Building a fairer food system: Food First in the West awarded VicHealth grant 

The Western Public Health Unit (WPHU), together with 14 dedicated local partners, is proud to announce that Food First in the West, has been awarded a $765,000 VicHealth Local Food Partnership grant. 

The VicHealth Local Food Partnerships grant aims to tackle Victoria’s food challenges, together. Supporting 9 local partnerships, the funding focuses on three main goals. 

• Health: Make it easier for people to get healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate fresh food – especially fruit and vegetables 

• Equity: Support leadership that includes diverse voices, promotes fairness and cultural safety, and helps communities have a say in what their food environment looks like 

• Sustainability: Support local fresh food systems that are good for the environment, the economy and the community over the long term. 

About Food First in the West

Project goal

The goal is to build a fairer, more affordable food system in Melbourne’s West – one that supports people’s health and wellbeing. 

How it’s being done

Food First in the West works across different parts of the food system to increase access to fresh, locally grown food. 

Key actions include: 

• Helping long day care centre cooks provide healthy meals that meet nutrition guidelines 

• Exploring new ways to buy local food for early childhood centres 

• Expanding locally grown supply through Community Grocer markets 

• Supporting migrant and refugee communities to lead food projects 

• Enabling First Nations communities to lead in self-determined approaches to food access 

Together, these efforts are building a stronger local food system that works for everyone.   

Partners involved

• Brimbank City Council
• City of Melbourne
• Deakin University
• Hobsons Bay City Council
• IPC Health
• Maribyrnong City Council
• Melton City Council
• Merri-bek City Council
• Moondani Balluk
• Moonee Valley City Council
• Sustain
• The Community Grocer
• Western Health Community Health
• Wyndham City Council

WPHU thanks VicHealth for supporting this important work, and to all our partners for their dedication and commitment. We look forward to working together to deliver lasting, positive change for our communities. 

Last updated: 11 September 2025