City of Greater Bendigo has led the development of Greater Bendigo’s first Food System Strategy 2020-2030. The Strategy utilises a collective impact framework, which is based on the knowledge that individual actions and efforts are limited, but when we work together towards a common aim, we maximise our impact. Over 30 organisations and groups have committed to either leading or supporting key actions listed within the 10-year Strategy Action Plan.
William Angliss Institute is the Government endorsed specialist training provider for the foods, tourism, hospitality and events industries. William Angliss Institute has been a member of Sustain since 2016. In addition, William Angliss offers significant support to Sustain through the provision of office, meeting and event venue space, as well as in-kind and financial sponsorship of Sustain events and networking activities.
Cultivating Community has been a member with Sustain since 2018. Cultivating Community have been pioneers of Melbourne’s urban agriculture community for over 20 years, with a vision for joyful, connected communities who care for each other and our earth. Their areas of focus include food systems advocacy and support, public housing community gardens, urban agriculture, community food projects, school food gardens, food waste management and environmental education. There is a shared vision with...
Common Ground Project is a not-for-profit community farm that promotes food security by creating fair access to locally grown, healthy food. Common Ground Project exists to empower agency and advocacy by offering an inclusive space for growing, cooking, knowledge sharing, and ongoing community collaboration. We provide hands-on workshops, training and employment pathways through our Food Knowledge programs, which directly support our Food Relief efforts in the Geelong region.
Community Gardens Australia connects city farms and community gardens around Australia. It is a community-based organisation linking people interested in city farming and community gardening across Australia.
Connect the Plots was formed in June 2019 in response to the challenge of climate change, inviting local women to monthly potluck lunches. Project GreenPlot aims to invite local gardeners to set aside just 1 square metre of their land to grow supplied seeds or seedlings and eventually harvest fresh produce for local distribution.
The DIVRS Urban Food Program (UFP) supports a vision of local food systems which are secure, sustainable and equitable, to develop healthy communities. We are a community volunteer led program that sources and grows nutritious fresh food for redistribution to people experiencing food insecurity in the city of Darebin.
Food Next Door matches under-utilised farmland with landless farmers to support small-scale regenerative farming, growing diverse crops & engaging people from diverse backgrounds to supply food to local households.
Heathcote Community House is a centre for community connection, learning, sharing, training and fun! The community house is still providing locals with access to essential services such as ‘My Aged Care’, the Australian Tax Office (ATO), ‘MyGov’, and Services Australia (Centrelink, Medicare, Child Support). Other services available include photocopying, printing, scanning, faxing, laminating, and assistance with filling out forms and completing applications. The community house’s infor...
Melbourne Farmers Markets is a not for profit social enterprise dedicated to Victorian food and producers, regional food cultures, seasonal produce, biodiversity, sustainable farming practices and strengthening relationships between the consumer and the producer. We operate seven vibrant and successful farmers’ markets across Melbourne.
Our Mission is to convert under-utilised spaces into urban farms to grow food for those in need. We believe that the vulnerable in our communities deserve access to good quality and nutritious food. We believe that food insecurity can be eliminated through a chain of special purpose urban and peri urban farms. We use a variety of growing methods to grow food anywhere. The food we grow is donated freely to local charities and food security agencies. We are the Mini Farm Project.
Permaculture Australia is the national permaculture member based organisation in Australia. Our mission is to support, promote and advocate for permaculture ideas, solutions and strategies. We are a registered charity with the ACNC and Registered Environmental Organisation, and responsible for Permafund, supporting Accredited Permaculture training and supporting the Australasian Permaculture Convergence.
Prepare Produce Provide (PPP) is the trading name for Live To Tell Your Story Inc, a not for profit organisation established in 2013 by a group of passionate educators in Western Australia. Our aim is to use food and cooking as a vehicle to help meet the needs young people in our community while providing training and support for them to develop future career pathways.
Slow Food International is a global, not-for-profit, grassroots organisation founded in Italy in 1989 to prevent the disappearance of local food cultures and traditions, and to encourage people’s interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, and how our food choices affect the world around us.
The Hills Food Frontier’s (THFF) vision is that the Dandenong Ranges will be an inspirational, sustainable food destination in Australia. THFF is a volunteer based incorporated association that inspires, mobilises and equips the Hills community to choose, grow, share and eat good food.
Wormlovers have the products, the passion and the know-how to turn food waste into nutrient rich plant food… good for you and good for the planet! Wormlovers helps businesses, schools, councils and households upcycle organic waste. Our aim is to re-frame excess food from ‘waste’ to ‘asset’ by promoting the concept of the nutrient cycle – the food you don’t eat is as full of nutrients as the food you do eat. Those nutrients should be cycled back into the soil to grow more food thro...
A national not for profit organisation committed to cultivating networks, resources and community for young farmers state and nation wide. Through our network we provide educational platforms and community connections that encourage our young agrarians to farm for the future, supporting the use of regenerative, holistic & sustainable agricultural practices.
Plantbased chef / Food content creator / Bachelor of Food Studies Student
Executive Director, Sustain
Nick has been the Executive Director of Sustain since its establishment in January 2016. With a background In law and community development, Nick brings more than a decade of working at the grassroots and institutional level in several Australian states in food sovereignty and sustainable food systems. He is the editor of "Fair Food: Stories From a Movement Changing The World (2015)" and the co-editor of "Reclaiming The Urban Commons: The Past, Present and Future of Food Growing in Australian T...
Sustainability Officer, University of Tasmania
The Hume Seed Library and Transition Streets Sunbury
As a mother of two, and deeply concerned about the ecological footprint of our modern society and what future that will bring, I have implemented many changes to my family’s lifestyle to reduce our footprint and live in lighter, more sustainable ways. In 2019, I joined the Hume Enviro Champions program to build my capacity for sharing her passion and knowledge about the environment and sustainability with my local community. From then I went on to complete a Permaculture Design Course and e...
Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Social Dimensions of Farming, SCU and Soil CRC
Dr Claire Baker brings first hand experience of agricultural communities to her research and teaching in sociologies of land use, the lived experience of globalisation and policy change. She is an academic, social researcher and author, with her book 'A Sociology of Place in Australia: Farming, Change and Lived Experience' due to be published in Feb 2021: https://www.palgrave.com/gp/book/9789813362390
University of Wollongong
I am a Professor of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Wollongong - teaching public health nutrition. I am an advanced accredited practicing dietitian (AdvAPD) as well as a Registered Public Heath Nutritionist (RPHNutr). I conduct research to improve food security in disadvantaged groups, including countries such as South Africa, Ghana and Pacific Islands. I am committed to teaching the next generation of students to develop skills to improve both human and planetary health through eq...
Master of Environment Student
I am currently completing my Master of Environment at the University of Melbourne, focused on the power of urban agriculture to contribute to more sustainable, fair, connected and resilient communities. I grow herbs and veggies with a passion, and am interested in how we can reimagine our food systems and live better in the process. I have a background in soil and agricultural science and a great enthusiasm for project management and environmental problem solving.
Pasta Maker, Radical Pasta
Sole trader, Leah Galvin Consulting
I live and work in Tasmania and have a background in public health nutrition and a special interest in - sustainable local food systems that support livelihoods, reduce food waste and losses, build resilience and improve access to healthy seasonal food. I have worked in not-for- profits, state and local government. My expertise is in research, community and stakeholder engagement, policy development, community and regional development, good governance and network making. Prior to working in the ...
Chef Hospitality Consultant
Chef who is currently studying food sustainability at Melbourne uni.
Ex-high school teacher,NVDA trainer , co-host of The Sustainable Hourpodcast, long time climate justice activist, Centre for Climate Safety
67 year old grandfather of 5 lil tackers aged 1 to 8 years old. Long time environmentalist/climate activist. Grew up on a farm in SW Vic during the so called “green revolution” - industrial farming - now a firm advocate for regen farming, as a way of restoring vitality to our badly depleted soils, growing more nutritious food & helping draw down carbon
The Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA) is a national not-for-profit organisation whose mission is to increase the understanding and practical implementation of Earth centred governance in Australia, with a focus on law, economics, education, ethics and the arts. AELA’s work is inspired by the theory and practice of Earth jurisprudence, which is a governance philosophy and growing social movement. Earth jurisprudence proposes that we rethink our legal, political, economic and governance syst...
Sustain acknowledges the pro-bono public-interest law support of Arnold Bloch Leibler, Lawyers and Advisers. ABL came on board as Sustain’s honorary advisors in mid-2015 to help establish Sustain and achieve our charitable tax concessions. ABL continues to work with Sustain in the areas of corporate governance and taxation. Arnold Bloch Leibler is a premier Australian commercial law firm with a long history of giving back to the community. ABL offers strategic legal advice in the public intere...
A joint venture project between Sustain: The Australian Food Network and Cardinia Shire Council, the ambitious and visionary Cardinia Food Circles Project aims to support the Shire of Cardinia, community food leaders and Shire residents in the establishment, promotion and expansion of a healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair food system for all Shire residents.
Sustain's work is in part made possible through the collective impact project Cardinia Food Circles, principally funded by the Cardinia Shire Council.
A person who wants to change the way we eat and live. Sticking her finger in any old pie that works towards a just, sustainable, dignifying and joyful world through food. Interested in working with people who feel the same way and want to build a community of care and commitment to making things a little better on their patch. Also enjoys long walks with handsome dogs (but not on the beach - walking in sand is too hard).
The first metro food hub in Melbourne, Melbourne Food Hub’s mission is to create a replicable model of a self-sustaining Food Hub. It is envisioned to be a place where the community can meet to engage with food through learning, growing, making, eating and sourcing fresh local produce. As well as a place to support, incubate, and house local food enterprises and social businesses to encourage the co-creation of local food systems. Currently, this is realised through a weekly Sunday farmers mar...
Sustain's work is in part made possible through the collective impact project Cardinia Food Circles, partially funded by the Casey-Cardinia Foundation’s Ripe for Change funding initiative. Ripe for Change is a place-based community grants program delivered by Sustainable Table, in partnership with founding philanthropic partners, Morris Family Foundation and Garry White Foundation. It was designed to improve our food-system and deliver enhanced health, employment and sustainability outcome...
The South Australian food network works towards the shared vision created during Edible Adelaide 2016. This vision acknowledges the diversity of drivers, partners, initiatives and approaches required to build a local, flourishing food system and includes: accessible, affordable, organic and healthy food for all; resilient and educated communities; localised and interlinked food growing systems; integrated systems approaches to planning; trained and supported producers, processors, distributors a...
Sustain is a national network of organisations and institutions who work together to develop and implement practical solutions to food system problems. Working for the transition to a healthy, sustainable and fair food system that benefits all Australians.
Sustain's work is in part made possible by a grant received from the Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation. As a charitable community foundation, Lord Mayor's Charitable Foundation's role is to connect people, ideas and funding to create positive social change and address Melbourne’s future needs, now. Since its establishment in 1923, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has become one of Australia’s leading philanthropic organisations by proactively supporting Melbourne and its community.
Sustain's work is in part made possible by a grant received from the Myer Foundation. This foundation seeks to strengthen and grow the independent arts and cultural sector in Australia by granting money to ensembles, collectives, groups and organisations that are highly connected within their sector, and producing excellent work.
Zia Ria Mercato is an artisan of traditional Italian time honored recipes passed down from generations of a wonderful sustainable and self sufficient lifestyle. My small batch mercato (market stall), is passionate about all areas of the food chain and how we contribute to improving, maintaining and sustaining a well balanced healthy food system. You can find Zia Ria Mercato and her tasty, local and seasonal treats across Melbourne Markets & "Farmers Markets".
Director, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Director, PlanIt Rural
Annemaree is an Agricultural Scientist, Permaculture Designer, Farmer and advocate for the natural environment. Annemaree started her career in the private agricultural sector working in a range of enterprises including beef cattle, merino fine wool production, dairy, Thoroughbred breeding and viticulture. She spent three years with the Department of Primary Industries (Biosecurity Victoria and the Meat and Wool Team) before moving to local government on the peri-urban fringe of Melbourne, where...
Communications & Strategy Support Officer, Sustain
Arianna recently completed the Master of Environment at the University of Melbourne, where she focused her studies on sustainable food systems and policy. Prior to this she worked as an intern for Harlem Grown, a New York-based non-profit striving to improve nutritious food access and literacy among children. She is originally from the Philippines, and has spent much of her time in Australia working to vegetarianise Filipino cuisine.
volunteer/cook, Source Community Wholefoods
Founders , Down2Earth
Urban Agriculture Advocates, Organic food growers and gardening educators. Supporting individuals, community groups and organisations. Facebook
Director, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Co-owner, Edigrocer
Jono works with local families and farmers towards a sustainable and fair suburban food future in his home town of Edithvale, Melbourne. Always starting from the ground up, Jono is committed to creating viable community businesses that are regenerative and impactful. In 2016, Jono co-founded @EDIGROCER a suburban greengrocer / micro-food-hub. With an inspiring team, their core work is to source veggies directly from local & organic growers on the Mornington Peninsula and Koo-wee-rup to make u...
Food Security Officer, City of Onkaparinga
CEO, Nutrition Australia
Torn between two passions 'culinary nutrition' and 'effective leadership' I married a chef whose culinary talents lie in French cuisine enabling me to focus on my career leading without authority. As CEO for Nutrition Australia, I have applied my skills in leadership, strategy, finance, business development, public health, nutrition and human resource management to inspire and empower my colleagues, stakeholders and clients to collaborate to achieve the best outcomes for our products, program...
Treasurer, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Lecturer, William Angliss Institute / Chairperson, The Environmental Group Limited
Lynn Richardson brings a wealth of food industry experience, academic research and business acumen to help realise the Sustain mission. A lecturer in Finance, Strategy, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Lynn is deeply committed to progressing fair food systems. Lynn’s contribution as Treasurer blends a 20-year hospitality career with extensive business management expertise. A graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Lynn holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of E...
Community Engagement Coordinator, Cardinia Food Circles
Max draws from 15 years of work and volunteering experience in many aspects of the food cycle, from commercial production, transformation (cooking, baking & fermentation), waste reclamation and local community-based economies . These experiences allow him to appreciate the complimentary roles of good governance and efficient management in a context of limited resources. His collaborations with various cooperatives and social enterprises in spaces such as food security, urban agriculture and ...
CEO
Regional Development Australia (ACT) is a federally funded NFP assisting investment and jobs in our region. Our focus is on building a sustainable food hub here, called the Canberra region Food Collaborative.
Food Distribution Coordinator, Melbourne Food Hub
Nichole is a driven and knowledgable champion of food justice. Having joined Sustain from Austin, Texas, where she coordinated numerous hunger relief events, she has overseen the Grow/ Source / Eat food distribution program as well as food relief efforts at the Melbourne Food Hub as Project Manager. Since her involvement, Grow / Source / Eat has grown from 9 subscribers to around 100, distributing over 300 kilos of locally sourced, sustainable produce to households in Melbourne each week.
Packer and Driver, Melbourne Food Hub
Our packing and delivery hero
Academic Director, The Hotel School, Southern Cross University
Director, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Queen's Counsel, Victorian Bar / Proprietor, Tarrangower Estate Winery
Tom has nearly 30 years’ experience as a barrister at the Victorian Bar. In 1984 he was appointed Assistant Director of Policy and Research for the Victorian Attorney General. In September 1989 he was appointed a Crown Prosecutor, and in that role prosecuted major criminal trials and appeared in about 1800 appeals in the Court of Appeal and about 60 in the High Court. He took Silk in 2011. His areas of practice include Appeals, criminal trials, OH&S, Confiscations, Administrative Law, Cont...
Director, Sustain: The Australian Food Network
Strategy Consultant, PwC
Tom is a strategy consultant with PwC, who supports businesses to build operations that support sustainable growth. His work has covered a broad range of sectors, including leading food processing, distribution and retail organisations in Australia and abroad. He is a Certified Supply Chain Professional with the APICS Institute of Operations Management, a Chartered Accountant with CA-ANZ and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from UNSW. Tom is passionate about building supply chains that are sustainab...