Foodbank Victoria
Foodbank Victoria is the State’s leading provider of emergency food and through Foodbank Victoria’s mission, delivers the most food to the most Victorians in need in the most effective way. In times of emergency and natural disasters such as fires, pandemics, floods and cyclones, Foodbank Victoria coordinates the provision of disaster relief food, water, key personal care and cleaning supplies.
This is possible as a result of a partnership network consisting of over 1,600 distribution points (ER food agencies & schools) and over 900 product supply organisations ranging from large multinational wholesale producers down to local farmers. In addition, Foodbank Victoria maintains strong logistics supplier relationships for its ‘business as usual’ operations supporting the emergency food sector. All of these networks are leveraged when required to support State lead responses during both emergency and recovery phases.
Mitigation
| Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
|---|---|
| Develop and implement business continuity plans and increase in demand plans for major emergencies | 1.1, 1.3 |
| Maintain a high level of preparedness for emergencies that may affect the availability of food and other essential materials for affected communities | 1.1 |
| Implement and continue coordinating programs, such as Farms to Families Pop-Up Market Program and The Breakfast in Schools Program, to minimise risks, such as malnutrition, in identified communities that may be at greater risk from the effects of a major emergency. These will be guided by data captured during internal intelligence gathering projects. | 1.3, 1.4 |
| Develop data systems to track and analyse emerging food insecurity trends | 4.3, 4.4, 15.5 |
Response (including Relief)
| Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
|---|---|
| Lead, with the support of partner agencies and charity partners, the identification of essential supplies for distribution to affected communities | 3.2, 10.2 |
| With the support of partner agencies and supply networks identifies, sources and supplies essential food items for responder agencies e.g. providing bottled water to emergency services volunteers | 3.2, 10.1, 10.3 |
| Support and liaise with ARC, ADF and other partner agencies in their relief and recovery efforts through the provision of logistics coordination where possible | 3.2, 10.1, 10.3 |
| Relief Support Agency (RelSA) to ARC and partner agencies to supply networks and charity partners to obtain emergency food relief (including water) identified for affected communities, and coordinate the distribution as required | Table 12: Relief coordination |
| Coordinate logistical arrangements for the provision of materials from Foodbank Victoria’s warehouses and managed facilities to support responder agencies and throughout affected communities | 10.3 |
| Manage the operation and administration of Foodbank Victoria’s warehouses and other managed facilities | 3.3 |
| Provide additional volunteers and staff to assist in the increase in demand for services provided by Foodbank Victoria including logistical support, food relief operations and administration | 3.2, 10.1, 10.2, 10.3 |
| Source, provide and distribute food relief to affected communities via a network of food donors, transporters, agency and charity partners and through Farms to Families Pop-Up Market program | 3.2, 10.2, 10.3, 15.2 |
| Provide essential material aid (e.g. food, water, key personal care items) to charity partners to meet increased demand due to major emergency | 3.2, 15.2 |
| Co-lead agency with the Salvation Army to provide essential material aid (non-food items) to emergency affected persons specifically key personal care items including toilet paper, soap, sanitary supplies | 10.2, 15.2, 20.5 |
| Coordinate, supply and distribute the Breakfast in Schools Program for participating schools as required | 3.2, 10.2, 15.2, 15.5, 20.4 |
Recovery
For recovery activities, refer directly to the agency for further information.
Assurance and Learning
| Activity | Critical task alignment / activity source |
|---|---|
| Track, assess and determine ongoing and changing food relief intelligence, trends and requirements across the state via regular surveys, data mapping, and strong, established communication pathways with the charity sector and agency partners | 4.6, 4.7, 21.1, 21.2 |
| Gather and disseminate intelligence via surveys, face to face and online communication, information newsletters with charity and agency partners to determine supply and demand trends to meet ongoing food relief requirements and efforts in disaster affected areas | 4.1, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7, 21.1 |
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.