23 July 2026
What do Toyota Australia and Bendigo Foodshare have in common? More than you might think. At the heart of both organisations is a commitment to finding better ways of doing things.
Building on the success of our food relief warehouse project two years ago, we recently welcomed the Toyota Production System Support Centre (TSSC) team back to Bendigo Foodshare to help us refine our masterplan for our Dhelkunya Balak ‘Nourishing Community’ Food Hub. Together, we explored how our masterplan can best support the many people, groups and communities who will use the site in the years ahead.
Over three days, we walked the site, mapped how different community groups interact with the space, identified challenges and worked through practical solutions. Using Toyota’s philosophy of kaizen– the Japanese word for “continuous improvement”, we looked at everything from pedestrian and vehicle movement to creating safer, more accessible and welcoming spaces.
Of course, it wasn’t all serious business. The workshop also featured a speed typing competition, which quickly became a fiercely contested event with the Bendigo Foodshare team reigning supreme!
The workshop highlighted the value of listening to many perspectives, taking the time to observe movement patterns and design with a ‘customer-first’ approach. With more work to do before TSSC’s return visit in August, we’re excited to continue shaping Dhelkunya Balak into a place where people can connect, learn, grow and access healthy food.
A big thank you to Richard, Jack, Rachel and Atsu from the TSSC team for sharing their expertise and helping us take another step towards our vision for Dhelkunya Balak: a place where people, ideas and food come together to create a more resilient, connected and nourished community.
View the full Dhelkunya Balak ‘Nourishing Community’ Food Hub masterplan here.
