In 2024, Healthy Cities Illawarra was proud to spearhead a Regional Food Coordinator program as the very first region in NSW to do so, thanks to generous funding from the NSW Environmental Protection Authority. We are fortunate to have a food rescue and relief sector that collectively rescues a vast amount of food to feed an increasing number of people in need in the Illawarra. The goal of this three-year program is to increase connections and collaborations in the sector to ultimately increase the amount of edible food rescued from landfill to feed the increasing number of people in need.
Here’s how it’s going so far in phase one of the project.
We welcomed our new Fair Food Coordinator
In October 2024, we welcomed Grace to the team as our Fair Food Coordinator, taking on the coordination and implementation of this project. An Illawarra local with a background in not-for-profits and communications, Grace is passionate about health, sustainability, and creating a better world. Having settled into the role and begun to connect with the amazing people in the food relief and rescue sector, she is ready to sink her teeth into this project and hit the ground running this year.
We updated our Low Cost & Free Meals directory
Where can you access free community meals or low-cost groceries in the Illawarra? We got you! The Low Cost & Free Meals directory is a resource where community members can search for free or low-cost meals and groceries in their local area. From Helensburgh to Kiama and surrounds, the directory houses all the updated information on existing food relief agencies, what their services are, and where, when and how to access them. Our printable version has been updated for 2025. For the most up-to-date details, please see our web-based directory.
The Food Rescue & Relief Working Group came together
The Food Rescue & Relief Working Group is a collective of professionals from various food relief and food rescue organisations in the Illawarra. Moving forward, we will come together every two months to connect, share challenges and barriers, brainstorm solutions and collaborate to reach more people in need. We’re looking forward to kicking off this new year with a face-to-face catch-up so stay tuned for the details! If you work in food rescue and relief in the Illawarra and would like to be part of the group, please email us at foodfairness@healthycities.org.au.
We sent out a pilot survey to collect baseline data
One main aim of this program is to improve understanding of food relief and rescue in the Illawarra region, and this means crunching some numbers. Data on the amount of food being rescued from landfill in our region has never been conducted before, but is crucial to create a clearer image of the current landscape of food waste and food relief, and measure and track progress, shifts and improvements. Again, watch this space for updates!
As we mentioned, we are still in phase one of this project. so the focus right now is on fostering connection and collaboration in the food rescue and relief space and establishing a better understanding of its current impact in the Illawarra. We have lots of exciting things planned for 2025 and are looking forward to working with the collective of passionate and dedicated people in food rescue and relief this year.
To stay up-to-date with our regional journey to make food accessible to all, sign up to the Fair Food newsletter.
