Healthy Loddon Campaspe has worked with stakeholders from across the region to develop the Flourish Regional Food System Framework.
Flourish is one of the only regionally-focused food systems frameworks in Australia, and provides a strategic framework to guide food system decisions and actions to secure the future of food in our region. A future where everyone has enough to eat and is well-nourished, where landscapes are healthy, farming contributes to biodiversity and secures rewarding livelihoods, and where communities can reconnect with food in their neighbourhoods.
Transforming our food system is no small task and is a shared responsibility that requires broad, collaborative, and innovative approaches. Food is everyone's business, and we look forward to sharing updates with you.
Framework development process
Flourish was developed through a collaborative process led by a food systems expert and a group of regional stakeholders. The process began with comprehensive activities to understand the local food system including an in-depth assessment based on international standards, a review of over 60 policy documents, and a survey of residents’ experiences. This groundwork laid the foundation for a series of co-design workshops, where participants from across the region came together to identify key challenges and envision a future where these issues are addressed. The insights gained from these workshops were used to create the initial draft of Flourish, which has been further refined through two rounds of stakeholder feedback.
Flourish is a framework for everyone involved in the food system in the Loddon Campaspe region. This includes local farmers, food producers, distributors, retailers, and food service providers, all of whom play vital roles in the creation and distribution of food. Flourish also has a strong focus on local government, policymakers responsible for shaping food system regulations, health professionals advocating for nutritional health, and environmental specialists focusing on sustainable practices. By bringing these diverse groups together, Flourish aspires to transform our region’s food system so that we can all flourish together – our communities and the ecosystems on which we depend.
HLC, supported by funding from the Victorian State Government, is dedicated to improving health outcomes in Victoria’s Loddon Campaspe region. Covering the six local government areas of Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire, and Mount Alexander Shire, HLC aims to influence both local and regional systems for better health, with the development of Flourish showcasing this effort. Recognising that building a healthy, equitable and resilient food system is a shared responsibility, HLC acknowledges its role in driving change, though we cannot do this alone.
Key actions for HLC include continuing to support the Taskforce established for Flourish, driving implementation of the framework, and evaluating processes and outcomes to ensure the framework’s success and positive impact on our region’s health and wellbeing.