The Australian Government has committed $3.5 million to develop ‘Feeding Australia: A National Food Security Strategy’, which they say will be formed in collaboration with farmers, fishers, industry and community to ‘boost the productivity, resilience and security of our food system.’
The strategy, guided by the Feeding Australia discussion paper, aims to ensure everyone in Australia can access affordable, nutritious food now and in the future. It looks at the whole food system, from production and supply chains to affordability, nutrition, and waste. For us at HCA and FFI, this conversation couldn’t come at a more important time as we harness our resources and partnerships in food security.
One of the initiatives we are proud to contribute to is the Illawarra Shoalhaven Food Futures Taskforce, a regional collaboration formed to address the issue of sustainable food systems across the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. The Taskforce, led under the auspices of Illawarra Shoalhaven Regional Development Australia, unites local leaders, researchers, health professionals, and community organisations to build a fair, sustainable, and resilient food system, maintain a strong focus on community-led solutions, equitable access to nutritious food, and advocacy for systemic change.
We know that food insecurity is on the rise, cost of living pressures are stretching households, and at the same time, tonnes of good food continue to go to waste. We believe a strong, coordinated, and equitable food system is essential, not just for our health, but for community wellbeing, local economies, and the planet.
Our submission: championing regional food hubs
Our submission focused on the development of the Illawarra Regional Food Hub, a practical, place-based model that brings together food rescue, redistribution, and community connection under one roof.
- Phase 1 — rescuing surplus food and diverting it to local food relief organisations across the Illawarra, reducing waste and improving access to nutritious food.
- Phase 2 — deliver nutritious school lunches, supporting child wellbeing and relieving pressure on families.
- The long-term vision is a fully fledged community food hub; a space for growing food, running workshops, providing employment pathways, and strengthening our local food system for the future.
We see this as a replicable model that could work in any region right across Australia.
What we’re calling for
In our submission, we’ve asked the government to make regional food hubs a key part of Australia’s food security strategy. We’ve also recommended:
- Establishing a National Food Rescue and Redistribution Fund to seed regional hub development
- Supporting cold storage, transport, and hub infrastructure through grants and investment
- Introducing incentives for businesses to donate edible surplus food
- Embedding food hubs into emergency planning and community resilience frameworks
- Funding Indigenous- and community-led projects that strengthen local food systems
- Setting measurable national targets for rescued food, nutrition outcomes, and waste reduction
We also highlighted that food relief plays a vital role not only in feeding people, but in connecting them to other health and social supports, ultimately saving money across hospitals, welfare, and other services. Investing in food relief and local systems is both a social and an economic win. By contributing our on-the-ground experience in the Illawarra, we hope to show how local action can drive national change.
