Regional Food Security Alliance
Bendigo Foodshare is a founding member of Regional Food Security Alliance. The Alliance is a partnership between:
- Albury-Wodonga Regional Foodshare
- Bendigo Foodshare
- Geelong Food Relief Centre
- Shepparton Foodshare
- Sunraysia Mallee Ethnic Communities Council (SMECC)
- Western District Food Share.
The Alliance was officially formed in May 2022 and aims to strengthen Victoria’s regional Foodshare organisations. The group is chaired by Bendigo Foodshare former Board Member (2014-23) Cathie Steele.
The Alliance was brought together following a report commissioned by some of its founding members titled ‘Strengthening Victoria’s Foodshare organisations’ which emphasises the importance of Foodshares’ social, environmental and economic impact.
Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration
The Greater Bendigo Climate Collaboration is designed to bring businesses, community organisations, households and even schools together to fight climate change.
The program is a three year long action plan to put our region on the path to zero climate-changing emissions by 2030.
The Collaboration was launched in July 2022 and is led by the City of Greater Bendigo, along with other government, business and community partners. Bendigo Foodshare is one of four founding Community Partners in the Collaboration.
Bendigo food systems strategy reference group
Bendigo Foodshare is one of many local organisations to contribute to the development of the Greater Bendigo’s Food System Strategy 2020-2030.
The strategy, the first of its kind for the City of Greater Bendigo, has brought together over 30 organisations, businesses and community groups that have agreed to support the key actions identified.
The guiding principles include:
● A healthy food system that promotes the health of people and enhances the natural
environment
● An equitable food system that makes nutritious and culturally appropriate food
accessible and affordable to everyone across all communities
● And a sustainable food system that strengthens our local economy and rebuilds the
capacity and resilience of our communities.
Be.Bendigo
Bendigo Foodshare is a Community Partner with be.Bendigo – the peak body for the Greater Bendigo business community.
be.Bendigo was formed to support local businesses to be innovative, successful and sustainable. be.Bendigo was formed in 2008 as the Bendigo Business council, underwent a name change in 2017 to be.Bendigo and in 2018 established a three-year strategic plan that focuses on engagement, collaboration and advocacy.
Bendigo UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy
In 2019 Bendigo was designated a UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy, taking its place alongside 47 other Creative Cities of Gastronomy and part of 246 Creative Cities across the globe, in specialty areas including Gastronomy, Music, Literature, Craft and Folk Art, Media Arts and Film. For UNESCO the focus is on solving the world’s problems creatively and addressing the 17 United Nations Sustainability Goals. In Bendigo we have made a commitment to the following four key pillars.
- Celebrate and elevate First Nations’ culture, creativity and knowledge
- Recognise our creativity, cultural diversity and innovation
- Improve health and wellbeing particularly through healthy eating
- Prioritise environmental sustainability, sustainable agriculture and food production as we tackle climate change
As the region’s leading food relief agency, Bendigo Foodshare have a focus on pillar 3, whilst having the remaining three pillars firmly front of mind with all future planning. We are proud to be working with the City of Greater Bendigo and businesses across the region to ensure that health and wellbeing, with a particular focus on putting food on the table of those most vulnerable is our greatest priority.
Healthy Loddon Campaspe Local Project Group
Bendigo Foodshare is a Member of the Healthy Loddon Campaspe Local Project Group. Healthy Loddon Campaspe is a State Government funded initiative that aims to improve health outcomes in the Loddon Campaspe region – the heart of Victoria.
The initiative was developed in response to the region showing higher than Victorian average rates of obesity, chronic disease and high-risk health behaviours.
There are six local Councils involved in the initiative – Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire, Macedon Ranges Shire and Mount Alexander Shire.
