Food Fairness Illawarra
Addressing food insecurity and food waste in the Illawarra.
Who
We Are
Food Fairness Illawarra (FFI) is a program of Healthy Cities Australia working to improve food security and reduce food waste across the Illawarra. Our goal is simple: a region where good food is accessible to everyone and valuable food is not wasted. Today, FFI focuses on practical initiatives that strengthen our local food system, support food relief organisations, and help redirect surplus food to people who need it most.
What We Do
Find sustainable,
ethical food near you.
Looking for your local farmer’s market, grocer or food relief organisation?
We created a comprehensive directory listing sustainable, ethical food spots across the Illawarra.
From butchers to community gardens to independent grocers, easily find where you can vote with your dollar and purchase or take part in fairer food in your community.
Low Cost &
Free Meals
Are you, or someone you know, in need of food support? These are all the free/low cost meals and grocery services in the Illawarra.
Donating Food
as a Business
Donating your leftover edible food as a business doesn’t have to be difficult. It helps people and the planet, lowers your waste costs, is legally protected and boosts customer engagement and staff morale.
The Illawarra
Food Hub
We are working in collaboration with our food relief and rescue partners towards the Illawarra Food Hub, a physical space to store and redivert surplus food that handles all the logistics for relief providers.
Find Sustainable,
Ethical Food Near You.
“The Garden” North Wollongong
Abdul Halal Butchery
Abu Ahmed Grocery
Albion Park Community Garden
Healthy Cities
Australia
Food Fairness Illawarra is an initiative powered by Healthy Cities Australia, an organisation committed to creating a healthier, more equitable community working to prevent chronic disease and address health inequalities.
Illawarra Edible
Garden Trail
Food fairness starts from the ground up. By joining the Illawarra Edible Garden Trail, you are stepping into a vibrant community of locals dedicated to sustainable agriculture and food security.
Food Fairness
Illawarra History
For 20 years (2005–2025), FFI operated as a coalition made up of members from Healthy Cities, local councils, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District (ISLHD), University of Wollongong (UOW), and dedicated individuals in the food space. As a community coalition, FFI took pride in spearheading collective action to create equitable and sustainable solutions for our local food system. Here are just some of the coalition’s achievements over the two decades it operated.
2005 - 2010
Beginning in 2005, Food Fairness Illawarra was formed during Anti-Poverty Week, after attendance at a Sydney based food security forum highlighted the need for collaboration to unlock fairer food solutions in the local area.
In 2007, the coalition successfully advocated for OzHarvest to expand rescued food deliveries from Sydney into the Illawarra. Engagement with the private sector was progressed by strategic actions undertaken with the Illawarra Business Chamber to facilitate advocacy work and promote food donations.
In 2009, FFI partnered with NSW Food Summit to host the Illawarra Regional Food Forum to facilitate regional perspectives on the recommendations made for Food Policy to NSW Government.
2010 - 2015
In 2010 FFI went online with a website and marketing materials to broaden its reach.
Over the next couple of years, FFI advocated for food security to local councils as well as national and state submissions, supporting the development of the Illawarra Regional Food Strategy in partnership with Shellharbour City Council, Wollongong City Council and Kiama Municipal Council in 2013.
The Food Rescue and Relief Working Group was then established in partnership with community organisations in 2014.
2015 - 2020
In 2015, FFI produced the traditional Sub-Saharan and Halal Food Directory for newly arrived refugees to the Illawarra.
In partnership with local councils in 2016, the University of Wollongong and Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, an annual community building event ‘Connecting over Fair Food’ was launched and hosted during Fair Food Week.
A formal food strategy was formed for the coalition’s vision of our local food system to guide all coalition activities, and in 2019 FFI the coalition successfully advocated for the expansion of OzHarvest deliveries in the Illawarra from two to five days per week.
The pandemic threw a spanner in the works when it came in 2020, causing food insecurity to rise. FFI mobilised local food security stakeholders to provide a rapid coordination response, including the establishment of food distribution hubs and provision of our regularly updated Low Cost & Free Meals Directory.
Stories
Latest
News
How to Donate Food as a Hospitality or Food Retail Business
Cook, Chill, Chat is expanding outside the Illawarra for the first time
Strengthening Australia’s Food Security: Our Submission to the National Food Security Strategy
Introducing the Illawarra Regional Food Hub project
