Indigenous food security and nutrition in remote Northern Territory communities

Globally, food security within remote regions is complex and requires coherent action from both government and non-government sectors to ensure a stable and equitable food supply. This includes both the food supply chain, from production and processing to distribution and consumption, and the food environment which encompasses physical, economic, socio-cultural and policy conditions that influence food access and supply and are relevant to remote communities (HLPE, 2020). Within Australia there is a current gap within food security outcomes for remote households that disproportionality impacts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, in 2022-2023 the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) reported that as many as 51% of households in remote areas are experiencing food insecurity (ABS, 2022-2023).

There is growing evidence to suggest that a whole food system approach will be needed in order to improve food security outcomes in remote areas, requiring analysis of key steps involved in the food supply chain (Rogers, 2016). This approach has recently been reflected to a degree within the 2025 Current: National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities (NIAA, 2023). This study will build upon this by conducting a framework analysis using the High-level Panel Expert (HLPE) food security six dimensions framework adapted to include Indigenous perspectives of food security and nutrition. This will assist with identifying opportunities to strengthen policy coherence between NT government sectors that influence food supply and potentially lead to improved food security in remote Aboriginal communities.

Study aims

To identify how food security is considered within the NT Government sectors responsible for food supply to Aboriginal communities and where improved policy coherence across sectors could lead to improved food security that considers Indigenous ways of knowing, being and doing.

Methods

This project applies a framework analysis to current NT Government public policies in the form of official strategies/action plans with involvement and influences over food supply chain sectors impacting remote Aboriginal communities. The High-level Panel Expert (HLPE) food security six dimensions framework was applied. This framework which includes Agency, Stability, Sustainability, Access, Availability and Utilisation was adjusted to be contextually relevant to the lived realities of Aboriginal People in remote NT by local and Aboriginal authors.

Relevance of this research

Reviewing policy documents relevant to food supply in remote Aboriginal communities, the finding will help to:

1. Provide insight into where policy coherence exists across the NT government sectors and where improved coherence could lead to improvements in remote food security for Aboriginal people with stronger visibility of their ways of knowing, being and doing.

References

• ABS. (2022-2023). National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey. ABS, Australian Government
• HLPE. (2020). Food security and nutrition: building a global narrative towards 2030. A report by the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition of the Committee on World Food Security. Rome
• Monash University Healthy Stories = Good Food. (2020). [Photo]. Monash University
• NIAA. (2023). National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities 2023-2035. Australian Government
• Rogers, A., Ferguson, M., Ritchie, J., Boogaard, C.V.D., Brimblecombe, J. (2016). Strengthening food systems with remote Indigenous Australians: stakeholders’ perspectives. Health Promotion International, 2018;33:38–48.