FOOD VITAL is a collaborative research project designed to evaluate and strengthen community-based food voucher programs that help people access affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food. Led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and community organisations, the project responds to the growing issue of food insecurity in Australia – where more than 1 in 8 households experienced food insecurity in 2023.
The need
Traditional food relief services often rely on donations and can lack nutritional quality, cultural relevance, and dignity for recipients. FOOD VITAL aims to explore more empowering and community-centred solutions—like food vouchers—that allow people to choose their own fresh produce from hyperlocal community markets.
About
Over three years, FOOD VITAL will:
- Evaluate the impacts of food voucher programs on diet, food security and wellbeing, including mental health and community connectedness outcomes.
- Identify what helps or hinders successful implementation of these programs.
- Assess cost-effectiveness to support broader adoption by governments and service providers.
The project will use surveys, interviews, and sales data from local areas around Melbourne to understand how vouchers affect people’s lives. A community advisory group—including people with lived experience of food insecurity—will guide the research to ensure its respectful, inclusive, and useful.
Impact
FOOD VITAL will provide the evidence needed to scale-up food voucher programs across Australia. It has been noted as an important project by the Victorian Government and will help community organisations, health services, and governments invest in dignified, equitable, and effective food security approaches.
Project Team
Partners
FOOD VITAL is co-designed with key community partners. These organisations already participate in innovative food voucher programs in Melbourne’s diverse communities, including operating pop-up markets offering fresh produce at lower prices.
Funding
This project is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Partnership grant. Our project is also supported by funding and in-kind support from a number of partner organisations (listed above) and the team’s additional research funds.