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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Provision of food and drinks at the service The Approved Provider and Nominated Supervisor will provide food, and food nutrition education that is consistent with National Dietary Guidelines for children, adolescents and National Infant Feeding Guidelines, state regulation, food safety principles and that is appropriate to their age, cultural background, religion or medical needs the centre by: • Be aware of the importance of Healthy eating in line with National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Dietary Guidelines for Children, Adolescents in Australia incorporating the Infant Feeding guidelines for Health Workers • Ensuring safe drinking water is available to the children at all times • Ensuring that each child at the centre is provided with food and drinks that are nutritious, adequate in quantity, varied, offered at frequent intervals and appropriate to the developmental needs of the child throughout the day. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Purpose The centre will monitor children’s lunch boxes, and provide food nutrition education that is consistent with national dietary guidelines for children, adolescents and national infant feeding guidelines, state regulation, food safety principles and that is appropriate to their age, cultural background, religion or medical needs. Background Children in their first 5 years of life are developing rapidly and require a nutritious and safe diet for their intellectual, behavioural and physical development. Education and fun learning activities in relation to healthy eating and food preparation is also important for children’s development. Research has shown that one in five pre-schoolers are either overweight or obese. By the time children in NSW reach kindergarten, almost 18% are either overweight or obese. The 2007 National Children’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey found that the dietary patterns of many Australian children are less than optimal with high consumption of salt and saturated fat, and low consumption of fruit and vegetables. Given that children are increasingly spending long periods of time in centre-based care, early childhood educators can role model healthy eating and encourage young children to make healthier food choices. This will contribute to the prevention of weight problems in children, allowing children to thrive physically, socially and intellectually, and in turn contribute to prevention of nutrition-related chronic diseases. Goals Our care and education service will: • Role model healthy eating and eating with the children and activity throughout the day to all children and families • Promote the six key Munch and Move messages to promote healthy, active habits in children from a young age • Promote lunch box guidelines in accordance with the Australian Government Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood Settings, and the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia and • support families in educating their children about healthy food choices Strategies | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Review and Evaluation • Management and staff will monitor and review the effectiveness of the nutrition/food/beverages policy regularly. Updated information will be incorporated as needed • The service offers appropriate and healthy food and beverages to all children and meal times will be relaxed and model healthy eating to children Legislation and References • Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011: 77, 78, 79, 80, 168 (2) (a) • Links to National Quality Standard: 2.2.1, 2.2.2 • National Health and Medical Research Council – www.nhmrc.gov.au (Accessed 01/2012) • Australian Guide to Healthy Eating May 2014 Based on material provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council. www.eatforhealth.gov.au (Accessed 11/2015) • Starting family foods – NSW Health brochure September 2011 • Munch and Move NSW Department of Health 2010 | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Support of cultural and family values – provision of food To provide an environment that helps to transmit family and multicultural values, staff should: • Choose food awareness activities from a variety of cultures • Recognise and accept multicultural differences • Select a menu to reflect a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and especially the cultural backgrounds of families and the local community • Celebrate special occasions with culturally appropriate food • Encourage input from parents, encouraging them to come into the centre to share traditional recipes/cooking and feel free to bring in these foods for their children. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | To reduce the incidence of cavities avoid the use of: • Nursing bottles containing sweetened milk, fruit juice, cordials, or soft drinks • Sugary snacks or lollies as behavioural rewards • Pacifiers dipped in sweet substances (eg honey, jam) • Nursing bottles as pacifiers or using a bottle containing anything other than water to help a child fall asleep • Offer water to drink in preference to carbonated drinks and full strength fruit juices • Drinking water is readily accessible to the children, and staff will actively encourage the children to drink throughout the day • The Service will serve children with 3 set meals per day (morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea) • The Service will encourage and educate parents to provide nutritious meals with low sugar content. by providing healthy food and snacks (‘everyday’ food). • Limit sweet, sugary food and snacks (‘sometimes’ food) to be consumed whilst children are at home. • Avoid offering foods which are choking hazards to infants and young children such as nuts, seeds, raisins, pieces of whole carrots, apples and celery (these can be offered grated). • For children who are old enough, encourage them to drink water after each meal to rinse mouth. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Review and Evaluation • Management and staff will monitor and review the effectiveness of the nutrition/food/beverages policy regularly. Updated information will be incorporated as needed • The service offers appropriate and healthy food and beverages to all children and meal times will be relaxed and model healthy eating to children Legislation and References • Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010 • Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011: 77, 78, 79, 80, 168 (2) (a) • Links to National Quality Standard: 2.2.1, 2.2.2 • National Health and Medical Research Council – www.nhmrc.gov.au (Accessed 01/2012) • Australian Guide to Healthy Eating May 2014 Based on material provided by the National Health and Medical Research Council. www.eatforhealth.gov.au (Accessed 11/2015) • Starting family foods – NSW Health brochure September 2011 • Munch and Move NSW Department of Health 2010 | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | • Educate staff and parents through meetings and newsletters. Include interesting statistics to maintain people’s interest and motivation. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | • Encourage children’s independence and social skills at mealtimes • Children are encouraged to make healthy food choices • All mealtimes are positive, relaxed and social • Children are encouraged to try new foods, and their food likes and dislikes are respected • Children are positively involved in meal times | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | • Encourage the introduction of solid food to an infant by 6 months of age. Recommended first solid food includes gluten free cereal (e.g. rice cereal) and pureed fruit and vegetables. The introduction of solids to babies and toddlers will be done in consultation with families and in line with recognised guidelines. • Encourage the introduction of iron rich foods as soon as possible after the infant is 6 months old by giving them meat, poultry, fish, legumes and wholegrain cereals. For a non-allergic infant encourage the introduction of all the basic food groups after they are 6 months old. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | • Role model healthy eating and eating with the children and activity throughout the day to all children and families • Promote the six key Munch and Move messages to promote healthy, active habits in children from a young age • Promote lunch box guidelines in accordance with the Australian Government Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood Settings, and the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia and • support families in educating their children about healthy food choices | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Ask parents to provide at least one piece of fruit per day • Inform parents of their children’s daily food intake • Provide recipes of nutritionally balanced meals in the centre to parents on request | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Children learn about food To include opportunities for a child to learn about food and its preparation as part of the normal activities while in care, staff should: • Assist each child to have practical experience in food preparation • Discuss food with the children as they are eating or as meals are being prepared • Serve different food separately on the child’s plate whenever possible, to teach different food colours, tastes and textures • Sit and eat with the children | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Compost food waste and separate waste types into different bins | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Consider packaging when making decisions about food purchasing | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | educate children about diversity eg different skin colours, different abilities, different foods | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Education and Information • The service will provide families with up to date information on dietary requirements of young children to ensure optimal growth and development, and provide families with opportunities to discuss ways to maximise the health and well-being of their child/ren • The service will provide families with daily information about their child’s intake of food and drinks throughout the day • Educators will engage children in learning experiences that are fun and enjoyable and incorporate key messages around healthy eating • Implemented learning experiences will be guided by the EYLF principles and incorporate the child’s identity • Families will be provided with current information about recommended guidelines around dietary requirements, screen time and physical activity | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Encourage parents to provide meals of a suitable range of food textures and finger food according to the age and development of the infant. Start teaching an infant to drink from a cup (with a spout or straw) by 12 months old. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Ensuring that information is readily accessible to parents of children enrolled outlining the approach taken to meet the nutritional needs of children including each child’s special dietary needs, culture and religion | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Have individual drink bottles to save having to turn the tap on until water runs cold | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Make parents/care givers aware if the child requires additional food/variety in their lunch boxes to meet the child’s needs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Professional development of staff and educators • All educators will have access to Munch and Move professional development training or receive similar training and information; • All educators will have access to the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Childhood Settings; and • Staff employed will have access to safe food handling training. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Provide information that help reduce the prevalence and impact of obesity in children | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Provide support for nutrition and food safety training for all staff • C | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Purpose The centre will monitor children’s lunch boxes, and provide food nutrition education that is consistent with national dietary guidelines for children, adolescents and national infant feeding guidelines, state regulation, food safety principles and that is appropriate to their age, cultural background, religion or medical needs. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Routine daily living experiences, for example setting up for lunch, serving meals and packing away beds, are to be seen as a medium for learning and the children are involved in the running of the day. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | staff will actively encourage the children to drink throughout the day | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Staff will talk to the children about dental hygiene through both planned and spontaneous activities. • Provide parents with information about what the children have eaten while at the service. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Start a compost bin to use in the centre’s garden instead of chemical fertilisers. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | Support of cultural and family values – provision of food To provide an environment that helps to transmit family and multicultural values, staff should: • Choose food awareness activities from a variety of cultures • Recognise and accept multicultural differences • Select a menu to reflect a wide variety of cultural backgrounds, and especially the cultural backgrounds of families and the local community • Celebrate special occasions with culturally appropriate food • Encourage input from parents, encouraging them to come into the centre to share traditional recipes/cooking and feel free to bring in these foods for their children. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |
| Brewarrina Child Care Centre | The Service will encourage and educate parents to provide nutritious meals with low sugar content. by providing healthy food and snacks (‘everyday’ food). | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Brewarrina | Regional |