The Western Australian Council of Social Service will take part in the inaugural WA Food Relief Roundtable today. Hosted by Premier Mark McGowan and Minister McGurk, the purpose of the Roundtable is to improve responses to food insecurity across the state.
All levels of Government, community services, and the commercial sector have been invited to the Roundtable and take part in a strategic conversation to address food insecurity in WA.
The Roundtable was a recommendation out of the Food Relief Framework, a two-year project funded by Lotterywest, and led by an interdisciplinary working group comprised of food relief providers and other stakeholders from across the state.
The Framework is solutions-focused, setting out recommendations for a coordinated and collaborative whole-of-government and community response to address food insecurity. The aim is to ensure every Western Australian enjoys access to nutritional and appropriate food.
The Framework has garnered attention across Australia, attesting to its importance, and that the highest level of political, business and community representation at the Roundtable is warranted.
Food insecurity is largely driven by poverty and inadequate income. According to Foodbank, almost one in five of all Australians live with food insecurity. WA charitable food services are working hard to meet the need, but are struggling to keep up with growing demand.
The Food Relief Framework provides for a coordinated response to addressing the supply, provision, and consumption of food relief, underpinned by the need for strategic policy coordination and leadership.
Dr Jennie Gray, Deputy CEO, said:
“The Framework identified many solutions that we can achieve through collaboration between community services, the corporate sector, and Government, and that the Roundtable is an important opportunity for us to progress this work.
“We are looking forward to having conversations with retailers, transport companies, and charity food providers, to determine what role we each have in ensuring every West Australian has access to food that is nutritious and appropriate.
“We are also looking forward to implementing the strategies and recommendations as outlined in the WA Food Relief Framework.”
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To download a PDF of this media release, click here.
To download a copy of the Food Relief Framework, click here.
Media contact: Laurene Coller, Communications Officer, [email protected], 0419 316 557
