ABOUT US
About the Food Security Network
The Food Security Network offers schools, groups and individuals an array of programs and training courses that are designed to suit all ages and all time frames. Our desire is to inform and to inspire Australians to engage in helping solve a largely hidden problem of food insecurity. Our program content has been created by qualified teachers , professional horticulturalists and experienced community developers who share a passion for social justice
“We're informing and inspiring Australians to engage in helping solve the largely hidden problem of food insecurity.”
Our Mission is to create practical & meaningful ways to engage in solving Food Insecurity in Australia
It's our belief that, to solve a problem we must understand what the problem is and then go about practically implementing ways in which to solve the problem.
Growing food and giving it away is so simple we so easily overlook it.
What We Do
We offer facilitated and online education programs the are designed to give participants a deep insight into social justice and a very hands on introduction to food production/horticulture.
We also offer individuals and groups the opportunity to learn about ways of directly helping solve food insecurity.
Who We Are
The Food Security Network is an education provider made up of teachers who share a strong passion for social justice and who love getting outside into the garden to grow food for those who need it the most in our communities.
Chris Saray
(Director)
Chris did not set out to fight food insecurity or teach others about it. In many ways his present occupation found him. In 2007, after a serious injury forced Chris from his occupation as a landscape designer/builder, Chris applied for a job in garden related community development.
The transition from private landscape contractor to inner city residents to facilitating programs for the homeless, unemployed, domestic violence victims, the mentally ill and asylum seekers was profound, and the lack of funding combined with the lack of access to fresh and healthy food donations shocked and frustrated him.
Driven to achieve a greater impact Chris began creating community development programs using the help of employers, friends and associates he had met in the social welfare sector. Included was a program for citizens from nursing homes to work aside local school children; a nutrition program for drug and alcohol dependents; garden days for women’s shelters; and lunches for isolated asylum seekers where they could come and socialise, access services and eat fresh, nutritious meals.
These programs relied heavily on the work of volunteers and general goodwill.
Changing people’s attitudes towards those who live on the edge of our communities starts with educating people on the problems faced by the underprivileged. Having worked for many years with kids in school gardens Chris knew it was most effective to promote change in youth, and so in 2012 he applied for a scholarship in teaching at Latrobe University and was accepted. He studied part time while still working in the social welfare sector and graduated in 2014.
Chris soon realised that teaching kids about social justice without actively engaging them did little to help inspire or change their attitudes. And so, uniting his skills as a horticulturalist, community developer and teacher, Chris began The Food Security Network.
This program offers schools a semester or term based project where students are taught the practical skills of food production/gardening whilst being lead through an investigation into the realities of food insecurity in Australia and abroad.
Chris believes strongly that young people should be given the opportunities to make genuine differences to their community. He insists that students deliver their harvests in person to give them a genuine sense of achievement and pride.
Anne Alder
(Dietitian/Nutritionist)
PARTNERS
We align with like-minded socially conscious partners who help us further our mission to provide Food Security for disadvantaged people.
Anne studied Nutrition and Dietetics at Deakin University, and has worked throughout Australia as a nutritionist in medical centres, community centres and privately for over 10 years. Anne first collaborated with Chris from the Food Security Network in 2014 on a community development program designed to provide support for asylum seekers in Melbourne’s outer North. Anne supported asylum seekers in the program with education on nutrition and wellbeing as well as working side by side with participants cooking weekly community meals.
Through sharing meals with those on the edges of the community, and learning about their stories, experiences and culture Anne developed a passion to find ways to positively impact vulnerable members of the community.
Being a dietitian, this experience also made her acutely aware of how some members of our community have issues with food security, such as not having regular access to fresh, healthy food.
Working for The Food Security Network combines Anne’s passion for social justice along with her knowledge around food security from a dietitian’s perspective. She understands the impact nutritious, fresh foods can have on a person’s physical and mental state, and how this is so important for vulnerable members of our community. Anne enjoys educating students around the impact their efforts can have to help those in need. She has created a very comprehensive nutrition module in our program.