Who We Are
A Collective Impact Initiative
Community working together to drive change
The Community Plate believes that everyone in our community has the right to access abundant, vibrant, and nourishing food. Sadly this is not always the case.
In 2017 a group of local primary prevention representatives came together to workshop the idea of taking a Collective Impact approach to the local food system. Stemming from these workshops, Peninsula Health, Frankston City Council, Mornington Peninsula Shire, Monash University, Deakin University, Orwil Street Community House and Downs Community Farm committed to taking a long-term Collective Impact approach to strengthen the local food system across the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Regions.
Officially launched in 2019, The Community Plate undertook an extensive community engagement process, connecting with organisations, businesses, funders and community members, to collectively create a community aspiration to guide our work.
We found that our community want to connect meaningfully with a local food system unique to Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula which provides a food culture that fosters food literacy, sharing, joy and health. Action is required to connect and empower consumers, retailers, and producers to drive change addressing barriers such as affordability, time, and access to nutritious and nourishing food.
Our Community Aspiration:
We are all connected to food that is local, nourishing and abundant.
The Community Plate is now in the activation phase of our initiative with current work including:
- Leading local Action Groups to drive change across the region. Recent action group achievements include the Grow Some Food workshops and the 2024 Community Food Forum
- Supporting community to find nourishing foods locally via the Local Food Map
- The surplus to market scoping project
- Collating a collective submission to the Inquiry into Food Security in Victoria
We invite you to join The Community Plate!
Community participation is critical to Collective Impact. The Community Plate are continually engaging with organisations, agencies and community members inviting them to be involved in various capacities. We lead local Action Groups to drive change across the region, these groups are for anyone with an interest in supporting local food systems, connections, and opportunities.
If you’d like to get involved in any capacity click on our join the collective tab.
What is a Collective Impact approach?
A Collective Impact approach takes working in partnership and collaboration to the next level. The approach calls for multiple organisations from different sectors and community members to unite under a shared vision for change and adopt a common agenda. It is founded on the belief that no one organisation can solve a complex social problem on their own.
There are five core conditions that support a Collective Impact approach.
- A community aspiration or common agenda
- Shared measurement systems
- Mutually reinforcing activities
- Continuous communication
- A backbone support organisation