Cardinia Food Circles named a 2019 VicHealth Award winner
Collective-impact project Cardinia Food Circles was one of 12 winning Victorian projects recognised for outstanding efforts to improve community health across Victoria at the 2019 VicHealth Awards.
Established in 2016, Cardinia Food Circles is a cross-sector collaborative effort to grow a healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair local food movement in Cardinia Shire.
The project was initiated by Cardinia Shire Council in partnership with Sustain: The Australian Food Network to build on the work of the Healthy Together Victoria initiative. It has grown to include more than 20 organisations and a wide range of local residents, businesses, community groups and schools.
Cardinia Shire Mayor Councillor Jeff Springfield said taking out a VicHealth Award is a great honour and reinforces the importance of health promotion work in improving the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
“Through collective and multiple initiatives, the project has gained positive attention when engaging with our community through: local farms, schools, community gardens, early learning centres, sports clubs, libraries, health organisations, cafes and food outlets, not-for-profits, local government, community centres and various food systems services. The award is great recognition of these efforts,” Cr Springfield said.
Sustain: The Australian Food Network Executive Director, Nick Rose said the VicHealth Awards are the state’s highest accolade for health promotion, recognising the efforts of local grassroots projects, state-wide campaigns and everything in between.
“Cardinia Food Circles project partners all work towards growing a healthy, delicious, sustainable and fair local food system from the ground up. The main objectives are to increase daily fruit and vegetable intake, improve food and health literacy, reduce obesity and build a resilient, thriving local farm and food economy,” Mr Rose said.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said the VicHealth Awards recognise the incredible impact these organisations have on the health and wellbeing of Victorians.
“The VicHealth Awards give us the opportunity to recognise projects like Cardinia Food Circles and their wonderful work in local communities across the state,” Dr Demaio said.
“Cardinia Food Circles and the 11 other winners, are all working incredibly hard to ensure that Victorians have access to the support they need to live happy, healthy lives regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, sexuality or postcode.”
Find out more about the Cardinia Food Circles project at: www.cardinia.vic.gov.au/foodcircles