General News
21 November, 2022
New network to boost food security
A new network launched in Maryborough recently, with the long-term goal of tackling food security, access to healthier food options and food education in the community. The newly formed Central Goldfields Food Network launched last Monday at Mill...
A new network launched in Maryborough recently, with the long-term goal of tackling food security, access to healthier food options and food education in the community.
The newly formed Central Goldfields Food Network launched last Monday at Mill House, with over 30 local stakeholders and community members attending a workshop session.
Present at the launch were representatives from a number of local organisations including The Salvation Army, Food Alliance Network, Anglicare, representatives from local schools, Grampians Public Health Unit, Maryborough Community House and more.
A collaborative effort by the Central Goldfields Shire Council, Maryborough District Health Service, Healthy Loddon Campaspe and the Healthy Kids Advisor Initiative and delivered by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, the network will work to increase the knowledge of what issues, barriers and opportunities are to build capacity, increase food security, connect community and increase health outcomes across the shire.
Healthy Kids Advisor for Central Goldfields Shire Council, Ciel Lindley, said the formation of the network came at an opportune time for the community.
“I began in my role as healthy kids advisor six months ago and at the same time, several others began working in the health promotion and education space locally,” she said.
“There was a natural alignment — the shire had just received a 300 percent increase in health promoters which is amazing and with the work that we’re all doing, it was a natural fit that we all sit down and start talking to each other.
“Our shire is still recognised as one of the most disadvantaged in a lot of areas which means resources do come to the shire and we want to make sure that when we do get them, we’re as coordinated as possible and all of the decision making is community-led.”
The network will meet on a monthly basis and Ms Lindley encouraged community involvement.
“We’re not going to go and tell everyone what they should do, we’re just going to give people the opportunity to love food and love cooking and making it,” she said.
“What we’ll do is try and disseminate what’s discussed at each meeting far and wide so the broader community is aware, and these meetings will be open to everyone.
“There’ll be some more mapping of activities and current priorities and potential solutions as well as what an action plan might be for us over the coming sessions.”
Maryborough District Health Service health promotion officer Ned Patterson said healthy eating was a priority for the health service moving forward.
“Our community health and health promotion programs cover healthy eating as a priority going into the next five years and that’s a big part of why MDHS are involved in this work,” he said.
“I’ve been in this role for six months and there are a number of others that are new to this space so we thought that coming together and pooling our ideas and thoughts could be beneficial.
“We all have our own areas of expertise and different connections in the community, so bringing everyone together in the one space and discussing some of the challenges we face was the main priority of our initial workshop.
“We’ll see what happens moving forward, this is an initiative we want to be very community driven.”
For more information or to get involved with the network and monthly meetings, reach out to Ciel at ciel.lindley@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au