Home Economics Victoria is a health promotion charity, which promotes health and wellbeing aimed at preventing diseases, specifically obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
This includes providing education and information about health and wellbeing through education programs, resources, publications, advocacy and consultancy.
Healthy Eating and Food Literacy in Secondary Schools
From 2012-2016, Home Economics Victoria led the Healthy Eating and Food Literacy (HEFL) Secondary Schools initiative, funded by the state government of Victoria (DHHS) and the Australian Government as part of the statewide health effort, Healthy Together Victoria (HTV).
“Food Literacy means having the knowledge, skills and the capacity to source, prepare, cook and share food in a sustainable manner to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Food literacy is also about individuals understanding the role that food plays in families, communities and cultures.” Home Economics Victoria 2013
The HEFL project was part of a systems approach to chronic disease prevention targeting 14 Healthy Together Communities (HTC’s) in the local government areas of Hume, Wyndham, Whittlesea, Knox, Cardinia, Greater Dandenong, Greater Geelong, Mildura, Latrobe, Wodonga, Greater Bendigo and Ararat, Central Goldfields and Pyrenees.
The goal of HEFL was that children, young people and families demonstrate behaviours that support healthy eating.
Fruit + Veg Program
From 2003-2011, Home Economics Victoria led the Fruit + Veg Program in Victorian primary schools. This program was funded by the Department of Health, Victoria and included the following best practice case studies on Plant Fruit + Veg in your lunchbox to help schools introduce or enhance fruit and vegetable initiatives at their school.