South West Food Community

Type of project

Healthy Food

State

Western Australia

Location

Regional

The South West Food Community project focused on identifying and mapping all of the initiatives focusing on healthy food availability, access and utilisation (food security) for South West Western Australians. The project was catalysed by previous Western Australian research that highlighted food security issues were prevalent in the region and state. [1, 2]

Increasing food security

This place-based project used an Australian-first methodology, a ‘Systemic Innovation Lab’ [3] which focused, in this case, on food security. The process involved identifying and mapping the initiatives supporting healthy food availability, access and use in the South West region. These initiatives included projects such as local government strategic plans, agricultural projects, social enterprises, food literacy projects and farmers’ markets, among others. Interviews were conducted to understand how each initiative functioned and their partnering organisations. The approach also involved identifying which characteristics for system change the initiatives possessed. [4, 5]

After the interviews were undertaken, a map of the food security system (map of initiatives) was generated to showcase which system change characteristics were possessed by initiatives and the “windows of opportunity” that existed for certain characteristics that could be supported. Government and community stakeholders were then brought together at a results-sharing workshop, to review and reflect on the results and collectively design strategies to enhance their way of working. They also participated in a workshop to discuss new initiatives that were required in the region to support healthy food availability, access and use. [4, 5] The map of initiatives was embedded on a purpose-built web platform, www.foodcommunity.com.au.

The Food Community website is a resource to showcase a range of government and community food initiatives. Made to be used by all including community members, the website also provides information and resources about food security, details opportunities to connect and collaborate locally, and ideas on how to advocate for improved healthy food availability, access and use for all.

Replication of the South West pilot project is currently being explored in other WA and Australian states and territories.

The core project team includes members with a diverse skill set in policy, practice and research from Edith Cowan University and the Public Health Advocacy Institute of Western Australia (PHAIWA). Two Research Assistants with extensive South West networks were also employed under the core team.

A multisector reference group was recruited through existing professional networks and traditional media, to provide an advisory role across components such as branding, awareness raising amongst networks, website components and ongoing sustainability. The reference group comprised stakeholders working in public health nutrition, environmental health, community development, education, Aboriginal health and primary health.

A number of key networks and organisations have also been instrumental in promoting the community project launch and participating in the mapping process. Such organisations include local community-based groups and government organisations with wide-reaching social media profiles. Local media have also been very supportive and have supported project promotion through a series of print and radio media coverage.

Project team

• Edith Cowan University
• PHAIWA
• Reference group

Project Cost

$10,000 start-up funding, $30,000 website funding and substantial in-kind contributions.