Articles

Advocacy News & Opinion

Don’t Dismantle a Leader: VicHealth’s Crucial Role in Food Systems Transformation in Victoria
BySustain Team December 12, 2025December 12, 2025

The Victorian Government has announced that VicHealth – the state’s internationally recognised, independent health promotion agency – will be abolished and incorporated into the Department of Health, ending more than three decades of prevention-focused leadership. The decision has shocked public health experts, community organisations and former government leaders, who warn that dismantling VicHealth’s independent structure…

Read More Don’t Dismantle a Leader: VicHealth’s Crucial Role in Food Systems Transformation in Victoria
Capacity building case study Case study

Loddon Mallee PHU Council and Community Capacity Building (2024) 
BySustain Team November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

This project covered a series of food system policymaking workshops for four local governments and community stakeholders within the LMPHU catchment. The focus was on increasing understanding of food systems, mapping relevance to Council’s remit and how LGAs can progress food systems transformation in the context of the cost-of-living crisis and climate change. The project…

Read More Loddon Mallee PHU Council and Community Capacity Building (2024) 
Case study Community Engagement Case Study Policy & strategy case study

Cardinia Community Food Strategy and Action Plan (2018–26)
BySustain Team November 19, 2025November 19, 2025

From 2016 – 2022, Sustain collaborated with Cardinia Shire Council to develop and implement the Cardinia Community Food Strategy. This participatory process drew on the strengths of and built capacity of the community. The project’s achievement highlights include recognition of Cardinia Food Circles with VicHealth’s ‘Promoting Healthy Eating Award’ in 2019 for outstanding efforts to…

Read More Cardinia Community Food Strategy and Action Plan (2018–26)
Capacity building case study Case study

Capacity Building and Action Planning with Wangaratta Sustainable Food Alliance
BySustain Team November 18, 2025November 18, 2025

Sustain teamed up with the Sustainable Food Alliance and the Rural City of Wangaratta, in Wangaratta, to strengthen local food system leadership and action. Our collaboration included a series of tailored capacity-building workshops and hands-on facilitation:

Read More Capacity Building and Action Planning with Wangaratta Sustainable Food Alliance
Case study Research case study

Mapping Local Food Environments with Northeastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU)
BySustain Team November 14, 2025

Sustain partnered with the Northeastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU) to map local food environments across ten councils in Melbourne’s north and north-east. The project identified inequities in access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food and provided councils with detailed data and interactive mapping tools to inform planning and policy. Building on NEPHU’s Local Food…

Read More Mapping Local Food Environments with Northeastern Public Health Unit (NEPHU)
Case study Research case study

Feeding Australia: Shaping the National Food Security Strategy
BySustain Team October 30, 2025November 14, 2025

What We Did In August 2025, Sustain and partners released Solutions to Food Security in Australia: What’s on the Table? — a comprehensive analysis of 187 submissions made to the 2023 Federal Inquiry into Food Security. The report identified key policy gaps, highlighted areas of stakeholder consensus, and proposed a clear roadmap for a fair,…

Read More Feeding Australia: Shaping the National Food Security Strategy
Support for Gaza

Seeds for a Just Peace: A campaign for urgent and sustained action
ByGary Chan and Amy Tacey October 16, 2025November 20, 2025

Our Mission: Raising solidarity funds that support local efforts in Gaza to consolidate seeds preservation and production for the people. We need your support.

Read More Seeds for a Just Peace: A campaign for urgent and sustained action
Media

Nick Rose on ABC Sydney
BySustain Team October 7, 2025October 7, 2025

What is in Australia’s new food security strategy and does it go far enough? In this ABC Sydney interview, Sustain ED Nick Rose discusses why we need a food security strategy, what it should include and how can we take a whole of systems approach from paddock to plate. Click here to listen to the…

Read More Nick Rose on ABC Sydney
Media

Sustain in The Conversation
BySustain Team October 5, 2025October 5, 2025

“Australia is at an important moment. Meaningful change and strengthening food security could help millions of Australians well into the future. To truly secure Australia’s food future, government action must prioritise the systemic drivers of insecurity, inequality and ecological decline.” This the call from the Sustain team and others, as covered in this article exploring…

Read More Sustain in The Conversation
Community Food Initiatives Policymaking

Healthy Soils, Healthy People, Healthy Planet
ByDr Nick Rose October 2, 2025October 2, 2025

The WA Regenerative Food Systems Conference brought together over 200 regenerative farmers from across Australia and internationally, celebrating and recognising the tremendous successes and achievements by farmers in restoring life and fertility to their soils.

Read More Healthy Soils, Healthy People, Healthy Planet

Subscribe to our newsletter