Welcome to the Australian Local Food System Policy Database. This is a collection of policies from New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian local governments that relate to healthy, sustainable, and equitable food systems.
For further information about using the database and how it was created see How to use the database. You can search the database by using the fields below. Domain refers to eight broad categories under which various topics are situated. The domains and topics are based on a framework of recommendations for local government action on creating a healthy, sustainable, and equitable food system (also located on the ‘How to use the database’ page linked above).
To cite the database: Reeve B, Carrad A, Rose N, Charlton K & Aguirre-Bielschowsky I (2021) Australian Local Food System Policy Database. Available at: https://law-food-systems.sydney.edu.au/policy-database (access date).
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Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
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| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Educators and staff are supported to access resources and professional development to support healthy eating | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Educators are encouraged to eat with the children if culturally or dietary possible as eating the same healthy meal as the children encourages positive role modelling. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Educators will incorporate strategies into the program to encourage healthy food habits and initiate discussions with children about food, health and nutrition. Food awareness activities will be undertaken like group time discussions, craft activities – cutting and pasting pictures of healthy foods, songs and rhymes about food, physical activity both indoor and outdoor, food and cultural awareness activities, celebration days and events, and promotion of positive mealtime and snack experiences etc. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Educators, staff and families will be provided with information, ideas and practical strategies on a regular basis to support healthy eating in the service and at home Children will be encouraged to participate in food preparation and presentation; educators should consult with the cook on ways to participate. When cooking with the children as an activity, educators should follow the guidelines within this Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy as well as the Food Safety Policy. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Mealtime environment Educators will interact with children during mealtimes in a pleasant sociable manner. Whenever possible educators will sit at the table with a small number of children and facilitate friendly quiet conversation during mealtimes. Educators are encouraged to eat with the children if culturally or dietary possible as eating the same healthy meal as the children encourages positive role modelling. Educators will avoid discussion about dieting, and body image, keeping personal preferences to themselves as this is in line with the Council staff wellbeing program. Educators will assist children where necessary but will actively encourage self-help as appropriate e.g.: children helping in preparation, serving themselves and others, clearing and scraping their own plates. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Parents/guardians may be asked to contribute nutritious recipes from their culture. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Parents/guardians will be provided with information regularly on nutrition, age appropriate diet, food handling, food storage and other relevant information. This information will be provided to parents/guardians in the form of newsletters, brochures and notices displayed on noticeboards. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Sharing of information with children and their parents/guardians Educators, staff, children and families are seen as key partners in promoting and supporting healthy eating initiatives in the service. The details of food eaten will be provided to parents/guardians of children via a communication method such as whiteboard, daily diary, and daily information sheets. Educators will incorporate strategies into the program to encourage healthy food habits and initiate discussions with children about food, health and nutrition. Food awareness activities will be undertaken like group time discussions, craft activities – cutting and pasting pictures of healthy foods, songs and rhymes about food, physical activity both indoor and outdoor, food and cultural awareness activities, celebration days and events, and promotion of positive mealtime and snack experiences etc. Educators, staff and families will be provided with information, ideas and practical strategies on a regular basis to support healthy eating in the service and at home Children will be encouraged to participate in food preparation and presentation; educators should consult with the cook on ways to participate. When cooking with the children as an activity, educators should follow the guidelines within this Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy as well as the Food Safety Policy. Parents/guardians will be provided with information regularly on nutrition, age appropriate diet, food handling, food storage and other relevant information. This information will be provided to parents/guardians in the form of newsletters, brochures and notices displayed on noticeboards. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Discretionary food and drinks: high in saturated fat, added sugar and/or added salt and low in fibre with little nutritional value are not provided by the service (with exception to cultural celebrations where parents have provided a specific food to be shared for that cultural celebration alongside our planned menu). Families are asked to bring healthy alternatives (such as real fresh fruit cake) for all cultural and birthday celebrations. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | food and cultural awareness activities | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Meals that are provided from home (Occasional Care Centre ONLY) Educators will encourage parents/guardians to provide sufficient quantities of foods which are culturally appropriate | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | The menu and manner of presentation will reflect children’s cultural backgrounds. Parents/guardians may be asked to contribute nutritious recipes from their culture. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Where food is provided (Long Day Care Centres), the development of menus and preparation of meals will incorporate cultural values and dietary requirements. During the development of menus cooks and/or educators will respect cultural, religious and personal food differences. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Breast milk/formula and the introduction of solids Educators will encourage and support mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding their child once they have started in care. Procedures for breast milk: Mothers are welcome to breast feed at the service and a suitable space for breastfeeding will be provided or to provide expressed breast milk for educators to give the child Expressed breast milk should be brought in clearly labelled as breast milk and with the child’s full name and date of when it was expressed. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Breast milk/formula and the introduction of solids Educators will encourage and support mothers who choose to continue breastfeeding their child once they have started in care. Procedures for breast milk: Mothers are welcome to breast feed at the service and a suitable space for breastfeeding will be provided or to provide expressed breast milk for educators to give the child Expressed breast milk should be brought in clearly labelled as breast milk and with the child’s full name and date of when it was expressed. Breast milk is to be thawed naturally or in a jug of warm water. Always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember first in, first out. Over time, the quality of breast milk can decrease. Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator (this means from the time it is no longer frozen or completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer) Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer, it should be used within 2 hours. Never refreeze break milk once it has been thawed. Microwaves are not used with breast milk as it may destroy the immune properties of breast milk. Breast milk is to be swirled in a circular motion and not shaken as the milk will separate if shaken too much. This is also done to prevent hotspots in the milk during heating. Breast milk is warmed by standing in a jug of warm water (not hot) or in a bottle warmer just prior to the feed and only the amount needed is warmed All breast milk brought to the service should be immediately stored in the fridge maintained at below five degrees until needed and discarded if not used within two days. Breast milk should not be placed in the door of the fridge due to the frequent opening of the fridge throughout the day. Breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours when the family is traveling to the centre. Once you have arrived, breast milk should be used right away or stored in the refrigerator. Exclusively breastfed infants do not require additional fluids up to 6 months of age. Children under 12 months old are to be nursed and engaged with during bottle feeding time. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | No child should be propped up on a pillow unsupervised or left in their cot whilst having a bottle. Times and consumed amounts are to be documented for parents and communication with fellow educators. Procedures infant formula: parents/guardians are required to provide infant formula parents/guardians are asked to label all bottles and containers clearly with the name of the formula and the child’s full name parents/guardians are asked to hand all bottles and formula to educators on arrival to the service or place in the appropriate fridge Formula milk should not be placed in the door of the fridge due to the frequent opening of the fridge throughout the day. parents/guardians are encouraged to bring bottles filled with boiled water and measure the correct amount of formula for each bottle and put each amount per bottle into separate containers, and formula can be heated in the microwave with the lid of the bottle taken off. All milk is gently shaken and temperature checked prior to giving to infants. Cooled boiled water will be offered to children less than 12 months or on request. Children under 12 months old are to be nursed and engaged with during bottle feeding time. No child should be propped up on a pillow unsupervised or left in their cot whilst having a bottle. Times and consumed Times and consumed amounts are to be documented for parents and communication with fellow educators. Educators will communicate with Parents/guardians of babies with regard to their child’s current food and drink requirements on commencement at the centre and as the introduction of solid foods begin. The Dietary Requirements Form needs to be completed by parents/guardians to inform the cook the foods that have been introduced. Infant feeding: age appropriate food and textures are provided in accordance with State Guidelines in the Healthy Eating Advisory Service/ Menu Planning For Babies Foods should be introduced slowly and carefully, at home. Parents/guardians should inform educators when new foods are introduced and any reactions that may have occurred. A cup can be introduced around 6 months, to teach infants the skill of sipping drinks from a cup For infants over the age of 6 months or for those who are not exclusively breastfed, tap water is preferred as the only other fluid in infant feeding (as consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines) but this should be boiled and cooled for infants until 12 months of age. Only foods that have been introduced to babies at home will be served to them at the service. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Children will have access to water (preferably tap) at all times, both indoors and outdoors. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | For infants over the age of 6 months or for those who are not exclusively breastfed, tap water is preferred as the only other fluid in infant feeding (as consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines) but this should be boiled and cooled for infants until 12 months of age. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Emergency foods In the event of an emergency of lack of cooking facilities, educators will go to the supermarket and purchase enough food for the children. In these circumstances such a meal may consist of sandwiches including roast chicken, salad, cheese and fruit. | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Breast milk is to be thawed naturally or in a jug of warm water. Always thaw the oldest breast milk first. Remember first in, first out. Over time, the quality of breast milk can decrease. Use breast milk within 24 hours of thawing in the refrigerator (this means from the time it is no longer frozen or completely thawed, not from the time when you took it out of the freezer) Once breast milk is brought to room temperature or warmed after storing in the refrigerator or freezer, it should be used within 2 hours. Never refreeze break milk once it has been thawed. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Breast milk is warmed by standing in a jug of warm water (not hot) or in a bottle warmer just prior to the feed and only the amount needed is warmed All breast milk brought to the service should be immediately stored in the fridge maintained at below five degrees until needed and discarded if not used within two days. Breast milk should not be placed in the door of the fridge due to the frequent opening of the fridge throughout the day. Breast milk can be stored in an insulated cooler bag with frozen ice packs for up to 24 hours when the family is traveling to the centre. Once you have arrived, breast milk should be used right away or stored in the refrigerator. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | Parents/guardians will be provided with information regularly on nutrition, age appropriate diet, food handling, food storage and other relevant information. This information will be provided to parents/guardians | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | When cooking with the children as an activity, educators should follow the guidelines within this Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy as well as the Food Safety Policy. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | The purpose of this policy is to meet the requirements of the Food Act 1984, which applies where an early years service is purchasing and providing the food, as part of the fees charged for attendance. Where this is the case our centres are registered with Stonnington Environmental Health Department and undertakes all responsibilities associated with Food Safety. Food Safety Programs and kitchen facilities are audited annually and maintained in accordance with legislative requirements as described in the Food Act 1984. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | 1. Purpose As a health promoting service, the City of Stonnington will promote oral health and healthy eating for children, educators, staff and families through learning, policies, creating a safe and healthy physical and social environment and developing community links and partnerships. All members of the service including educators, staff, children, families and volunteers will be given a chance to review the policy, and will be supported in its implementation 2. Policy Stonnington Early Years Services acknowledges its commitment to ensuring that all children receive a wide variety of nutritious foods that meets their daily nutritional requirements and drink plenty of water as outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2013. Healthy eating and good nutrition have a major influence on children’s health and wellbeing and a direct impact on their growth and development. It is important to provide access to and establish good healthy eating practices at a young age, as most children have formed lifelong habits by school age. Early Years Services will promote and support parents/guardians and children in the development of healthy food habits, promoting relaxed and social mealtimes/snack times. Where food is provided (Long Day Care Centres), the development of menus and preparation of meals will incorporate cultural values and dietary requirements. During the development of menus cooks and/or educators will respect cultural, religious and personal food differences. The weekly menu is on display at each service, parent/guardian feedback and suggestions are always welcome. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Family ServEarly YearsPolicies & Procedures ManualEarly Years Policies | 6. Procedure Menu preparation and development Where food is provided (Long Day Care Centres), a weekly menu will be developed in consultation with interested parents/guardians and will be prominently displayed within the centre such as outside the kitchen and in the foyer. Recipes will be | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Child Friendly City Strategy | Child Care Links Program Family Meal Project | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Penrith | Metropolitan |
| Child Friendly City Strategy | Food Family Culture | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Penrith | Metropolitan |
| Child Friendly City Strategy | Food Family Culture was a series of small community events initiated in Oxley Park by Council’s Neighbourhood Renewal Program in 2009 and then repeated in Kingswood and St Marys in 2009 and 2010. The events were specifically designed to engage with residents from diverse cultural backgrounds and particularly local children. Each event included free healthy food and drink, jumping castle and creative activities designed to engage children in the event. Maps and craft supplies were used to identify sites which were significant for children and places the children had hopes for, for example fixing up a local park or the shopping strip | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Penrith | Metropolitan |
| Child Friendly City Strategy | The concept involves children in out of school hours care learning to cook and preparing a healthy two course meal for their family. The condition of participation was that the family agree to eat the meal in a TV free environment encouraging families to discuss the day’s activities and eat a healthy meal around a table. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Penrith | Metropolitan |