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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | Council staff undertake inspections of food and body piercing premises, | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | Council’s role in public health are outlined in the draft Public Health Act and Regulations. These include food inspections | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | Education in community languages and culturally appropriate methodologies be developed and delivered, to maintain acceptable health standards in food preparation, body piercing and other goods and services provided to the general public. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | Education in community languages and using culturally appropriate methodologies be developed and delivered, to maintain acceptable health standards in food preparation, body piercing and other goods and services provided to the general public. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | Protect public health through development of culturally appropriate education and enforcement programs in relation to food preparation and provision, body piercing, cooling towers, swimming pool regulations, safe water supply and ensuring the decontamination of dwellings. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| FAIRFIELD CITY HEALTH FRAMEWORK | PUBLIC HEALTH Restaurants Educating restaurant owners of the food safety requirements and regulations is a major public health issue for Fairfield. This issue is directly related to language proficiency and awareness of the regulatory environment. Many restaurants are run by people attempting to establish successful businesses in the area. These people are not necessarily professional restaurateurs but are drawing on their cultural practices to meet the demand for authentic food from different cultures. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Fairfield | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Continue to support families in housing stress, by referral to housing support agencies, crisis counselling and by assisting in completing ‘Housing Pathways’ application forms. Continue support and future partnerships with Social and Key Worker Housing providers including Link Housing for families and children | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | COUNCIL’S CURRENT ROLE IN HOUSING Currently Council: • Maintains a small but socially significant portfolio of social housing (125 units) and key worker housing (9 units) managed by Link Housing, a not-for-profit, Tier 1, accredited community housing manager. Preference is given to those on the waiting list with long term connections (5 years or more) to the North Sydney LGA | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Liaises with the NSW Department of Family and Community Services and their community housing provider, St George Community Housing, over tenancy issues (596 units) in State Government owned properties | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Provides referral to housing support agencies, crisis counselling and can support where needed those completing ‘Housing Pathways’ application forms. | Social Policy | Affordable housing | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Obesity is addressed through such NSW Health programs as the Munch and Move programme which targets children’s services to increase children’s healthy eating and physical activity and limit small screen recreation, Live Life Well @ School which aims to increase physical activity and healthy eating among primary school children and Go4Fun which aims to increase physical activity and healthy eating among children aged 7 – 13 years who are above a healthy weight. The Health services reported in 2016-17, that it had 111,000 children participating in healthy eating and active living programs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Oversees the Green School Grant Program to support pre-schools, childcare centres, primary and high schools in North Sydney to develop, implement, review and celebrate | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Support NSW Health’s resourcing and promotion of healthy eating and active living programs for children through children’s services, schools and within the community. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Provides local activities and events such as an Annual Children’s Festival, New Year’s Eve Family Fun Night, the Sunset Cinema, and Twilight Food Fair. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Twilight Food Fair. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family and Children’s Services Strategy 2018-2024 | Oversees the Green School Grant Program to support pre-schools, childcare centres, primary and high schools in North Sydney to develop, implement, review and celebrate | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | North Sydney | Metropolitan |
| Family Day Care | Be aware of and accommodate the special needs of culturally and linguistically diverse families in relation to their special rules for storing, preparing and serving food. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Educators will – • Offer only water to drink as the preferred option at all times (except in the instances of providing milk for babies). • Encourage parents to send nutritious foods such as vegetables, cheese, yogurt, fruit, plain pasta. • R | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Families are encouraged to – • Provide healthy foods for their children in care. • P | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | FOOD Educators Parents / Guardians are to follow the Safe Food Handling Policy / Procedures, and the Nutrition and Active Play Policy. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | POLICY The Scheme promotes healthy eating in childhood by – • Helping to educate children, Educators and families about healthy food and nutrition, and its importance in the early years of a child’s life and development. • Encouraging both families and Educators to provide children with ample, nutritious food and drinks for their time in care. • Consulting and working collaboratively with families in regard to their child’s nutrition and dietary requirements, including responding appropriately to food allergies and recognising cultural and religious practices, and lifestyle choices as well as individual children’s needs eg through observation of what the children bring from home – not enough food/too much/suggestions for healthier options. • Endeavouring to take into account the culture, religion and overall health status of individual children. • Providing an eating environment that encourages children to be calm, aids communication and social skills, and develops independence in eating habits. • Encouraging physical activity by providing a range of active play experiences for all children every day at the Service. PAGE 150 OF 215 MID-WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL POLICY: FAMILY DAY CARE ADOPTED: 19 JUNE 2019 MIN NO. 172/19 PROCEDURE The Coordination Unit is responsible for – • Providing information and resources to Educators and families on healthy choices for eating and active play, food preparation and storage. • Collecting and recording relevant information about individual special dietary requirements of children that will be in care if required (i.e. allergies, medical conditions, cultural, etc) and ensuring Educators are well informed. • Encouraging families to provide adequate and nutritious meals for their children when they are in care. • Providing advice and support to Educators and families on matters relating to food and nutrition. • Including Nutrition Professional Development and a food safety component into new Educator’s induction. • Providing nutrition and food safety professional development on a regular basis through emails, newsletters, Facebook etc. Educators are responsible for – • Implementing adequate health and hygiene procedures, and safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food, to minimise risks to children. • Discussing children's eating habits, food allergies and/or medical conditions with parents before care commences. • Encouraging mothers to continue breastfeeding, if possible, or families are to provide infant formula. • Implementing measures to prevent cross-contamination of any food given to children with diagnosed food allergies and/or diabetes • Ensuring that the Service environment and the educational program support children and families to make healthy choices for eating and food awareness activities. Including exploring and discussing diverse cultural, religious, social and family lifestyles. • Encouraging children to get hands on experience and awareness in food preparation, through cooking and food activities. • Discussing healthy eating choices with children, introducing the concept of ‘sometime’ foods and drinks and role modelling positive behaviours. Unhealthy foods high in sugar and / or fat content are to be strongly discouraged. • Furthering their professional knowledge with the latest information on food and nutrition through journals, resource agencies and in-service courses. This information will be shared with families and children. • Considering this policy when organising excursions and events. • Keeping families informed of current information relating to healthy eating and active play. PAGE 151 OF 215 MID-WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL POLICY: FAMILY DAY CARE VERSION 2 MIN NO. 172/19 • Ensuring that fresh drinking water is readily available at all times, and reminding children to drink regularly throughout the day. Ensuring that children can readily access their own clearly labelled drink containers. • Providing food and drinks at regular intervals, and encouraging children to actively participate in, and enjoy, snack / meal times without feeling rushed. • Providing adequate supervision for all children during meal/snack times. • Encouraging children to be independent at snack/meal times e.g. opening lunchboxes, pouring drinks, self-feeding, serving and using utensils in a culturally sensitive way. • Ensure parents/guardians maintain ’no nut‘ rule if required and if food is brought in for sharing eg birthday cake – communicate with parents/guardians that ingredients need to be listed and displayed to identify any allergy foods for individual children. • Provide each child with food and drinks provided by the family, unless the Educator feels it does not meet the nutritional guidelines outlined in the Regulations. If the family fails to provide either nutritious and / or enough food and drink for their child, the Educator may provide the child with appropriate food and drink. The cost of the food provided will be charged as per the Educator Fee Schedule. • Planning and providing outdoor, active play that is stimulating, promotes skill development, considers safety issues and provides adequate supervision. • Acting as positive role models by engaging in physical activity. • Considering opportunities for children to be physically active indoors, particularly in adverse weather conditions For Educators who choose to provide food for the children in their care: • Educators must undertake a Food Handling Course that is recognised by a relevant health authority, and ACECQA, in accordance with the Food Act 2003. • Educators must ensure all food and drinks provided are consistent with the recommendations of the Australian Government’s Healthy Eating Guidelines for Early Childhood settings. That is, they are adequate in quantity and take into account dietary requirements of each child’s growth and developmental needs, any specific cultural, religious or health requirements. • Educators should follow the nutritional guidelines as set out in Caring for Kids Cookbook (NSW Health). That is providing a hot / cooked midday meal, and the appropriate amounts of fruit and dairy that children require while in care. • Educators must display an accurate menu of the food they are providing to the children each day. Parents/Guardians are responsible for – • Providing details of specific nutritional/dietary requirements, including the need to accommodate cultural or religious practices or food allergies, on their child’s enrolment form, and discussing these with the Educator and the Coordination Unit prior to the child’s commencement at the service, and if requirements change over time (refer to Medical Conditions and Medication Administration Policy). PAGE 152 OF 215 MID-WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL POLICY: FAMILY DAY CARE ADOPTED: 19 JUNE 2019 MIN NO. 172/19 • Communicating regularly with Educators regarding children’s specific nutritional requirements and dietary needs, including food preferences. • Ensuring that they supply their Educator with ample, nutritious food and water/ drinks for their child for the time they are in care. If the family fails to provide either nutritious and / or enough food and drink for their child, the Educator may provide the child with appropriate food and drink. The cost of the food provided will be charged as per the Educator Fee Schedule. • Providing nutritious food and drinks for celebrations, fundraising activities and Service events, consistent with Service policy. • Follow the service ’no nut‘ if required rule and if food is brought in for sharing eg birthday cake – that ingredients need to be listed and displayed to identify any allergy foods for individual children • Keeping lunchboxes and drink bottles clean and hygienic. Following repeated requests both written and verbal to parents for nutritious foods, the Educators may contact the Coordination Unit for guidance. Note: Regulations 79 and 80 do not apply to food and beverages provided by a parent/ guardian for consumption by their child. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | • Encourage parents to send nutritious foods such as vegetables, cheese, yogurt, fruit, plain pasta. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Children should only enter a chicken coop as a supervised activity. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Consulting and working collaboratively with families in regard to their child’s nutrition and dietary requirements, including responding appropriately to food allergies and recognising cultural and religious practices, and lifestyle choices as well as individual children’s needs eg through observation of what the children bring from home – not enough food/too much/suggestions for healthier options. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Discussing healthy eating choices with children, introducing the concept of ‘sometime’ foods and drinks and role modelling positive behaviours. Unhealthy foods high in sugar and / or fat content are to be strongly discouraged. • Furthering their professional knowledge with the latest information on food and nutrition through journals, resource agencies and in-service courses. This information will be shared with families and children. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Encouraging children to get hands on experience and awareness in food preparation, through cooking and food activities. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Ensuring that the Service environment and the educational program support children and families to make healthy choices for eating and food awareness activities. Including exploring and discussing diverse cultural, religious, social and family lifestyles. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | Keeping families informed of current information relating to healthy eating and active play. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | PETS AND ANIMALS BACKGROUND The Scheme acknowledges the importance of keeping children safe at all times. While pets and other animals can prove an effective inclusion into the child’s experiences in care, they are also a risk to children. A child’s safety must be maintained at all times. POLICY • To ensure the practices of the service meet the Education and Care Services National Regulations and National Quality Standard in regard to pets and other animals in family day care. • To minimise the risk of injury and safeguard the health of children, families and staff at all times. • To ensure that Educators exercise their Duty of Care in relation to supervising interactions between their pets and the children in care. PROCEDURE Coordination Unit Provide professional development and/or resources to Educators and families on health and safety practices for pets and other animals in the child services sector. Monitor the compliance of the policy and help Educators develop Risk Management plans for animals. Educators An Educator must ensure that any animal (including livestock) or domesticated bird that enter or are kept on the premises of their Service, do not constitute health or safety risks to children in care. For example; by causing an allergic response or infection or in any way having a detrimental effect on the wellbeing of children provided by the service. Every domestic pet or farm animal is to be kept in an area separate to and apart from the areas used by children, unless involved in a specific activity that is directly supervised by the Educator, staff member or other adult (e.g. brushing the dog, bottle feeding a lamb, or providing food or water). | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |
| Family Day Care | POLICY The Scheme promotes healthy eating in childhood by – • Helping to educate children, Educators and families about healthy food and nutrition, and its importance in the early years of a child’s life and development. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Mid-Western Regional | Regional |