NEPHU is engaged in several projects to improve healthy eating across the catchment, a key priority area identified in the 2023-25 NEPHU Population Health Catchment Plan.
A concerning issue within this priority area is the growing prevalence of food insecurity within the catchment. In response, and as part of the Population Health Catchment Plan, NEPHU has completed several projects in partnership with students from Deakin University and Melbourne University, to gain a deeper understanding of the impact of food insecurity in the NEPHU catchment and identify key recommendations for future work.
The Mapping Food Relief Sites and Services in the NEPHU Catchment project involved a literature and desktop review to develop a broad understanding and prevalence of food insecurity, the mapping of food relief services available within the NEPHU catchment, and the distribution and analysis of an online questionnaire to food relief providers.
This publication provides a summary of the key findings from this work, in the following sections:
- Food Insecurity – Definition, Impacts & Food Relief
- The Prevalence of Food Insecurity in Victoria
- Mapping of Food Relief Organisations across the NEPHU Catchment
- Food Relief Organisations Online Questionnaire Results
This summary outlines the key findings and limitations of the report and provides background information on localised food security in Victoria. It provides valuable insights into the current experiences of some food relief providers that operate within the catchment.
