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).
Suggested search terms
Hold Ctrl to select multiple terms. Using ‘any words’ functions as an “OR” search. Using ‘all words’ functions as and “AND” search.
Search Criteria:
| Document title | Relevant text in the policy | Domain | Topic | State | Local Government name | Council type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring that the dietary and cultural needs of children and families are taken into consideration when planning menus for service events and activities. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | 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 Nominated Supervisor/Primary Nominee/educators prior to the child’s commencement at the service, and if requirements change over time (refer to Anaphylaxis Policy, Asthma Policy and Diabetes Policy) | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring that children can readily access their own clearly labelled drink containers (where this is a service practice) | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring that fresh drinking water is readily available at all times, and reminding children to drink regularly throughout the day, including at snack/meal times | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring that fresh drinking water is readily available at all times, and reminding children to drink water throughout the day, including at snack/lunch times (National Regulation 78) | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | providing food and drinks at regular intervals, and encouraging children to actively participate in, and enjoy, snack/meal times without feeling rushed | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | that fresh drinking water is readily available at all times, and reminding children to drink water throughout the day, including at snack/lunch times (National Regulation 78) | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | complying with the service’s Nutrition and Active Play Policy and with the Food Safety Act implementing adequate health and hygiene procedures, and safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food, to minimise risks to children (refer to Hygiene Policy and Food Safety Policy) | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring adequate health and hygiene procedures, including safe practices for handling, preparing, storing and serving food | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring that the service is registered and working in line with the Food Safety Act and National Regulations ensuring that any staff/educators involved in food preparation, serving and storage, comply with the Food Safety Act. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | ensuring the implementation of adequate health and hygiene procedures, and safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food, to minimise risks to children being educated and cared for by the service (National Regulation 77) (refer to Hygiene Policy and Food Safety Policy) ensuring that all staff/educators comply with the Food Safety Act | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | that staff/educators who are responsible for menu planning participate in regular Nutrition and safe food handling training, and are kept up to date with current research, knowledge and best practice | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and Active Play Policy | the implementation of adequate health and hygiene procedures, and safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food, to minimise risks to children being educated and cared for by the service (National Regulation 77) (refer to Hygiene Policy and Food Safety Policy) | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Melton | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | available for parents/guardians on request and suggestions for the menu are welcome. The menu and manner of presentation will reflect children’s cultural backgrounds. Parents/guardians may be asked to contribute nutritious recipes from their culture. The service menu will be regularly reviewed by the Healthy Eating Advisory Service to meet the criteria determined As outlined in the Australian Dietary Guidelines, National Health and Medical Research Council, 2013 the service menu reflects a wide variety of nutritious foods, such as: plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain include lean meats, poultry and fish (or alternatives) include milks, cheese, yoghurts (or alternatives) choose water as a drink (preferably tap) limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake low fat diets are not suitable for infants choose foods low in salt consume only moderate amounts of sugars, and foods containing added sugars Meals prepared and served will provide at least 50 per cent of the daily nutritional requirements i.e., morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea consists of the following: (Healthy Eating Advisory Service, 2016) | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Children will have access to food and drink at frequent and regular intervals that will include a second late afternoon snack. For snacks, children will preferably go by choice to a set area and eat with only a small number of children. If sweet dishes are provided it will include some fruit and or vegetables and will provide five grams or less of added sugar per serve. The food provided by the service across the board will not be used as a punishment, reward or incentive by the Educator. Children will have access to water (preferably tap) at all times, both indoors and outdoors. Only water and plain milk will be provided. Individual needs will be accommodated for when children are on special diets, parents/guardians will be asked to provide as much detail as possible on the Dietary Requirements Form about suitable foods and will provide any special foods not available locally. If a child has been diagnosed at risk of Anaphylaxis, an Action Plan for Anaphylaxis will be displayed and Risk Minimisation Plan implemented to protect the child from exposure. Identified allergens will be assessed and taken into consideration when meals are planned and served. The menu will be changed regularly and will reflect seasonal change and availability of fresh produce. There will be an emphasis on fresh foods; tinned, frozen and overly processed foods will be kept to a minimum. Children’s food preferences (not related to cultural or allergy restrictions) will be respected though educators will encourage children to try new foods. 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. Parents to ask the Team Leader or Educator’s in their child’s | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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. Educators and staff are supported to access resources and professional development to support healthy eating. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Healthy food options will be encouraged for staff meetings and professional learning events | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | However the following sometimes food and drinks will not be provided under any circumstances: – Confectionary, and – sugar sweetened drinks | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Where food is brought from home (Occasional Care Centre ONLY), educators will encourage parents/guardians to provide sufficient quantities of foods which are culturally appropriate, nutritious and meet the needs of their child’s daily dietary requirements. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Children will be given some choices in foods; though food will not be used as a form of punishment. Food will not be provided as reward for good behaviour or to provide comfort. Foods will be attractively presented and attention will be given to the meal environment. A balance should be found that allows for attractive presentation (e.g. plastic or non-iron tablecloths, placemats, flowers) and efficient management of clean up and smooth transition to quite time activities and or rest. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Community partnerships Partnerships are created with the local community including Council Maternal and Child Health professionals to consult with if needing guidance and to increase service capacity to promote healthy eating. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 |
| Nutrition and 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. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | 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 |
| Nutrition and mealtimes | Parents/guardians may be asked to contribute nutritious recipes from their culture. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Stonnington | Metropolitan |