Benchmarking Environmental Health Influences on Food Security in Very Remote Indigenous Communities in Australia:...

Area of Science:

• Environmental health
• Public health
• Indigenous Australian studies

Background:

• Health inequalities for Indigenous Australians are exacerbated by colonization and intergenerational trauma, particularly in remote areas.
• Food insecurity in these communities is linked to inadequate housing (kitchens) and unaffordable food access.
• Environmental health factors influencing food security in very remote Indigenous communities remain under-researched.

Purpose of the Study:

• To benchmark environmental health determinants of food security in 19 very remote Indigenous communities in Western Australia.
• To assess housing kitchen suitability and food/sanitary goods affordability using digital tools.
• To capture residents' perceptions of appropriate housing kitchens.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods eHealth study combining in-house audits of kitchen facilities and tenant interviews (n=130).
• Retail audits assessing food (n=97) and sanitary product (n=28) prices, extending the Healthy Diets ASAP methodology.
• Comparison of prices against nearest towns and capital cities to establish affordability benchmarks.

Main Results:

• Data collection and analysis are ongoing, with findings expected by end of 2026.
• Benchmark data on environmental health determinants of food security will be generated.
• Preliminary findings will inform community advocacy for improved housing and retail practices.

Conclusions:

• This study is the first in Australia to use digital technology to assess environmental health drivers of food insecurity in remote Indigenous communities.
• Findings will provide evidence for culturally appropriate solutions to enhance living conditions and health.
• Benchmarking aims to support advocacy for improved housing, kitchen design, and retail practices.