Greater Dandenong Council Regional Food Strategy & Work Shop Play Program, Victoria, Australia (2013–2015)

Co-designer & facilitator
Collaborated with the Economic Development Department at Greater Dandenong Council to co-design and activate the Regional Food Strategy, embedding food security and community resilience into local policy through real-world pilot programs.

→ Co-led the development and implementation of Work Shop Play, a community activation initiative that brought the food strategy to life in neighbourhoods, markets, and institutions
→ Designed and launched a local food box program in partnership with the Migrant Resource Centre, supporting culturally diverse communities with fresh, affordable produce
→ Established partnerships with unexpected institutional players (e.g. Australian Taxation Office) who purchased food boxes directly to support the local economy and vulnerable populations
→ Translated policy into tangible, inclusive community programs that addressed both economic development and social wellbeing
→ Created a replicable model for policy-grounded, community-led food systems activation

This work demonstrated how council strategy can be made visible and meaningful in daily life, and continues to influence regional food system thinking in Victoria.