop without assistance and strategic planning.

Below: Using the Council’s community transport to help people participate in the consultation sessions. Photo: Courtesy Shire of Melton

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 15 Right: Lex and Glenda Fisher selling produce grown on their farm only 55km from the market. Photo: Sallie Amy

The positive Growing Better “spirit that comes from Community Health being part of On the third Saturday of every month, the Robinvale Community Growers Market in Swan Hill becomes the place to be for the people committed of Robinvale.

community The Robinvale market – full of just-picked local has been running every month since December produce – comes alive in the local supermarket 2006, was conceived to be a community action car park, turning it into a welcoming gathering meeting place. place for a community rich in cultural diversity. reverberates “St Luke’s Communities for Children program, Situated alongside the Murray River, Robinvale through community consultation, developed the far beyond is one of the Swan Hill municipality’s major idea with a view to it being a neutral environment urban centres. It is becoming known as one of for people of different cultures to mix together, the town’s Victoria’s fastest growing towns, with increasing with the hope that it would lead to increased investment from large companies into almond respect, sharing and understanding,” says Sallie. and olive plantations. boundaries. The Communities for Children program is The seasonal demand for labour attracts more supported by the Australian Government as than 40 nationalities to the region, including part of the Stronger Families and Communities Aboriginals, Italians, Greeks, Asians, South Strategy. It aims to support the health and early ” Pacific Islanders, Sudanese and Afghanis. development needs of young children aged 0 to 5 by helping parents and building child-friendly This transient labour force creates accommo- communities. dation issues for hosting towns. Many residents have to pay higher rents, which leaves less Communities for Children project manager Maria money for food. ‘Bing’ Thomas says that providing children’s activities and opportunities for the parents to Being an agricultural and horticultural region, engage during the market has produced positive fresh produce is in abundance but is mostly outcomes, some way beyond expectations. sold away from the area, leaving many locals with little access to the freshest fruits and “In Robinvale there are many families that vegetables available. are geographically and culturally isolated. The market gives them an opportunity for safe, Sallie Amy, Food for All project officer for the social connection,” she says. Swan Hill Rural City Council, says that as well as increasing people’s access to fresh and Last September, the Robinvale District Health affordable local produce, the market, which Service (one of the Community Partners

Left: Communities for Children project manager Maria ‘Bing’ Thomas helping Clare Smith draw a picture. Photo: Sallie Amy 16 Food for All of Communities for Children) held a bike “I used to be a primary producer and now of people are concerned about paperwork and decorating competition to engage fathers in I run a take-away and grocery shop. I know think that to be involved they have to go through a family-friendly activity. Not only did fathers how valuable fresh foods are, especially when a lot of difficult regulations. “I am trying to get turn out but so did grandfathers, big brothers catering for the nutritional needs of families.” the message across that these regulations aren’t and cousins. a problem – I can help people if they need it,” Produce from the Manatunga Community she says. “I think the fathers had more fun than the kids! Garden – which is managed by the local The market provides opportunities for family Manatunga Aboriginal community – is sold The market has reinvigorated the town in gatherings that normally aren’t available here,” at the Robinvale market, providing income many ways. The positive spirit that comes from says Maria. to purchase seedlings and equipment. The being part of committed community action garden has been operating for 10 years, and reverberates far beyond the town’s boundaries. Other Community Partners that have provided the food grown is available for anyone in the children’s activities at the market include “Being a producer at the market is very healthy wider community who is unable to provide the Swan Hill Rural City Council’s ‘So Great’ mentally. A lot of farmers have given up. We for themselves. program, the Community & Cultural Services have stepped out of that and have hope that program and the Swan Hill mobile library. The Swan Hill Food for All project team has we can continue, that we can grow very good been assisting the garden workers with its produce that people want. We have hope that Active participation on market day has also development so that it can provide food for we can still do it!” exclaims Glenda. come from many other community agencies a greater part of the year. The garden and and businesses. The Mothers of Preschoolers its involvement with the market has enabled For more information about the Robinvale have run activities for children, and John a valuable connection to grow between the Community Growers Market, contact Sallie Pisasale Pharmacy has held displays and given council and the local Aboriginal community. Amy, Food for All Project Officer, away products such as sunscreen samples. (03) 5036 2376. Participating farmers are also reaping the “We are providing a variety of things to draw benefits. Glenda Fisher from KingFisher Citrus people in – people will shop and use the library Products lives 40 minutes from Robinvale and so we want them to stop and buy local fresh is an enthusiastic stallholder and advocate of produce at a good price,” says Sallie. farmers markets. What made the difference? John Katis, a local councillor for 12 years and “There are so many big corporations around Robinvale resident for 50 years, has been • Council taking the lead in the here and there is so little access to their involved with the market since its inception and development and management of the produce. We are encouraging local growers to is proud of its health focus. market and thinking broadly about who use the market as a training ground to get their else could be involved. “It’s good for the town economically and great produce out to the people. People love seeing for the health of the community. Many people the face of the grower. And it’s great associating • Having guidelines in place determining are deprived of fresh foods – most people buy with like-minded farmers – they often have what type of goods would be available them in the supermarket and they are many innovative ideas to share,” she says. for purchase (ie, fresh food not crafts). days old. At the market the food comes straight Compliance with basic food regulations is • Using the market as a conduit for from the growers and is hours old!” says required for producers who want to participate increasing the physical and mental Councillor Katis. in a farmers market. Sallie Amy says that a lot health of the community, and actively encouraging participation by health and welfare services.

• The ability to be flexible and review proceedings, including changing the location of the market and canvassing options for sustainability.

Left: Workers from the Manatunga Community Garden, which supplies produce to the Robinvale Market. Photo: Fiona Gormann

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 17 Left: Alison Prenter from Uniting Care Wodonga in the cramped space from which she currently supplies emergency food relief. Photo: Courtesy Wodonga Council

Below left: How things will look once the project is up and running with a shared warehouse. Photo: Courtesy Wodonga Council

The FoodShare Sharing the Load “project will An innovative partnership between Wodonga Council and Wodonga service agencies will revolutionise the way the city’s residents access centralise emergency food relief. and simplify In the Wodonga area, the demand on agencies The FoodShare project will centralise and to provide emergency relief has skyrocketed. simplify the collection and distribution of the collection emergency food, and will relieve welfare agencies Increasing housing costs and the drought of the need to have onsite resources. and distribution are forcing more and more people to access support, and people moving to the country from Individuals and families in need will be referred of emergency the city are expecting it to be cheaper but finding to shopfronts that will operate just like a retail that it’s not. store with display shelving, fridges and counters, providing a greater variety of foods to choose food, and Retiring farmers are another emerging group – from, including fresh fruit and vegetables. the emotional and financial stress of the drought will relieve is forcing many of them to move into town and The shopfronts will also help people forge they are also starting to access emergency relief. important links with primary producers in the area. welfare According to the council’s community project officer for Food for All, Tracey Farrant, enormous Central warehouse space donated by family- agencies of time and resources are spent by local agencies owned and community-minded national business in sourcing food and distributing it to the Border Express will store large donations and the need to have community. “Not having enough to eat is a big consignments of foodstuffs. This will increase the onsite resources. issue for many people in the area,” she said. amount and range of food available. ” 18 Food for All Recipients of emergency relief will also be able “Food security is fundamentally important For further information about Wodonga to volunteer, receiving training in food safety and to how we design our cities, how we provide Council’s FoodShare project, contact handling, and customer service. accessible public transport, and how we the community project officer on understand that access to food is an issue The idea for the FoodShare project came out (02) 6022 9300. across the whole community,” she said. of the Albury/Wodonga Regional Food Security Network, led by the Wodonga Council. The “Part of our core business is advocacy. network is a collection of key welfare and Projects such as FoodShare need to be health agencies from Wodonga, Albury and recognised at a higher policy level or they What made the difference? surrounding communities. will not be sustainable. This project gives the • Leadership by Wodonga Council to council an opportunity to think differently at They came together for the first time to bring agencies together to capitalise a strategic level – it creates a different way specifically focus on issues relating to food on their knowledge and skills. of working and an improved understanding security. Although the agencies were aware of across council.” • The recognition of a shared need each others’ existence, they hadn’t seen the and commitment of the network opportunity to work together before and had not The FoodShare project has also provided towards a solution for all. developed relationships across the border. some surprising and exciting spin-offs for Uniting Care. • Regular and inclusive communication Network members, such as the Salvation Army to all partners by the council and Uniting Care Wodonga, were spending a “It has been great getting together and sharing throughout the project. lot of time chasing food supplies and managing ideas”, Ms Prenter said. “I’ve met people who food relief when they wanted their main focus are creating community gardens, and Uniting • The formation of strong relationships to be breaking the cycle of welfare for many Care has now dedicated some of its land to between agencies and business. families. growing vegetables, which is wonderful as we can provide some fresh food at times instead of The group thought a food bank could be just packaged food. the solution. “When we dug up a strip at the front and side They took a close look at the successful of the church, people said we were mad and Yarrawonga Food Bank and developed a model that the veggies would get stolen. In three years to incorporate the community’s needs. The we have only lost one cabbage and a handful original coordinator of the Yarrawonga Food of potatoes. It has built great trust in the Bank is now on the FoodShare steering group community.” and has become an invaluable resource. Uniting Care has dedicated even more land Alison Prenter from Uniting Care Wodonga says to vegetable gardens and is considering other the project would not have happened without areas which could be suitable for community the leadership shown by the council. gardens. “Tracey has been phenomenal”, Ms Prenter FoodShare is an innovative project that shows said. “She has been able to pull together all the what can be achieved when a council provides food-related networks in the area.” committed leadership and respects the “We’ve had an emergency relief network before experiences and knowledge that all sorts of but not one that focuses exclusively on food. As community groups and agencies can bring a result we can look at the bigger picture for the to the table. first time. Until now, this was impossible – we’d Above: Photo: Courtesy Wodonga Council “This is about people in need being able to get bogged down by the mass of people who contribute to the solution, not just getting a come through needing assistance.” hand-out,” Ms Farrant said. “Patience is a Wodonga Council’s director of community virtue. Don’t be put off by something taking development, Patience Harrington, said the time – quality often does.” council is committed to increasing people’s access to nutritious foods and determined to make it happen.

www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 19 20 Food for All

Victorian Health Promotion Foundation PO Box 154 Carlton South Victoria 3053 Australia Phone: +61 3 9667 1333 Fax: +61 3 9667 1375 Email: [email protected]

July 2008 www.vichealth.vic.gov.au 22 Food for All