Food
Alliance for Remote Australia
www.FARA.bite.to
Food Security and Consumer
Rights Resources
Remote Australia Food Security Blog Spot
Takeaway Food Calculator (coming soon)
Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Variety, Quality & Availability Calculator
Non-Fresh Food Variety Calculator
Alliances
Position Statement
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has". Margaret Mead.
History
The Food Alliance for Remote Australia (FARA) evolved out of a Food Policy Action Workshop conducted in Alice Springs 13th to 15th October 2003. Dr John Coveney, a senior lecturer of the Department of Public Health, Flinders University and Dr Mark Lawrence, a senior lecturer of the School of Health Sciences, Deakin University, co-facilitated the workshop. (Download Workshop Report)
John Tregenza, an Alice Springs based consultant with a background in food policy, was a key presenter on Mai Wiru, Process and Policy: Regional Stores Policy and associated regulations for the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Lands (1,2,3).
The workshop was proudly funded with a $6,500 grant from the Central Australian Division of Primary Health Care.
Workshop participantsAround thirty participants attended the three-day workshop, including nutritionists, dietitians, nutrition workers, Aboriginal Health Workers, Environmental Health Officers, and other concerned health professionals, citizens and taxpayers all of whom had a particular interest in food security in remote areas.
At the conclusion of the workshop the group made the following resolution:
"This workshop resolves that the health and well-being of Indigenous Australians, especially those living in remote areas, can only be improved when healthy food is readily available, affordable and safe."The participants in the workshop have formed an alliance called Food Alliance for Remote Australia (FARA) to progress these issues, and calls for collective action to:
- increase the range of affordable healthy foods available in remote community settings
- rigorous enforcement of current regulations governing retail operations
- training and support for better retail operations, and
- greater community control of the local food supply"
Press Release 16/10/2003
Alliance to improve healthy food for remote communities
A group attending a food policy workshop in central Australia has decided to form an alliance to improve the quality and affordability of healthy food in remote communities.
The workshop in Alice Springs looked at issues such as freight prices, community store policies and the impact of sub-standard food on Indigenous Australians.
John Tregenza from the newly formed Food Alliance for Remote Australia says it aims to provide a more coordinated approach to such issues.
"The health and well being of Indigenous Australians, especially those living in remote areas, can only be improved when healthy food is readily available and affordable and safe," Mr Tregenza said.
"The idea of forming an alliance and bringing other people on board to concentrate on assisting communities to be able to have readily available and affordable food is the main aim of the alliance."