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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | This Health and Wellbeing Strategy will assist communities to prepare for and respond to a changing climate through actions that: • secure access to nutritious food | Sustainability and Environment | Food supply and food system resilience | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Council continues to have other long standing roles that keep people safe and healthy such as: the safety of food premises and food handling, | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | Protecting agricultural land, developing Structure Plans to guide future land use and development, protecting public health through food regulation and education | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH and WELLBEING IN THE YARRA RANGES 2017-2021 | supporting local business to produce safe and healthy food | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Yarra Ranges | Metropolitan |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING LEAVE | Health and Wellbeing Activities For the purposes of this policy, an activity for approval is at Council’s discretion and the list below is simply a guide and is not an exhaustive list of acceptable activities and Council may consider other activities. Council will consider health and wellbeing leave for the purposes of participating in the following activities: a) Annual check-ups (eg general physical, dental, optical, hearing); b) Annual cancer screenings (eg skin cancer, bowel, breast, pap smear, prostate); c) Mental health (eg counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist); d) Physical health (eg physiotherapist, chiropractor, podiatrist); e) Pre-arranged specialist medical appointments (eg scans, test, follow-up, medical appointments); f) Pregnancy related medical appointments (eg ultrasound, blood work, amniocentesis, glucose tolerance test); g) Educational programs (eg nutrition) | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Gilgandra | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN 2017–2021 | An increase in community education and skill to make healthy choices | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN 2017–2021 | Increase community understanding of good nutrition | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN 2017–2021 | Promote healthy eating and encourage regular physical activity Increased rates of fruit and vegetable intake (Source: Victorian Population Health Survey) | Health and Wellbeing | Education/events on food system issues | Victoria | Southern Grampians | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN | Objective 1: To increase healthy eating options (food and beverage) in the community Action Role of Council 1 Develop and promote a Healthy Eating Charter (linking, where appropriate, with existing programs such as the Heat Health Project). | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN | GWM Water, WRSA, VicHealth, Wimmera PCP, YMCA, GGAC, WHCG, DEDJTR, GCH 2018 Ongoing | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN | Partners Timeline Corporate Services YMCA, WHCG, Wimmera PCP, DHHS, GGAC, Parks Victoria, GCH Deliver Recreation & Sustainability / Technical Services | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN | Objective 1: To increase healthy eating options (food and beverage) in the community Action Role of Council 1 Develop and promote a Healthy Eating Charter (linking, where appropriate, with existing programs such as the Heat Health Project). 2 Install and promote bottle filling stations as water fountains are replaced. Deliver Responsibility within Council | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| HEALTH AND WELLBEING PLAN | 3.16 Environmental Health Services such as food premises registration | Food Quality and Safety | Education on/enforce food safety regulations | Victoria | Horsham | Regional |
| Health and Wellbeing Policy | HEALTH AND WELLBEING ACTIVITIES a) i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. 8. For the purpose of this policy, an activity for approval is at Council’s discretion and the list below is simply a guide and is not an exhaustive list of acceptable activities and Council may consider other activities. Council will consider health and wellbeing leave for the purposes of participating in the following activities: Work related health activities and/or team building exercises Annual check-ups (e.g. general physical, dental, optical, hearing); Annual cancer screenings (e.g. skin cancer, bowel, breast, pap smear, prostate); Mental health (e.g. counsellor, psychologist, psychiatrist); Physical health (e.g. physiotherapist, chiropractor, podiatrist); Pre-arranged specialist medical appointments (e.g. scans, tests, follow-up medical appointments); Pregnancy related medical appointments (e.g. ultra sound, blood work, amniocentesis, glucose tolerance test); Educational programs (e.g. nutrition); Other preventative health and wellbeing activities as otherwise approved by the General Manager that are generally consistent with the above activities. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy eating by LG staff | NSW | Lockhart | Regional |
| HEALTH PROMOTION POLICY | 2.4 To become a leader in the region in health promotion through planning, food provision and workplace practices. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| HEALTH PROMOTION POLICY | Improving the nutritional quality of food provided to Council staff, elected members and the wider community. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | 2. Food Provision Classes a. Internal catering and food provision Provision of food and beverages to Council staff, elected members and visitors including: Work related meetings. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | 3. Application Guidelines a. Food and Beverage Guidelines Part A All food provision should: Avoid deep fried food and heavily salted or sugared food and beverages. Contain a variety of healthy foods wherever feasible, prioritising vegetables, legumes and fruit. Include wholegrain options when serving grain based food. Include reduced fat options and dairy alternatives when serving dairy products. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | When applying this procedure Council staff should aim to: Ensure healthy food and beverage choices are always available at Council supported events and facilities. Consistently present healthy food and beverage choices as appealing and attractive alternatives to unhealthy food and beverages. Increase the availability of healthy food and beverages over time. Provide food in an environmentally sustainable way. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Limit the quantity of meat served, prioritising lean meats, skinless poultry and fish. Use polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, for example olive oil, avocado, fish and nuts, and avoid butter and cream where possible. Always include vegetarian options. Always make water available. b. Food and Beverage Guidelines Part B Where unhealthy options (such as sugary beverages and fatty foods) are available: Care should be taken to balance their availability with healthy options, as per section 3a. Healthy options should be displayed as or more prominently than unhealthy options. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Workshops, conferences, team building and training events. Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Part A (s3a) is mandatory. b. Community food provision Provision of food and beverages at community activities and events funded by Council or sponsored in partnership with other organisations. Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Part A (s3a) is strongly encouraged. c. External and commercial catering and food provision Food and beverages provided at Council operated facilities, for example sports grounds, swimming pools, sport and recreation centres and libraries. Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Part A (s3a) is strongly encouraged. Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Part B (s3b) is mandatory. d. Other food provision Food and beverages provided through: Social Club events Vending machines Fund raising Prizes and vouchers Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Parts A and B (s3a, s3b) is strongly encouraged. | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Vending machines Fund raising Prizes and vouchers Use of the Food and Beverage Guidelines Parts A and B (s3a, s3b) is strongly encouraged. | Health and Wellbeing | Restrict unhealthy food in vending machines under LG control | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Council facilities will foster environments supportive of breastfeeding through methods such as: Displaying stickers supportive of breastfeeding. Provision of breastfeeding facilities wherever possible. Registration of facilities with the Australian Breastfeeding Association as breastfeeding friendly venues. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Support breastfeeding. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Always make water available. | Health and Wellbeing | Access to safe drinking water | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Continue to support initiatives that encourage community members to grow their own food, for example in community gardens and street sharing programs. | Sustainability and Environment | Food production on LG land | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| Health Promotion through Food Provision Procedure | Continue to support initiatives that encourage community members to grow their own food, for example in community gardens and street sharing programs. | Sustainability and Environment | Home and community gardening | NSW | Lismore | Regional |
| HEALTHY ACTIVE AND SAFE CHILDREN MUNICIPAL EARLY YEARS PLAN | Maintain and improve current breastfeeding rates. | Health and Wellbeing | Breastfeeding | Victoria | Hepburn | Regional |
| Healthy and Sustainable Food Choices Guidelines for all Council managed food services | Food choices available at functions and events should aim for the following: • Predominantly plant-based foods such as fruit, vegetables, wholegrain breads and cereals. • Moderate amounts of lean meat, skinless chicken, fi sh and reduced-fat dairy products (eg reduced fat milk, cheeses and yoghurt). • Use polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats (eg olive oil and margarine) in preparation of foods. • Preference for foods that are either fresh, steamed, stir-fried, lightly grilled, oven baked or poached. Fried foods and heavily char-grilled foods should be kept to a minimum. • Source local products where available (for list of local producers visit www.katoombachamber.com). • Source organic products/ingredients where available. • Attempt to meet the Sustainability Criteria detailed in Section 1. When contacting prospective caterers it may be useful to explain the Council’s view on healthy eating and the need for healthy and sustainable options to be provided at functions and events. It may be useful to provide prospective caterers with a copy of these Guidelines. The following checklist may be used to assess a caterer’s proposed menu suitability | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |
| Healthy and Sustainable Food Choices Guidelines for all Council managed food services | Healthy and Sustainable Food Choices Guidelines for all Council managed food services | Health and Wellbeing | Healthy/sustainable LG food procurement policies | NSW | Blue Mountains | Metropolitan |