Food security, the Right to Food, is a human right. However, not everyone in Queensland has the same opportunity to access an affordable, quality, healthy diet. In remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities of Far North Queensland (FNQ), food insecurity is driven by systemic barriers such as high food costs, complex supply chains, and limited economic opportunities. For example, a healthy diet for a six-person household costs approximately $1000 per fortnight, requiring 33% of welfare income; exceeding affordability thresholds. While food pricing interventions (such as freight subsidies) have helped narrow the affordability gap, systemic issues like food quality, availability, and accessibility persist. Without support, these issues can contribute to chronic conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Gather + Grow is a multi-strategic program of work focused on four interconnected priority areas, which have collectively driven 23 targeted actions delivered in partnership with government, community, and industry stakeholders. These partnerships demonstrate the power of collaboration in addressing systemic barriers to food security. The priority areas include:
At its core, Gather + Grow adopts a systems-wide, cross-sector approach to address food security challenges by embedding four key enablers: collective leadership, knowledge translation, strengths-based approaches, and solution-driven investment. These foundations drive purposeful, sustainable solutions that tackle the root causes of food insecurity while fostering resilience and equity. By addressing systemic barriers and amplifying community strengths, Gather + Grow is not only transforming food systems but also paving the way for healthier, more equitable futures for FNQ communities.