Food For All Latrobe Valley
Project summary:
Food security can be defined as “when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”. The Victorian Population Health Survey found that 11.3% in Latrobe Valley, formerly 6.6%, experience food insecurity with hunger – significantly higher than the Victorian state average of 5.9%, formerly 3.6%.
In response to this growing issue, delivered by Latrobe Community Health Service (LCHS), Food For All Latrobe Valley (FFALV) was established to increase access to fresh nutritious food across Latrobe Valley. FFALV aims to assist the Latrobe Valley to successfully bring together health services, emergency relief agencies, community groups, food retailers and producers, Neighbourhood Houses and the wider community to work collaboratively to build capacity and work towards a more food-secure Latrobe Valley community. To date FFALV has 85 membership organisations and has delivered 357 interventions.
In 2021, the Primary Care Partnership model ceased across Victoria and LCHS absorbed the LFSC. In 2023, a new partnership of Latrobe City Council, Gippsland Regional Public Health Unit, LHA and LCHS was formed which will work on the continuation of the LFSC by coming together quarterly as the Latrobe Food Systems Leadership Group (LFSLG).
The coalition aims to increase access, availability and consumption of fresh, nutritious food for those who live, work, play and belong in the Latrobe Valley, through collective community actions.
The key objectives include:
- Improve access to and efficiency of food relief services across Latrobe Valley.
- Increase healthy food preferences and food literacy skills within Latrobe Valley.
- Support local food production and a sustainable food economy.
- Improve community engagement and support capacity building initiatives.
Food is an essential aspect of our daily lives. Our social practices, cultures and traditions often centre around food. Food also impacts our physical and mental wellbeing.
The Latrobe Valley Food Declaration is a shared statement outlining our vision for a strong local food system that is safe, secure, fair, sustainable and connected.
Purpose:
The Latrobe Valley Food Declaration aims to encourage action to strengthen our local food system and achieve better access to affordable, fresh and nutritious food for everyone in our community.
In working to achieve this purpose, we will encourage:
- Better access to affordable, fresh and nutritious food for everyone in our community;
- Local economic development through fresh food markets, agri-tourism and support for small crop farming
- Increased consumption of local, nutritious foods by our community.
Our vision:
- A local food system that supports the social and physical wellbeing of all
community members. - Recognise that access to nutritious, affordable food without the need for
emergency food relief is a basic human right. - Recognise the need to conserve local ecosystems, biodiversity and protect fertile agricultural lands.
- Local government policies should include strategies to support food
access. These policies may relate to; income, employment, housing, health and transport. - Prioritise strategies and initiatives that promote food security and a sustainable food system.
Download the Latrobe Valley Food Declaration
Signatories:
How can you get involved? Registering and agreeing to become a signatory is simple; just email Health.Promotion@lchs.com.au with a signed letter of support (find an example letter here). Don’t forget to attach a logo to your email if you are signing on behalf of an organisation!
