Food security is defined as the ‘the state in which all persons obtain nutritionally adequate, culturally acceptable, safe foods regularly through non-emergency sources’[i].
Population data for the Colac Otway Shire (COS) shows that eight in every one hundred people in the region ran out of food over a twelve month period and were unable to replace it[ii]. This figure is higher than both the Barwon South West Region and Victorian averages of food insecurity rates[iii].This data is supported by findings that over half the COS population is not meeting the daily recommended fruit intake levels, and an even greater amount are not meeting the daily recommendations for vegetable consumption[iv]. In addition, over half of the COS population is classified as overweight or obese[v]. Population data also shows that rates of food-related chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes are following an increasing trend in Victoria[vi]. These statistics supported the initiation of health promotion activities around food security and healthy eating, which subsequently resulted in these issues being addressed through the public health and health promotion plans for Colac Area Health (CAH), Otway Health and Community Services (OHCS) and the COS.
In order to plan appropriate public health and health promotion directions for action to address food security and healthy eating within the COS, a greater understanding of the determinants of food security and how they affected our population was required. This led to the development and implementation of a comprehensive needs assessment for the COS.
Population data for the Colac Otway Shire (COS) shows that eight in every one hundred people in the region ran out of food over a twelve month period and were unable to replace it[ii]. This figure is higher than both the Barwon South West Region and Victorian averages of food insecurity rates[iii].This data is supported by findings that over half the COS population is not meeting the daily recommended fruit intake levels, and an even greater amount are not meeting the daily recommendations for vegetable consumption[iv]. In addition, over half of the COS population is classified as overweight or obese[v]. Population data also shows that rates of food-related chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke and diabetes are following an increasing trend in Victoria[vi]. These statistics supported the initiation of health promotion activities around food security and healthy eating, which subsequently resulted in these issues being addressed through the public health and health promotion plans for Colac Area Health (CAH), Otway Health and Community Services (OHCS) and the COS.
In order to plan appropriate public health and health promotion directions for action to address food security and healthy eating within the COS, a greater understanding of the determinants of food security and how they affected our population was required. This led to the development and implementation of a comprehensive needs assessment for the COS.
For PDF versions of the information, or other resources, please click the links below to download.
[i] Victorian Health Promotion Website –VicHealth, Fact Sheet Food Security 2006
[ii] Community Indicators Vic Website (2008), retrieved 2012, http://www.communityindicators.net.au/wellbeing_reports/colac_otway
[iii] Community Indicators Vic Website (2008), retrieved 2012, http://www.communityindicators.net.au/wellbeing_reports/colac_otway
[iv] Victorian Government Department of Health, (2012) Colac Otway Shires: Health Status Profile 2011 – Victorian Population Survey 2008.
[v] Victorian Government Department of Health, (2012) Colac Otway Shires: Health Status Profile 2011 – Victorian Population Survey 2008.
[vi] VicHealth 2007, Disease trends, retrieved 2012, http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ResourceCentre/PublicationsandResources/Knowledge/research_DiseaseTrends.ashx
[ii] Community Indicators Vic Website (2008), retrieved 2012, http://www.communityindicators.net.au/wellbeing_reports/colac_otway
[iii] Community Indicators Vic Website (2008), retrieved 2012, http://www.communityindicators.net.au/wellbeing_reports/colac_otway
[iv] Victorian Government Department of Health, (2012) Colac Otway Shires: Health Status Profile 2011 – Victorian Population Survey 2008.
[v] Victorian Government Department of Health, (2012) Colac Otway Shires: Health Status Profile 2011 – Victorian Population Survey 2008.
[vi] VicHealth 2007, Disease trends, retrieved 2012, http://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/~/media/ResourceCentre/PublicationsandResources/Knowledge/research_DiseaseTrends.ashx