Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) and Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) have formalised a partnership to deliver the Good Food People program across remote communities in North Queensland.
Aiming to support healthier food choices and build a local First Nations nutrition workforce, the agreement — signed in Cairns on Thursday night — forms part of the Australian Government's Food Security and Nutrition Workforce Program, which will support the creation of over 100 new roles in remote community stores over the 3-year program.
Under the agreement, CEQ will receive $5.88 million over three years to establish and grow a community-based nutrition workforce across its remote North Queensland store network.
CEQ chief executive officer, Michael Dykes, said the partnership marked an important step toward improving food security and health outcomes in remote communities.
"Our stores are at the heart of the communities we serve, and they play a vital role in shaping access to healthy food," Mr Dykes said.
The initiative will see locally employed Good Food People trained to support healthier food choices in their communities, backed by qualified nutritionists who will provide mentoring, training and education.
Mr Dykes said the Good Food People program will "empower local First Nations team members to become leaders in nutrition and wellbeing in their own communities".
"By building a locally-based nutrition workforce, we can help create long-term change that supports healthier food environments and better health outcomes for families across remote Queensland," he added.
ALPA holds the head agreement for the national program and has played a key role in developing the Good Food People model through community workshops and the creation of tailored training resources. CEO Alastair King said the organisation was proud to lead the initiative.
"This program was originally developed by ALPA many years ago, so to see it continuing to grow and support communities is something we are very proud of as an organisation," Mr King said.
"It's fantastic to be working alongside CEQ - supporting good food and making it available through local people, for local people. Together, we can make a real difference in strengthening nutrition, building local skills and creating healthier communities across remote First Nations communities."
When the Food Security and Nutrition Workforce Program was announced last year, Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said the government is "pleased to partner with ALPA on this initiative as their leadership and expertise is vital to deliver this transformative work".
"Employing a local workforce to provide nutritional advice to people living in remote communities is a vital component of our food security program," she said.
The program will be rolled out in stages, beginning with the recruitment and training of seven Good Food People supported by a dedicated nutritionist.
The workforce is expected to expand over the next three years as the program grows across remote stores, with 35 Good Food People and three nutritionists expected to be employed by 2028.
Good Food People will work within stores to deliver nutrition education, promote healthier food options, improve fresh food departments and help develop healthier takeaway and café offerings.
"The partnership highlights the role of remote community stores as powerful platforms for improving food security, strengthening community wellbeing and creating meaningful local employment opportunities," Mr Dykes said.
