secondbite r&d strategic plan_2015
TRANSCRIPT
BREAKING THE CYCLE
Research and Development
Strategic Plan
2015
Prepared by: Dr Geoff Smith, Research Manager
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Contents Contents ........................................................................................................................................................................ 2
Foreword ....................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.0 Executive Summary ....................................................................................................................................... 5
The Problem ............................................................................................................................................................ 5
Towards a solution .................................................................................................................................................. 5
SecondBite will be different ................................................................................................................................... 5
Strategic Goals ......................................................................................................................................................... 6
Tactical Objectives .................................................................................................................................................. 6
Outcomes ................................................................................................................................................................. 7
2.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Purpose ........................................................................................................................................................ 8
3.0 Developing the Strategy ................................................................................................................................ 9
3.1 Previous activities ...................................................................................................................................... 9
3.2 Nutrition Education Programs ................................................................................................................ 9
3.2.1 Fresh NED................................................................................................................................................. 9
3.2.2 FoodMate ................................................................................................................................................... 9
3.3 National Presence .................................................................................................................................... 10
4.1 The Will Paterson Research Fund ........................................................................................................ 11
4.2 Proposed R&D Organisation Chart ..................................................................................................... 11
4.3 Summary roles and key responsibilities ....................................................................................................... 12
5.0 Research Governance .................................................................................................................................. 13
5.1 Human Participants ................................................................................................................................. 13
6.0 Research Model ............................................................................................................................................ 14
6.1 Community-Based Participatory Research .......................................................................................... 14
6.2 Social Marketing ....................................................................................................................................... 14
6.3 Benefits of the model ............................................................................................................................. 15
6.3.1 For SecondBite .................................................................................................................................... 15
6.3.2 For Academics ..................................................................................................................................... 15
6.3.3 For the Community ............................................................................................................................ 15
6.4 Research Methods ................................................................................................................................... 16
6.5 Research and Development Objectives ............................................................................................... 16
6.5.1 Evaluate the impact and outcomes of all SecondBite work ......................................................... 17
6.5.2 Expand the delivery of our Nutrition Education Programs ........................................................ 17
6.5.3 Understand the impact of food insecurity on varied population segments............................... 17
6.5.4 Investigate Current and future causes and extent of vulnerability .............................................. 17
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6.5.5 Discover food insecurity – protective factors ................................................................................ 18
6.5.6 Understand and influence public awareness and knowledge of food insecurity ...................... 18
6.5.7 Understand the impact of food waste and its reduction .............................................................. 18
6.6 Outcomes .................................................................................................................................................. 18
6.6.1 Social marketing response ................................................................................................................. 18
6.6.2 Advocacy and policy Change ............................................................................................................ 18
7.0 Dissemination Plan ...................................................................................................................................... 20
8.0 Research and Development Work Plan – Year 1 ................................................................................... 21
8.1 Notes ......................................................................................................................................................... 21
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Foreword
Research and Development has been identified as an area of expansion for SecondBite and is a key
component in the aims and objectives as SecondBite enters its second decade. The purpose of this
document is to provide direction for building research capabilities and highlighting activities that will be
essential in providing SecondBite with flexible innovative options to increase reach and impact in the
fight against food insecurity in Australia
Previously, SecondBite has participated in research activity initially concerned with supporting core
business through surveying recipient agencies, monitoring of nutritional content of food supplied. In
parallel SecondBite R&D Developed Nutrition Education Programs aimed at supporting recipient
agencies to utilise rescued food, improve food safety and build healthy meal policies (Fresh NED). The
second education program FoodMate is designed to support food insecure clients of community agencies
to develop nutrition, cooking, and budgeting skills to help them develop food independence. These areas
of research and the methodologies employed have been dependent upon the interests and expertise of
staff, and operational need, driven by an overarching research agenda. SecondBite’s previous success and
established relationships in the research sector present a unique opportunity to pursue and grow research
activity in a number of strategically chosen areas, identified with regard to prevailing trends and
opportunities, existing local capability and availability of external expertise and funding sources, as well as
operational needs. The SecondBite Research and Development Strategy was developed between
September and November 2015 and has involved consultation throughout the organisation.
The SecondBite research and Development Strategic Plan was presented to and supported by the
SecondBite Board at their Melbourne meeting on 26th October 2015, and has received technical
commentary and support from the SecondBite Food Security Advisory Committee .
This strategic plan provides clear direction for SecondBite Research and Development to move forward
with purpose into the second decade of SecondBite’s work.
Dr Geoff Smith (Research Manager)
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1.0 Executive Summary
The Problem
Food insecurity exists "whenever the availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or the ability to
acquire acceptable food in socially acceptable ways is limited or uncertain.”
The problem of food insecurity in Australia is significant and chronic. The 2012 National Health survey
reported approximately four per cent of people lived in a household that, in the previous twelve months,
had run out of food and could not buy more. This translates to approximately nine hundred thousand
households in Australia being food insecure, with marginalised groups, such as those experiencing
homelessness, asylum seekers and Indigenous Australians at even greater risk. SecondBite is committed to
leading and influencing positive change in Australia and currently tackles the food insecurity problem by
supplying rescued healthy nutritious food to agencies that provide food relief to those in need in their
localities, and nutrition education programs to those experiencing food insecurity.
Towards a solution
There are two generally accepted ways of addressing food insecurity, alleviation and prevention.
SecondBite is a strong player in the business of alleviation of the immediate effects through the provision
of food to those in need. SecondBite does this well, limited generally only by financial constraints as there
is an ever present (and increasing) need. Alleviation of the immediate experience of food insecurity,
although important and necessary, does not address issues which may lead to reduction of the extent or
severity or even ‘prevention’ of the problem in the first place.
Current research and discussion on Australian food insecurity approaches the problem at a macro level
attempting to take account of as many of the contributory factors as possible. This often results in very
broad alliances detailing very complex social welfare problems with their sheer scale making inroads for
specific and focussed activity difficult and expensive.
SecondBite will be different
SecondBite will add value to its own activities and the broader research debate by extending our role in
Breaking the Cycle of Food Insecurity by implementing a strategic plan for research, demonstrating
commitment to leading and supporting high quality social and behavioural research which strengthens
our objective of being a leader and influencer of positive change in Australia. We will focus on solutions
and strategies for improvement rather than on extent of problems.
In order to fulfil our mission to improve the lives of vulnerable people SecondBite’s research strategy will
take a markedly different approach. Using our strengths and assets we will focus our research effort on
developing specific targeted interventions to be tested in the real world to bring about lasting change. We
will look to develop and implement these solutions in partnership with the people experiencing food
insecurity and with the agencies and community food programs engaged in supporting and assisting them.
This approach will result in:
1. A reduction in reliance on emergency food relief
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2. Empowerment of vulnerable Australians and their families to access healthy nutritious and
culturally appropriate food, enabling them to fulfil their full potential
The Strategic Plan document provides comprehensive details of:
Strategy development
Research Goals and Outcomes
Tactical Objectives
Necessary organisational change
Our research capacity and capability is a unique point of difference between SecondBite and other food
rescue organisations, and is a key component in our contribution to effective social change. This strategic
plan will create a SecondBite Research Program which is:
1. Nationally recognised
2. Sustainably funded
3. Founded on strong governance
Strategic Goals
This research program has the following goals:
Provision of reliable data to provide new knowledge about food insecurity at the local level
Improve public awareness of the extent and impact of food insecurity and food waste
Translate data into preventative interventions and solutions improving the nutrition of vulnerable
community members
Consolidate an evidence base to support behaviour and policy change
Tactical Objectives
Goals will be reached by using the tactical research objectives:
Evaluate the impact and outcomes of all SecondBite work
Expand the delivery of our nutrition education programs
Understand the impact of food insecurity on varied population segments
Investigate current and future causes and extent of vulnerability
Discover and redeploy food insecurity – protective factors
Understand and influence public awareness and knowledge of food Insecurity
Understand the impact of food waste and its reduction
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Outcomes
The outcomes which SecondBite R&D will deliver are as follows:
Innovation and best-practice responses
Influence public awareness of food insecurity and the need for change
Translate data and knowledge into strategies to impact local food insecurity and change lives
Inform and provide evidence to advocate for recommended changes to social policy
Develop “A SecondBite Point Of View” - provide SecondBite with a clear message and
consistent position on food insecurity issues
Position SecondBite as an opinion leader and a trusted resource for food insecurity information
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2.0 Introduction
The effects of insufficient nutrition and diet on physical and mental wellbeing range from poor general
health, heart disease, diabetes, to stress and anxiety and depression and isolation. These in turn
compound the problem and further reduce peoples’ ability to change their lives. People become trapped
in this cycle of food insecurity as a result of a combination of issues: ‘the inability of individuals,
households and communities to acquire food that is healthy, sustainable, affordable, appropriate and accessible’.
Our aim is for people to be able to access affordable nutritious healthy food in a sustainable manner, as
opposed to through food relief in times of crisis or emergency. Food insecurity is no longer a problem
confined to those at the extremes of society or who find themselves in poverty. Food insecurity is
increasingly climbing the income scale and the numbers of people accessing food relief are growing.
Where providing meals simply cannot address the key determinants of food insecurity such as poverty
and disadvantage, it is a vital short term solution that makes an enormous difference to people daily.
Contact with the people using and staffing Community Food Programs on a daily basis uniquely positions
SecondBite right at the ‘coal face.’ This position gives SecondBite R&D the bias for action and the ability
to identify manageable research gaps. SecondBite R&D will partner with appropriate stakeholder to fill
these gaps with solutions that impact individuals. By implementing and evaluating change strategies at
grass roots level through our agencies we can build a more comprehensive picture of what is needed,
what is being done and what is successful. By collating data and creating this type of evidence base, we
can begin to influence public awareness of food insecurity by creating a consistent point of view for
SecondBite and provide a voice for vulnerable Australians, and the diverse agencies that support them.
Driving public debate is a powerful to influence those responsible for making large scale sustainable
changes through policy and legislation.
2.1 Purpose
This document details the development and context, of the strategic plan itself and the goals for research
at SecondBite 2015-2018. Discussion below will cover consolidation of past work to inform the strategy,
and then describe our strategic goals, and how they will be reached by achieving our tactical objectives
followed by the research approaches and partnership model which R&D will use. Matters of research
governance and resourcing will also be discussed, culminating in the 12 month work plan to be adopted.
The dissemination plan is also discussed.
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3.0 Developing the Strategy
3.1 Previous activities
R&D has contributed to measuring and tracking our processes and impact on community food programs
and people in need, with a strong focus on operational issues, leading to the SecondBite research Report
Series: A Fresh Approach. SecondBite have also funded a research scholarship in food insecurity and
poverty with Deakin University with the PhD due to be awarded in early 2016, with outcomes being
made available to SecondBite. SecondBite has also importantly developed two excellent nutrition
education programs to upskill CFPs and support vulnerable people to find solutions to food insecurity.
Through delivery and continuous evaluation of these, SecondBite has developed lasting and strong
relationships with the agencies and CFPs involved.
Developing the SecondBite R&D Strategic Plan consolidated these past achievements and incorporated
consideration of these in future directions firstly by using information and data from previous research
reports (where appropriate and relevant) to maximise value from previous work. However, changes in
direction and refocussing effort into new areas may provide greater value. Secondly we will strengthen
involvement of all SecondBite departments in the research process to foster development of an
organisational culture of innovation, pursuit of knowledge to support food relief operations and bring
about effective social change.
3.2 Nutrition Education Programs
The nutrition education programs (Fresh NED and FoodMate by SecondBite) were rolled out more
widely over the 2014-2015 Financial year demonstrating success in helping people to Break the Cycle of
food insecurity and to change their lives in terms of healthier diet. Working with local agencies in this
manner clearly shows that a difference can be made to lives using our expertise and local connections.
SecondBite R&D strategy aims to extend this nutrition education success and build on the relationships
and connections to support further research activity.
3.2.1 Fresh NED
Fresh NED (Nutrition EDucation) is a nutrition training program developed for staff and volunteers
from Community Food Programs designed to improve the food security of people throughout
Australia. A Community Food Program is any program that provides free or subsidised food to people
experiencing disadvantage. Topics covered by Fresh NED include: Food Security, Healthy Eating, Food
Safety, and How to Develop Nutrition Policy for CFPs.
3.2.2 FoodMate
FoodMATE by SecondBite is a nutrition education program which develops the food independence of
individuals who are at risk of, or who are experiencing food insecurity. FoodMate is an 8-week program
which provides weekly hampers of fresh nutritious food, information on budgeting, food safety, food
storage, healthy eating, local food access and shopping tips and provides vital links to local community
support. Upon completion of this nutrition program, delivered as an integrated case management
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model, FoodMate participants will have the skills required to source, prepare and enjoy fresh food
independently for years to come.
3.3 National Presence
To date, SecondBite R&D activities have been carried out in Victoria, New South Wales and to a smaller
extent in Tasmania. As SecondBite grows into the other states and territories R&D will identify available
funding and research opportunities to extend activities. However, a National Research presence need not
be dependent on the operational base. Through partnership with appropriate research teams based in
Universities we can engage appropriate expertise irrespective of location around Australia (or indeed
overseas). Increasing the diversity of our research partners raises SecondBite’s visibility and public
awareness of our activities and importantly the issues SecondBite aims to address.
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4.0 Resourcing
4.1 The Will Paterson Research Fund
R&D and Fundraising will operationalise the Will Paterson Research Fund. Named in memory of Will,
the son of Rowly and Judy Paterson, the fund will solicit large donations from high net worth individuals
lead by family, friends and contacts of the Patersons. Fundraising will target a sustainable annual income.
The fund is designed to provide R&D with sufficient capacity, and seed funding to allow SecondBite
R&D to pilot projects and establish research partnerships which in turn build a track record sufficient to
competitively pursue external research funding.
4.2 Proposed R&D Organisation Chart
Projected staffing levels are contingent on the achievement of sufficient levels of funding via the Will
Paterson Research Fund (and other fundraising activities). Proposed outline roles and responsibilities for
Research and Development staff (existing and proposed) are given in section 4.3.
Research Manager
Nutrition Programs Manager
Research Officer
From Jul 2016
Nutrition Program
Coordinator (VIC)
Nutrition Program
Coordinator (VIC)
Nutrition Program
Coordinator (NSW)
Research Assistant From Jul
2016
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4.3 Summary roles and key responsibilities
Role Summary Research Manager
Lead all aspects of program and team management. Project development, implementation, evaluation and dissemination, including collaborating with a multi-disciplinary research team, leading grant and ethics applications, directing data collection and analysis and preparation of managerial reports and manuscripts as appropriate
Research Officer
Undertake all aspects of research and project management writing grants and protocols, writing ethics applications, collecting and managing data, conducting analyses, preparing manuscripts and presenting findings.
Research Assistant
Conduct a variety of research tasks within a broader team and engage in relevant administration work and support other staff as required
Nutrition Program Manager
Development, implementation delivery and evaluation of SecondBite’s capacity building Nutrition programs for community agencies and clients in all states. Strategic development, budgetary planning, fundraising, staff management and public relations required for the sustainable delivery of these two programs
Nutrition Program Coordinator
Support planning, coordination and facilitation of Nutrition programs in assigned locations. Delivery of Nutrition programs, review of training resources, and where appropriate develop new resources, contribute to program evaluation reports
Nutrition Program Coordinator
Support planning, coordination and facilitation of Nutrition programs in assigned locations. Delivery of Nutrition programs, review of training resources, and where appropriate develop new resources, contribute to program evaluation reports
Nutrition Program Coordinator (NSW)
Primarily working on the City of Sydney FoodMate project. Support planning, coordination and facilitation of Nutrition programs in assigned locations. Delivery of Nutrition programs, review of training resources, and where appropriate develop new resources, contribute to program evaluation reports
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5.0 Research Governance
Research Governance is the broad range of regulations, principles and standards of good practice that
exist to achieve, and continuously improve, research quality. This applies to anyone connected to
research, whether as the Chief Investigator, Food relief Professional, Researchers, employers or support
staff. R&D will ensure that the governance of SecondBite research makes sure that all activities are
aligned with R&D objectives and will maintain the principles, requirements and standards of research,
ensuring:
Protection of rights and reputations of research staff and participants
Clear definition of the responsibilities for individuals and groups
The safety and quality of research
Privacy and confidentiality
Financial responsibility
Compliance with relevant legislation
Accurate risk management and monitoring
Promotion of good research culture and practice.
A flexible Research Governance Framework to meet the needs of different types of research
Continuous improvement of the framework
Responsible communication of the outcomes of research
5.1 Human Participants
Research involving human participants can raise complex ethical, legal, social and political concerns.
Specifically research involving vulnerable persons who may include children, persons with developmental
or cognitive disabilities, persons who are institutionalized, the homeless or those without legal status,
raises unique issues in any research context. Submission of research project applications for research
ethics review ensures these concerns are considered and standards and guidelines are met. The broadest
aim is to protect human participants. The second aim is to ensure that research is conducted in a way that
serves interests of individuals, groups and/or society as a whole. The final aim is to examine research
activities and projects for their ethical soundness, examining issues such as the management of risk,
protection of confidentiality and the process of informed consent.
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6.0 Research Model
R&D will operate using a combination of Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) and Social
Marketing to drive a multi-disciplinary approach. Taken together these approaches provide a collaborative
ethos at all stages of research work, bounded by sound theoretical and methodological thinking. This
results in valuable outcomes for every stakeholder in terms of helping people in their lives, and generating
publishable data to advance the research field. We will do this by building on strong collaborative
relationships existing through our nutrition education programs. We will grow these relationships by
jointly developing research work with personnel providing food relief, and people experiencing food
insecurity. We will combine this with expertise from academic researchers from our previous
collaborations and new (to SecondBite) partnerships. This will allow a structured research approach
ensuring all stakeholders in the food sector are included (as appropriate), underpinned by academic rigor
allowing maintenance of publishable standards.
6.1 Community-Based Participatory Research
CBPR develops co-learning and capacity building among all collaborating groups. SecondBite will act as
the catalyst-bringing together food relief recipients, community food programs and welfare agencies, and
academic expertise and government to work together on research projects with the collective benefits
including:
Improving research design facilitation of participant recruitment and retention to research
programs
Provides empowerment for and equal control by people who often have had little say in research
performed upon them or about them
High quality research with reliable results and high validity of outcomes
Solutions to complex public health questions through connecting partners with diverse expertise
The potential to translate research findings to guide the development of further interventions and
policy change
Wider dissemination and application of outcomes will enhance the relevance and use of data
Increasing trust and bridging cultural and sector gaps between partners
Providing resources for the communities involved
Benefiting the community and researchers alike through the knowledge gained and actions taken
Generating better value for research investment
6.2 Social Marketing
Social Marketing focusses on developing and integrating marketing concepts with public health
approaches to change behaviour for the benefit of individuals and communities. SecondBite R&D will
integrate research, best practice, theory, end user and partnership insight, to inform the delivery of social
change interventions that are cost-effective, efficient, equitable and sustainable.
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1. The social marketing approach ensures that each research project
2. Clearly understands the target audience and attempts to view things from their perspective
3. Has a clear definition of what actions are required of the target audience
4. That the benefits of change outweigh the costs or barriers to doing it
This approach has clear benefits in bringing about a theoretically based structure to the CBPR framework.
6.3 Benefits of the model
The partners will gain benefits both as individual organisations and perhaps more importantly as a
collective engaging in the community-based participatory research. The individual organisation benefits
include:
6.3.1 For SecondBite
Practical insight to support improvement of services and capacity building both internally and with CFPs, to work to prevent as well as alleviate local food insecurity
Disseminating research evidence will make SecondBite an expert resource for food insecurity knowledge.
This will support us in applying for further funding for research but importantly also in funding
applications for operations, by demonstrating more clearly the impact of SecondBite beyond food rescue
and into the area of positive behaviour and life changes leading to greater impact on food insecurity.
This model will allow SecondBite to leverage seed money into greater value in terms of access to
otherwise very expensive HR and expertise and further funding opportunities. This is a much more cost
effective model than ‘buying’ commercial research work with the added benefit of ensuring academic
rigour, and independent outcomes focussed research. This partnership model will also lead to improved
chances of accessing competitive research money and make a greater R&D contribution to SecondBite’s
strategic goal of sustainable diverse funding.
6.3.2 For Academics
University research teams will benefit through being able to access CFPs through a partnership with a
trusted organisation. This greatly facilitates applied research - a major priority of the tertiary sector
currently. SecondBite will also work with research partners to develop a mutually beneficial dissemination
strategy which will include managerial reports, academic papers and conference presentations, and a
heightened joint and individual media presence.
6.3.3 For the Community
CFPs and clients will benefit from potential improvements in service delivery in terms of the range of
support available in addition to food relief activities. CFPs and their clients currently are disparate and do
not have a collective voice. Research outcomes can provide such a voice and support unity and
development of powerful advocacy and policy change recommendations.
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6.4 Research Methods
SecondBite R&D will use methodology from both basic and applied research as appropriate. Basic
research is concerned with foundation principles and testing theories, however basic research does also
lead to practical applications, given time and development. Applied research gathers and analyses data
directly for real world application and problem solving. Combining these methodologies into the
community based participatory research approach will provide SecondBite with a suite of effective
research methods (or tools) regularly employed in the public health and behavioural science areas,
including:
Translational research such as interventional studies
Observational research, evaluation and audit
Desktop research
Case studies
Comparative effectiveness research
All of these research methods can be applied across any field of research to identify best-practice for
alleviation and prevention of food insecurity, informing education and nutrition program delivery, raising
public awareness and influence policy and behaviour change. R&D will undertake a research process that
will initially benchmark data, and then develop interventions for field testing (see Figure 1). Data collected
from field testing can be used to disseminate potential solutions, and also give a collective voice to
recipients and agencies.
Figure 1: The SecondBite research process
6.5 Research and Development Objectives
The specific themes of our research address research questions formulated to achieve our tactical
objectives:
Benchmarking/data collection
Gather primary data
Define problems
Suggest solutions
Create Interventions
Interpret data
Develop change solutions
Field Testing
Test and Evaluate interventions
Reporting and continuous improvement
Innovation and best
practice
Raise public awareness
Change lives
SecondBite Point of View
Lead Opinion
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6.5.1 Evaluate the impact and outcomes of all SecondBite work
R&D will continue to support operations to identify opportunities to work towards refining activities.
This will include supporting work towards logistical improvements, and continued and extended
measurement of our impact on both the Community Food Programs we service, and the recipients of
their food relief.
6.5.2 Expand the delivery of our Nutrition Education Programs
FoodMate and Fresh NED equip vulnerable Victorians with the knowledge, skills and resources they
need to reach food independence. Demand for these programs in regional Victoria is particularly high.
We also plan to consolidate the strong results of delivering Fresh NED to agencies in NSW by building
on these partnerships to roll out FoodMate in NSW. We have also dates for FoodMATE programs
confirmed for Tasmania. R&D will continue to identify opportunities to extend the Nutrition Education
Programs in all states and particularly to begin building partnerships to plan delivery in Queensland.
A major research area for R&D is to examine methods to support more extensive and rigorous data
collection by the agencies who partner on FoodMate to allow us measure program impact more
effectively. Data collection to measure:
Reach beyond the immediate participants (e.g. family members, friends, community)
Long term impact of FoodMate – do people continue to use learnings in the long term?
Can we collect reliable data on psycho-social outcomes (as well as food habits) to support the
current anecdotal evidence
Methods to collect this type of data need to be minimally intrusive for the participants, minimise effort
for the agencies/staff and provide maximum information for SecondBite internal needs and allow us to
communicate meaningfully on the issues externally. This project will require external specialist expertise
and will be a key partnership opportunity.
6.5.3 Understand the impact of food insecurity on varied population segments
SecondBite research will not assume that all low-income people are food insecure and that all higher
income Australians are food secure. The impact of food insecurity will also be different in different
population groups, as the influence of the various drivers of food insecurity will be different for different
population segments.
6.5.4 Investigate Current and future causes and extent of vulnerability
We will also explore how to collect data on the attitudes and knowledge of people experiencing food
insecurity. This will provide valuable insight to inform different ‘needs’ and differential contributing
factors to individual food insecurity. Coping strategies to deal with the experience of food insecurity are
also crucial. Gathering information on these will also be useful to inform R&D to develop targeted mixes
of actions and strategies to support people to change their lives. By deriving these from their peers and
not imposing them from outside, it is anticipated that the impact of interventions of this nature will be
stronger.
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6.5.5 Discover food insecurity – protective factors
R&D will collect data to understand best-practice examples of low income Australians who do not
experience food insecurity. By modelling ‘protective factors’ against food insecurity, we can develop
strategies aimed at ‘at risk’ groups so that they do not progress into food insecurity.
6.5.6 Understand and influence public awareness and knowledge of food insecurity
SecondBite will collect baseline data on public awareness and understanding of issues related to local food
insecurity in Australia. Understanding how the problem is conceptualised in the community can inform
the content and style of messaging aimed at influencing public debate. Ensuring that the public have a
shared understanding of the issues surrounding food insecurity will be more likely to lead to public debate
and shared concern. This is different from ‘raising awareness’ as we will communicate not only the
problem, but also potential solutions (from our research) and will identify specific ‘calls to action.’ Simply
raising awareness without giving people an option to act can be ineffectual in leading to change.
6.5.7 Understand the impact of food waste and its reduction
R&D plans to examine sources and causes of food waste in the parts of the food system that we touch
and how changes in the sources or amounts of food waste will necessarily impact on household and
individual food insecurity, and potentially on food rescue organisations.
6.6 Outcomes
Taken together, the data collected above will support SecondBite R&D to deliver a set of six specific
outcomes. These outcomes are grouped under social marketing strategy and advocacy/policy change
headings.
6.6.1 Social marketing response
The initial three outcomes taken together form the basis of a social marketing response:
Innovation and best-practice responses
Raise public awareness of food insecurity and the need for change
Translate data and knowledge into strategies to impact local food insecurity and change lives
This response will reframe the generally held belief that food insecurity only impacts Australians who are
marginalised in some way, and deliver the message that food insecurity is rising up the income ladder.
This will support raising public awareness of the problem, but also deriving and testing real world
solutions. Articulating the problem accurately and clearly, based on data, and recommending successful
solutions (based on evidence) is central to delivering the second group of outcomes grouped under the
advocacy and policy change heading.
6.6.2 Advocacy and policy Change
The second group of outcomes will support SecondBite to become a thought leader in the area of
fighting food insecurity:
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Inform and provide evidence to advocate for recommended changes to social policy
Develop “A SecondBite Point Of View” - provide SecondBite with a clear message and
consistent position on food insecurity
Position SecondBite as an opinion leader and a trusted resource for food insecurity information
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7.0 Dissemination Plan
R&D will work with all SecondBite staff and the SecondBite Board as well as our research partners to
establish the most effective dissemination approaches to maximise the utility of research findings and
position SecondBite at the forefront of food insecurity discussions. Dissemination tactics will be selected
from the most output-appropriate mix of the following:
1. Media releases by SecondBite and research partners on key findings
2. Submissions of key findings to theconversation.com
3. ‘Research Bite’ e-vignettes on projects and outcomes for SecondBite website
4. Extension of the SecondBite ‘Fresh Approach’ reports series
5. Conference submissions –to industry and academic meetings
6. Journal submissions - public health and other relevant discipline journals to public awareness
messaging
7. Recommendations to get the debate on food poverty into the public arena more broadly –
knowledge of the type of varied messaging that may achieve maximum impact across different
population segments
8. Inform impactful SecondBite communication strategy
9. Developing policy reports and position papers
This plan will ensure that SecondBite increases the exposure of key messages across in broad selection of
highly visible formats. This dissemination strategy will allow SecondBite to tailor messaging targeted at
different audiences for maximum impact. Together these communications will contribute to informing
public policy recommendations about food poverty from grass roots consumer attitudes and perceptions.
This will define a “SecondBite Point Of View” and provide SecondBite with a clear message and
consistent position on food insecurity, and position SecondBite as an opinion leader and a trusted
resource for food insecurity information.
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8.0 Research and Development Work Plan – Year 1
8.1 Notes
Please note:
1. This work plan covers the 12 month period from October 2015- October 2016 (and is subject to revision). The time frames in some cases include dates
earlier than this period, this allows the new work to be described in context of ongoing R&D work
2. The Nutrition Education Programs are carried out and (funded) in Financial years, this year’s programs will end in June and next years will begin in July
Objective
Activities/Tasks
Time Frame (Indicative only)
Who is responsible?
Who else will be involved?
Outcome Measure
Risks and Mitigations
Achieve sustainable R&D funding
Launch and Implementation of the Will Paterson Research Fund (For research specific funding from high net worth contacts of the Paterson family) Sub tasks: Liaise with Paterson family to finalise collateral Develop ‘ask’ strategy (who/when) Launch event
Jun 15 – Dec 16 To be discussed
GS/Fundraising Marketing (TC), Rowly and Judy Paterson
Min $100,000 raised per year
None to development of Fund. Lack of donations
Continue to engage and inform SecondBite staff on research activity
Run a managers’ session on the finalised R&D strategy
On completion and CEO sign off of strategy On-going
GS All SecondBite staff
Staff informed and support R&D activity if required Staff raise research questions pertinent to their roles
22
Expanded delivery of our Nutrition Education Programs*
Review and update content of Fresh NED and FoodMate programs, incorporating design changes. Print run to supply programs until July 16
July – Dec 2015 CY Pro-bono graphic designers/ print firm
Collated materials delivered to SecondBite
Using pro-bono designers can cause delays. We are using a group of designers in case any cease work
Roll out programs as per delivery strategy (including repeat programs with the same agency partners): FoodMate (VIC) = 18 Fresh Ned (VIC) = 1 FoodMate (NSW) = 6 Fresh Ned (NSW) = 3 FoodMate (Tas) = 2
Jan 16-July 16 CY Case worker agencies
Programs completed Delays in set up and delivery time through agency circumstances. We maintain regular close contact to ensure changes to schedule are flagged as early as possible
Complete Evaluation Reports for each program, develop aggregate data report
Jan 16 - Jul 16 GS/CY Reports delivered, new data set developed
Completion date subject to time delays as above
Provision of reliable data to provide new knowledge about food insecurity at the local level
Scoping work with CFPs on utility and methods for collecting regular data on recipients Sub tasks: Identify preferred data for collection Review similar work/standard data in other sectors/countries
Jan 16 - Jul 16 GS Operations, CFPs, potential research partner
Development of pilot project to create a data collection process
Resistance from CFPs Resourcing
Pilot collection of longitudinal well- being and nutritional data
Jan 16 - Jul 16 GS CY/Nutrition team
3 CFPs provide useable data Resistance from CFPs Resourcing
Translate data into preventative interventions and solutions improving the nutrition of vulnerable
Benchmarking Food Insecurity Knowledge and Attitudes amongst the Australian and UK Public (Project with QUT) Sub tasks: Develop and deploy national survey with representative sample Data analyses
Mar 16 – Aug 16
GS Prof R Russell-Bennett (QUT School of Business)
Report on differential protective factors which prevent some people from experiencing food insecurity yet they meet the risk factors Strategies to transfer this
Resourcing
23
community members
Reporting knowledge to at risk groups developed
SecondBite Agencies Survey Sub tasks: Review previous surveys Consult managers/staff for input Review new survey Test and implement Collate and analyse data Reporting
Jun 15 – Dec 15 GS All staff/students
Data collected on-line from 60% of agencies
Agencies do not respond – will offer telephone or postal options
Improve public awareness of the extent and impact of food insecurity and food waste
Identify opportunities to disseminate activities of R&D specifically and SecondBite in general
On-going GS All SecondBite staff
Increased visibility of SecondBite
Scope project on Understanding social media engagement using electronic Word-of-Mouth to increase SecondBite reach
Jan 16- Feb 16 GS Potential research partner
Pilot project for review None to scoping
Research Governance
Develop necessary internal process to support a research program Sub tasks (including): Align with a Human Research Ethics Committee FSAC Standardise documentation across all R&D activities
On-going GS SecondBite