Food Security has been defined as a state in which there is adequate supply of nutritious food available locally and where individuals possess the financial and personal skills and resources required to obtain and use that food. (Booth and Smith 2001)
Food security means…
- Not having to worry about whether we have enough to eat
- Being able to eat safe and healthy foods from our own culture
- Being able to afford healthy food
- Protecting the water, land, and people who grow and produce food
- Celebrating our culture or community with food
This growing alliance was formed after the successful Food Security Forum in October 2005, which brought to attention the fact that many services and groups are seeing people experience hunger in our community.
The alliance is made up of a broad range of organisations and individuals from the community with different interests who share a common goal of enabling access to a sustainable and healthy food supply for all. Members include Healthy Cities Illawarra, local councils, University of Wollongong, SESI Health, The Cancer Council, NSW, community centres, food aid groups and welfare services, community gardens, school garden programs and interested community members. Our key areas of interest are advocating for: food security, sustainable agriculture and food systems, the vital role of local/regional food production and supporting local welfare and community groups who work with people experiencing food insecurity.
Food Fairness Illawarra initiatives and activities include:
- Production of a Low Cost and Free Meals Directory
- Interpretation of the Food Donation/Civil Liabilities Bill into a fact sheet for businesses. The fact sheet summarises the recent changes to the Food Donations Bill (2004) which reduces the liability of food providers donating food to charity.
- Mapping of food outlets in the Wollongong LGA alongside housing, transport and social demographic information.
- Production of a traditional Sub-Saharan and Halal Food Directory
- Development of a local food production fact sheet
- Support for local food aid providers
- Support for community gardens
- Recommendations on food security planning to local urban development projects
- Establishment of collaborative links with PeopleCare Health Insurance and Illawarra Business Chamber
- Food Health and the Environment Forum, in partnership with University of Wollongong. The Forum brought together community leaders from different sectors and highlighted the essential role of key organisations acting together to improve food security and health outcomes through urban planning, community services, demonstration projects and environmental health initiatives.
- Support for the establishment of OzHarvest food rescue organisation in Wollongong
- Key partner in successful $1.1 million grant – Illawarra Biodiveristy and Local Food Strategy for Climate Change Grant – 2008 – 2011
- Key partner in securing Healthy Local Government Grant 2006-2007
FFI is very keen to welcome new members. Please consider joining this growing circle of people and organisations committed to finding solutions to food insecurity, especially if you: grow food, are interested in ethical food consumption and production , work with people who experience hunger, are a local business with food to donate, or as an individual interested in having local control over how and what we eat. We welcome your involvement.
Membership is free and available on an individual or organisational basis.
To complete a membership form, please download the form here (doc 430kb) and return it to Healthy Cities Illawarra.
For more information contact programs@healthycitiesill.org.au
For information on Food Fairness activities in NSW, check out www.sydneyfoodfairness.org.au
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