Welcome
RIG Network is a national, cross-sectoral networking, research and outreach initiative. We link people, projects and resources to support better practice and undertake projects to help build better local food production initiatives that can deliver social, health and economic benefits to remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Keep up to date and show your support by signing up to our monthly newsletter in the sidebar
The Commonwealth Government is currently seeking submissions to support the development of the National Food Plan(NFP).
A detailed Issues Paper has been prepared to help inform the development of the NFP and is available online. A Summary of the Issues Paper is also available for review and comment. Written submissions are invited – submissions close by August 5.
The Government is also arranging a webcast as part of the consultation process. To participate in this you need to register via the DAFF website.
To read the Summary Issues Paper, go to http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1916140/nfp-summary.pdf
To visit the DAFF National Food Plan website for further information on the NFP, the full Issues Paper, and to register for the webcast, go to:http://www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/food/national-food-plan
The Dietitians Association of Australia, NT Branch, with input from RIG Network members and supporters is holding a CPD event for DAA members and non-members on July 29 – Alice Springs and Darwin.
Registrations are filling fast and close on July 22!!
For more information on the program click here. To view info flyer & access link for registrations click here.
DAA CPD Event Flyer
We are thrilled that the National Council of the National Rural Health Alliance (NRHA) have confirmed that the NRHA will join RIG Network as a partner organisation. The NRHA has over 30 peak health organisation members and is a highly respected professional organisation that works to promote and support initiatives to enhance remote and rural health. Thank you NRHA!
Launched in May 2011, the NT Indigenous Business Network aims to provide a representative voice for Indigenous owned and operate businesses at a Territory, State, Federal and International level. For more information and news about coming events, email NTIBNI@gmail.com
An independent report has found stores licensing in the Northern Territory has helped people in remote communities to have better access to healthy, affordable food.
The Australian Government established a licensing regime for community stores in the Northern Territory as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).
The evaluation of the Community Stores Licensing Program by the Cultural & Indigenous Research Centre Australia found the regime has helped improve food security, especially with regards to the quality, quantity and range of healthy food available.
To read the report in full, go to: http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/sa/indigenous/pubs/nter_reports/Pages/eval_com_stores_licensing.aspx
New sections and updated links from recent newsletters have been added the Links section – new sections with useful new links include Food – Sovereignty, Security, Sustainability and Top End Strategic Futures.
Click here to view the latest edition of RIG News or visit Useful Resources to view it and past editions of RIG News.
This edition features a review of recent events, developments and resources from across Australia that address food sovereignty & security, health and the potential for tranformational action in our food systems.
Also featured:
- A special article on hydroponic systems – large and small – for remote communities, provided by Chris Thiesfield.
- Bush Plants – News about projects, information resources and workshop support for plant based product development and protection of Indigenous intellectual property.
- Andy Hume’s exciting new research project to develop an NT Food Gardens website.
- News about coming event - that include the DAA NT Branch ‘Health & Life Skills Food Gardens’ CDP event this July, and the Tropical Gardens Spectacular and Top End Sustainable Living Festival whose theme this year is ‘green-life balance’.
Business & strategic planning for CDEP Gardens – RIG workshop at 2011 CDEP National Conference
“By providers for providers” was the theme of the 2011 CDEP National Conference – Vision to Action, that was held in Alice Springs in early April. Following on from the ‘local food production’ CDEP best practice and new opportunities workshop that was held in Darwin late last year, RIG was invited to facilitate a short workshop.
We thought a focus on strategic project planning – gardens as a training ‘place’ and/or as gardens with a future, and the need for clear pathways for both – was a good topic to tackle. A key thing we encouraged garden project managers to focus on was setting up good (achievable!) measures of success to help ‘tell and sell’ the benefits of their project – eg. ensuring simple but powerful data about what and how much their gardens produce, and valuing it at equivalent shop prices in their communities! (so often up to 50% more than urban centres).
The workshop presentation, “Down and Dirty in the Garden – Planning for success and what is it?” is under Useful Resources or click here to download it. Tell us what you think – and how you are measuring the outputs/benefits of your gardens!
