The NEPHN – Population Health meeting held in February 2025 had a focus on Alternative Food Models and Sustainable Food Systems in north east Melbourne, which included three key presentations and an in-depth panel discussion moderated by Mel Chisholm, Senior Manager Population Health.
The session opened with a presentation from First Person Consulting’s Director and Senior Consultant, Matt Healey, on the Evaluation of the Food Collective which explored the benefits and challenges of the community market and food relief box model. The evaluation utlised data drawn from direct engagement with consumers at community markets and lunches, and data from interviews with Food Collective staff and stakeholders. Findings highlighted benefits of the Food Collective, such as access to affordable fresh food, educational opportunities, accessibility, and social connection, alongside challenges including, community engagement, reliance on volunteers, and resourcing constraints.
NEPHU Population Health Team Lead, Johanna Mithen, then presented on Understanding Social Supermarkets: Best Practice Models, a report authored by Master of Public Health student Cate Hentschel during her placement at NEPHU. The presentation summarised findings from a desktop literature review identifying social supermarkets across Australia. Social supermarkets were defined as offering food at heavily reduced prices within a retail-like environment. Key limitations identified included reliance on food donations and volunteers, as well as a limited evidence base for this emerging model.
Dr Nick Rose, Executive Director of Sustain: The Australian Food Network, presented on Food system change in Victoria: current state and future prospects. Sustain, a health promotion charity and accredited social enterprise, highlighted key challenges facing the food system, including climate change, diet-related chronic disease, and food insecurity. A partnership between Sustain, NEPHU, and local government mapped food environments across 10 LGAs, revealing the dominance of supermarkets and the need for more affordable, culturally appropriate, and healthier food options. This work informed municipal public health and wellbeing planning and a NEPHU-led VicHealth grant application.
The session concluded with a panel discussion facilitated by Mel Chisholm, Senior Manager Population Health, who has over 20 years’ experience in developing and supporting healthier, and more sustainable Food Systems.
She was joined by panellists Sharon Laurence Manager Food Systems, VicHealth, and Al Wicks, Food Collective Coordinator, Whittlesea Community Connections. The panel discussed shifting community perceptions towards alternative food models, the need for systems-based approaches to food insecurity, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration across sectors. The discussion emphasised dignified approaches to food access, engagement with First Nations communities, support for local food initiatives, and the role of evaluation and food environment mapping in informing sustainable, locally responsive food system planning.
