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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| After School Hours Care Policy | Educators are required to stay up to date with professional development on nutrition and food safety practices and document changes to practice as a result. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Hygiene – requirements of staff to educate and model good hygiene practices for children upon entering and during a session. Staffs responsibilities in regards their own hygienic practices and their environment including keeping the environment, toys and equipment clean. Guidelines for safe storage and handling of food for staff and children. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Incorporate into your program, activities and experiences that connect children to nature, for example but not limited to; – Art and craft using natural materials for example, wood, stone, sand, recycled items, seeds, plant matter – Build a vegetable garden – Make nesting boxes – Go for nature walks – Start a compost – Start a worm farm | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Our routines include education on, and role modelling of, health and hygiene practices for children. Children will understand the importance of keeping their environment safe and clean, the benefits of their own hygiene practices and the benefits of good nutrition. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | The service will provide food handling and hygiene information to parents. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Tongs and spoons will be used for the serving of food. Where possible, educators will encourage children to self-serve food and drinks encouraging the development of their food handling skills as well as acknowledging their growing sense of independence. | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | We will encourage the development of the children’s good eating habits through modelling and reinforcing of healthy eating and nutrition practices by educators. Parents will be encouraged to share family recipes and traditions to enrich the variety and enjoyment of food by the children and support the children’s development of respect for and understanding of diversity (“My Time, Our Place” 1.3). Where possible we will seek out opportunities to learn about growing our own food and collaborate with children to produce our own opportunities to use food we have grown ourselves in our menu planning (“My Time, Our Place” 3.4). | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | All children’s individual needs such as allergens, cultural requirements and health needs etc. will be addressed in the menus and parents advised if they will be required to supply specific foods for their child. | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Children and parents will be encouraged to share family and cultural traditions, ideas and recipes to contribute to the menu | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Drinking water will be accessible but hygienically stored and maintained. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Fresh drinking water will be available at all times for the children and educators. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Develop educational programs around seeds growing to plants. Include plants you can eat and include harvesting and cooking | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Incorporate into your program, activities and experiences that connect children to nature, for example but not limited to; – Art and craft using natural materials for example, wood, stone, sand, recycled items, seeds, plant matter – Build a vegetable garden – Make nesting boxes – Go for nature walks – Start a compost – Start a worm farm | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Where possible we will seek out opportunities to learn about growing our own food and collaborate with children to produce our own opportunities to use food we have grown ourselves in our menu planning (“My Time, Our Place” 3.4). | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Develop educational programs around seeds growing to plants. Include plants you can eat and include harvesting and cooking | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Incorporate into your program, activities and experiences that connect children to nature, for example but not limited to; – Art and craft using natural materials for example, wood, stone, sand, recycled items, seeds, plant matter – Build a vegetable garden – Make nesting boxes – Go for nature walks – Start a compost – Start a worm farm | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Where possible we will seek out opportunities to learn about growing our own food and collaborate with children to produce our own opportunities to use food we have grown ourselves in our menu planning (“My Time, Our Place” 3.4). | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Incorporate into your program, activities and experiences that connect children to nature, for example but not limited to; – Art and craft using natural materials for example, wood, stone, sand, recycled items, seeds, plant matter – Build a vegetable garden – Make nesting boxes – Go for nature walks – Start a compost – Start a worm farm | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Role model sustainable practices and endeavour to minimise waste, for example, but not limited to; – turn off lights that aren’t needed – turn off air conditioner when not using room – turn off fridge for extended holidays – limit chemical use, – ensure taps are turned off properly – purchase items with minimal packaging – replace disposable products, where possible while adhering to hygiene standards, with non-disposable products – reuse water from water play as grey water for garden – have separate bins for rubbish and recycling – save food scraps for someone’s chickens | Food Waste | Food losses and food waste | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | All food will be prepared and stored in a hygienic manner. Children will be encouraged to be involved in food preparation to assist them to have opportunities to learn more about hygienic practices when preparing food. This participation should always be supervised and explanation provided to children on the reasons why hygienic conditions are maintained. Food will be stored in tightly sealed containers, away from chemicals. Containers are to be cleaned and stored appropriately to ensure pests cannot contaminate them. Kitchen equipment will be cleaned and stored appropriately. Surfaces are cleaned before and/or after food preparation. All perishable foods will be stored in the refrigerator and the temperature should be monitored to ensure it is less than 5 degrees C. The service will provide food handling and hygiene information to parents. The service will regularly review and evaluate food handling and practices in line with current best practice guidelines from recognised authorities. Children will be encouraged not to share their drinking and eating utensils. Tongs and spoons will be sued for the serving of food. Where possible educators will encourage children to self-serve food and drinks encouraging the development of their food handling skills as well as acknowledging their growing sense of independence. All cups, plates and utensils will be washed in hot soapy water. Educators are not required when handling food to use gloves if correct hand washing practices have been implemented (See Food Act). If gloves are used, care must be taken to avoid contaminating food by only using them for one continuous task and then discarding Version Date: 28 August 2018 Page 52 of 112 them. Gloves must be removed, discarded and replaced with a new pair before handling food and before working with ready to eat food after handling raw food. Gloves must be removed, discarded and replaced after using toilet, smoking, coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief, eating, drinking or touching the hair, scalp or body. All rubbish or left over food is to be disposed of immediately in lidded bins and bins emptied at least daily and the wiped with disinfectant. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | b) Food safety All food will be prepared and stored in a hygienic manner as per the current Australian New Zealand Food Standards. Opened food will be stored in tightly sealed containers, away from chemicals Kitchen equipment will be cleaned and stored appropriately. Surfaces are cleaned and sanitised before and/or after food preparation. All perishable foods will be stored in the refrigerator and the temperature should be monitored to ensure it is less than 5 degrees C. Children will be encouraged not to share their drinking and eating utensils. Tongs and spoons will be used for the serving of food. Where possible, educators will encourage children to self-serve food and drinks encouraging the development of their food handling skills as well as acknowledging their growing sense of independence. All cups, plates and utensils will be washed in hot soapy water. Children should be seated while drinking and eating. Educators are not required when handling food to use gloves if correct hand washing practices have been implemented (See Food Act). If gloves are used, care must be taken to avoid contaminating food by only using them for one continuous task and then discarding them. Gloves must be removed, discarded and replaced with a new pair before handling food and before working with ready to eat food after handling raw food. Gloves must be removed, discarded and replaced after using toilet, smoking, coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief, eating, drinking or touching the hair, scalp or body. They will then be replaced if food preparation continues. All rubbish or left over food is to be disposed of immediately in lidded bins and bins emptied at least daily and the wiped with disinfectant. Containers are to be cleaned and stored appropriately to ensure pests cannot contaminate them. Children will be encouraged to be involved in food preparation to assist them to have opportunities to learn more about hygienic practices when preparing food. This participation Version Date: 28 August 2018 Page 44 of 112 should always be supervised and explanation provided to children on the reasons why hygienic conditions are maintained. The service will provide food handling and hygiene information to parents. The service will regularly review and evaluate food handling and practices in line with current best practice guidelines from recognised authorities. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Hand washing will be practiced by all educators and children upon entering the service, before preparing or eating food | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | High standards of hygiene will be maintained throughout food preparation. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Hygiene – requirements of staff to educate and model good hygiene practices for children upon entering and during a session. Staffs responsibilities in regards their own hygienic practices and their environment including keeping the environment, toys and equipment clean. Guidelines for safe storage and handling of food for staff and children. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Kitchen, food preparation areas and storage will be cleaned and maintained daily. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| After School Hours Care Policy | Requirements for storage and hygiene in regards to food handling. | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | NSW | Cabonne | Regional |
| AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2019-2023 | 16. Raise awareness of shop layout for wheelie walkers (e.g. Open for Business) | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| AGE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN 2019-2023 | 4. Advocate / write to Woolworths re access improvements to the entrance of the supermarket | Health and Wellbeing | Accessible healthy food retail | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| Age Well Live Well Strategy & Access and Inclusion Plan | Men’s Cooking program | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |
| Age Well Live Well Strategy & Access and Inclusion Plan | • Delivered Meals and Centre based Meals – The and culturally appropriate main meal delivered to the person’s home or to a community centre | Health and Wellbeing | Traditional food cultures | Victoria | Moorabool | Regional |