Whether you are dining in or taking away, you’ll now have access to a range of healthier food and drinks at the food outlets and vending machines across our health service.
In the last two years, our Health Promotion team have been working hard to implement the Victorian Government Healthy choices: policy directive, a directive which asks Victorian public hospitals and health services to ensure that healthier food and drinks are sold, provided and promoted at their facilities.
As of 30 September 2023, Peninsula Health is proud to have successfully implemented the directive.
We recognise that we play an important role in promoting good health. By increasing opportunity and choice of healthy and nutritious food and drink options, we are supporting the health and wellbeing of visitors and staff.
“It is fantastic that Peninsula Health has fully embraced the Healthy choices: policy directive,” says Karen Edis, Head of Nutrition & Dietetics & Volunteers. “Our commitment to the health and wellbeing of our staff, volunteers and visitors is to be congratulated.”
This achievement is part of our ongoing commitment to providing our staff and visitors with a healthier food environment, and it would not have been possible without the help of the managers of our food outlets.
“We are always very happy to support the hospital in whatever way we can, implementing the directive was a bit slow to begin with but it has improved overtime, as customers became use to the changes we were making,” says Pink Ladies Kiosk manager, Carole.
“I think people are slowly realising it is a good thing to have a variety of new food and drinks available,” says Rosebud Hospital Kiosk manager, Margret. “It was hard at first but in the long run, we have done our bit to support this initiative.”
As part of the two year directive rollout, eight food outlets and 18 vending machines successfully refreshed their menus. In total, Peninsula Health has seen an increase of 629 food and drink options across the service.
We would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the staff supporting the roll out of this directive and the staff, volunteers and management operating our food outlets and vending machines.
For more information and resources on the policy directive, please visit the Healthy Eating Advisory Service.
If you have any questions, please email healthpromotion@phcn.vic.gov.au