Webinar recording: University food environments in Australia

23 November, 2023

We are pleased to provide a recording of the free webinar we ran in conjunction with the Nourish Network launching the results of a benchmarking study that compares the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of food environments at nine Australian universities.

In this webinar held on November 21, 2023, RE-FRESH Chief Investigator Professor Gary Sacks, a co-Director with the Global Centre for Preventive Health and Nutririon (GLOBE) at Deakin University’s Institute for Health Transformation, launched the results of a project that benchmarked nine Australian universities on their food environments, outlined best practice and provide practical tips for helping to transform university policy and practice.

Prof. Sacks was joined by on-the-ground practitioners experienced in creating change., Shirley Phan from Monash University, and Sandy Murray and Dr Catherine Elliott, both from the University of Tasmania, who discuss the interdisciplinary collaborations across the university that helped them improve their food environments and shared practical actions that can be taken to implement positive change.

Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, engage in discussions, and be part of a movement that is reshaping the way universities think about food

Presenter slides – click to view Professor Gary Sacks: Shirley Phan: Sandy Murray & Dr Catherine Elliott:

Presenter resources From University of Tasmania’s Sandy Murrary & Dr Catherine Elliott:

Murray et al, 2021. Prevalence of food insecurity and satisfaction with on-campus food choices among Australian university students. https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/IJSHE-09-2020-0348/full/html
Kent et al, 2022 Severity of Food Insecurity among Australian University Students, Professional and Academic Staff. https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/14/19/3956
UTAS Our Sustainability Journey https://www.utas.edu.au/about/news-and-stories/articles/2023/our-sustainability-journey
UTAS Strategic Framework for Sustainability https://www.utas.edu.au/about/sustainability/our-commitment-to-sustainability
UTAS Food and Gardens https://www.utas.edu.au/about/sustainability/facilities-and-operations/food-and-gardens
UTAS Sustainable Procurement Guide – https://www.utas.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/1580583/University-of-Tasmania-Sustainable-Procurement-Guide.pdf
UTAS Eight Core Catering Principles – https://www.utas.edu.au/campus-services/catering

From Monash University’s Shirley Phan:

Nutrition Initiatives at Monash: https://www.monash.edu/ohs/health-and-wellbeing/nutritional-health/healthy-monash
Healthy Food Procedure: https://www.monash.edu/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/812866/Healthy-Food-Procedure.pdf
Sustainability Strategy: https://www.monash.edu/campus-sustainability/sustainability-strategy
Nutrition Campaigns: https://www.monash.edu/ohs/health-and-wellbeing/nutritional-health
Green Impact Program: https://www.monash.edu/campus-sustainability/get-involved/green-impact2
HASTE CoP: https://nourishnetwork.org/healthy-sustainable-tertiary-food-environments-community-of-practice/

The presenters welcome you to contact them

Re-FRESH Chief Investigator, co-director GLOBE, Deakin University’s Institute for Health Transformation, Professor Gary Sacks – e. gary.sacks@deakin.edu.au
University of Tasmania’s Sandy Murray – Academic, Dietitian and co-facilitator of the UTAS Sustainability Food Systems Working Group: T (03) 6324 5493 e. sandra.murray@utas.edu.au . Dr Catherine Elliott – Senior Sustainability Officer e. catherine.elliott@utas.edu.au
Monash University Wellbeing Project Officer Shirley Phan e. shirley.yee@monash.edu T: +61 3 9903 4081 / M: +61 (0)401 263 249