National Nutrition Week: Community-Led Solutions for Remote Food Security
This National Nutrition Week, the NIAA is showcasing how community-led food security initiatives are supporting healthier food environments, strengthening remote stores and improving access to nutritious food in remote communities.
This National Nutrition Week, the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is celebrating the people, partnerships and initiatives helping to improve food and nutrition security in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Food and nutrition security is one of the National Nutrition Week key themes this year. This theme aligns closely with the objectives of the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities, recognising the need for fair access to nutritious, culturally appropriate food and highlighting the importance of community-led solutions.
First Nations Nutrition Workforce Program
Through the First Nations Nutrition Workforce program, more than 50 local community members are now employed as Good Food People across remote communities in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, far north Queensland and South Australia.
The Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) is leading the initiative, in partnership with Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) and Outback Stores (OBS), funded by the NIAA.
Good Food People are helping create healthier retail environments by sharing nutrition knowledge, supporting healthy store policies and promoting nutritious food and drink choices. They are also working with stores to develop healthier takeaway options for customers.
Since the program commenced in August 2025, Good Food People have been working across 38 remote stores, helping communities build local nutrition knowledge and supporting healthier food environments.
The Good Food People receive specialised training and ongoing support from qualified nutritionists, building skills that can deliver long-term benefits for their communities.
Photo: Keshayla and Lili, Good Food People in Gapuwiyak.
National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations
The NIAA is also supporting healthier retail environments through the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations. Stores that participate in the Code commit to a range of health-focused standards designed to make healthy choices easier for customers.
These standards include not promoting or discounting unhealthy foods and drinks, unless necessary to reduce food waste, limiting the placement of unhealthy products in high-traffic areas, and ensuring that at least half of all displayed ready-to-eat meals are healthy options.
Up to 127 stores have already signed up to the Code to demonstrate their commitment to meeting their community’s food security and health needs, with many stores already leading the way in creating healthier food environments for their customers.
Healthy Stores Project
Stores can access free support through Monash University’s Healthy Stores Project to measure progress against the Code’s Health Standards. The Healthy Stores Project builds on what the store already does well and provides tools, ideas and one-on-one support to improve store environments in a way that fits the store and the community.
These initiatives enable community leadership, healthier store environments and improved access to nutrition knowledge. As Australia marks National Nutrition Week, the NIAA recognises the important role remote retailers, community nutrition workers and local organisations play in supporting stronger food security and healthier futures for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
More information
Visit the Food security in remote First Nations communities page on the NIAA site for more information.