Home Programs & Projects Share Share Share Copy Link Copy Link Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Email Healthy and sustainable food systems Find out what influences people's access to healthy and sustainable food. Food systems, Neighbourhood and built systems, VicHealth strategy Scroll down Body At VicHealth, we believe that everyone deserves access to healthy, sustainable, and culturally appropriate food. We're passionate about creating a food system that not only supports the health of individuals and communities but also cares for the environment. We work tirelessly to advocate, influence, and invest in the food system to make sure that all Victorians can enjoy delicious, nutritious, and environmentally sustainable food. But we know that systemic barriers can make it difficult for some communities to access these foods. That's why we're committed to unpacking these barriers and taking meaningful action to dismantle them. This page visually unpacks the influences we need to understand and address so all Victorians can enjoy a healthy lifestyle and diet. By understanding these challenges, we can work together to create solutions that make healthy food accessible to everyone. Body Cost Fresh produce often takes a bigger bite out of the bank account than ultra processed foods. It can be expensive to cook food that's better for our bodies. Body Time When you're on the go, finding the time to cook a fresh meal or buy fresh ingredients isn't always possible. It's harder to eat healthier with a demanding schedule. Body Housing/Facilities Depending on your housing situation, you may not always have access to the appropriate facilities needed for cooking healthy meals. Whether it's a communal kitchen or limited space, housing can impact how and when we prepare food. Body Neighbourhood design The design of your neighbourhood can affect the food you eat. In some places, you could have a 5 minute walk to a fresh food market, while in others you might have to drive for 20 minutes. Body Geographic location If you live in a city, regional area or more remote community, your food options will be different. Cost, variety and freshness of food are all determined by where you live Body Marketing Ultra processed foods advertising is everywhere, constantly bombarding us. It can be so sneaky, we may not even realise it when it happens! Body Social exclusion The impact of colonisation, including dispossession of land and associated traumas, has broken traditional eating practices for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. For communities of multicultural backgrounds, they may feel uncomfortable to cook and enjoy their traditional foods due to fears of discrimination and exclusion Body Knowledge There is so much information out there about what is healthy and this can be confusing. Advice on social media may not always be verified or accurate. Navigating this can be tricky and exhausting. Body Caleb Are you like Caleb? For him and his family, the price of fresh produce is too high. They make the best of what they have but the climbing prices mean they can afford less and less fresh food each month. Caleb finds frozen meals last longer and are more affordable. How can we make fresh produce and other healthy foods more affordable? Body Leyla Meet Leyla, she’s a Uni student working two jobs to make ends meet. Between lectures and work, she usually gets home after 10pm and barely has time to cook. When she can spare a moment, she opts for quick, low-cost, filling foods like instant noodles and sausage rolls. How can we make healthy options easy even for busy people like Leyla? Body Alex Alex lives in a sharehouse with a small kitchen. She doesn’t always have access to the facilities needed to cook healthy meals. How should we build houses and apartments to provide the space Alex needs to prepare meals? Body Sourab Sourab lives in an area with more fast-food outlets than supermarkets. It takes an hour for his family to drive to the nearest market to buy fresh produce. How could we plan suburbs so Sourab can be in walking or cycling distance to fresh food? Body Eden Eden lives in a remote area with higher food prices. Some items are close to three times the price you would pay in metropolitan regions. How do we redesign the way food is moved around Australia to better support Eden and others in remote communities? Body Trevor Trevor likes to eat foods he sees on TV and social media. Whether it’s an ad with a catchy jingle or the latest Tiktok recipe trend, he gravitates to what he sees most. How can we ensure that Trevor is inspired by healthy food Tiktoks and ads, rather than being bombarded with unhealthy food advertising? Body Carla Carla comes from a migrant background. Her family is one of the only multicultural families in their suburb. She takes processed food and snacks to school so she doesn’t stand out. How do we address systemic racism in communities to ensure they are safe spaces for Carla and others from multicultural backgrounds? Body Kora This is Kora, she wants to eat healthy but doesn’t know how! She finds the supermarket overwhelming and cooking to be quite complex. How can we create supermarkets that encourage healthier food purchases? Download Unpacking Complex Food Systems infographic (pdf, 673.71 KB) Body Our work to transform our food system includes partnerships with local government, advocating for policy change, protecting the community from industries that sell harmful products and investing in groundbreaking research and programs. We're also investing in the development of Future Healthy Food Hubs in seven communities across the state, making healthy food accessible to those who need it most. But we can't do it alone. Creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system requires a whole-of-sector and community approach. We invite you to join us as an interested community member, food systems activist, academic or policymaker to take meaningful action that goes beyond individual behaviour and creates systemic transformation. Together, we can create a food system that nourishes both people and the planet, and is accessible to all Victorians. So join us today, and let's make a difference! Body Get in touch with [email protected] Related content Say hello to our 7 Future Healthy Food Hubs partners! Programs and projects 6 min read 5 Apr 2022 A Festival for a Well-Nourished Victoria Programs and projects 1 min read 12 May 2023
