Creating equitable, health-promoting food environments requires cross-sector collaboration and the translation of evidence into practical policy and community action. This presentation showcases two research initiatives that exemplify collaborative approaches to enhancing food environments in Australia.
The first case study is the WA Food Atlas, a geospatial platform co-designed with local and state governments to map and monitor food outlet access across Western Australia. It provides policy makers with objective, place-based data to inform public health planning, food environment regulation and strategic policy decisions. The tool also fostered cross-sector collaboration and conversations around healthier urban design. Its success—reflected in strong end-user uptake and policy use—led to NHMRC funding to expand it nationally as the Australian Food Atlas, currently under development. Key enablers of its impact include alignment with policy priorities, sustained engagement with government users and adaptability to handle variations in how different local governments collect and organise their data.
The second case study is a community-led intervention in Bridgetown, Western Australia, where local residents and retailers implemented Amped Out—a voluntary ban on energy drink sales to children. Prompted by previous research on the health risks of energy drink consumption among adolescents, the community reached out to our research team for support. A four-month pilot involving all retailers was conducted, with community consultation integrated throughout. The trial received strong local support and led to the permanent continuation of the ban. Multiple regional towns have since expressed interest in replicating the model.
Together, these case studies demonstrate the importance of tailoring research translation strategies to context—whether through policy-focused platforms like the Australian Food Atlas or grassroots mobilisation as seen in Bridgetown. Both initiatives underscore the value of co-design, stakeholder trust and responsiveness to local needs in driving food environment reform.
This presentation offers practical insights for researchers, policy-makers and practitioners seeking to create healthier food environments through collaborative, evidence-informed approaches.