Food Insecurity in Education Settings

Project summary:

Food insecurity is said to occur whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain.

Data released through the Victorian Population Health Survey found that 11.3% of the Latrobe Valley population experience food insecurity with hunger; meaning that they have limited access to safe, nutritious foods or availability is irregular. This is significantly higher than the Victorian state average of just 6.6%.

Children living in food insecure households are at greater risk of experiencing poor health and developmental outcomes and reduced academic ability. Within education settings, teachers regularly comment on the need for more to be done for vulnerable students at all levels of education.

The Latrobe Health Assembly regularly hears from all levels of community about the impact that food insecurity has on our region, particularly with respect to children/youth. While it is a known issue and widespread, there has not been to date a whole-of-community mapping exercise conducted of the situation with vulnerable young people as the primary focus.

LHA will be working with a selected consultancy firm to conduct detailed research into the following areas:

• Support education settings to address food insecurity within the provider’s settings;
• Support food security for children/youth before and after attending the education provider;
• Support families to address food insecurity within their own home/dwelling; and
• Improve education of nutritional requirements targeting children/youth, families and education