Wicked Lab has strengthened its collaboration with Edith Cowan University (ECU), announcing today it will help deliver the largest statewide system-innovation food project in Australia.
The three-year initiative aims to strengthen food security action across the state, supporting reliable physical, economic and social access to healthy food.
ECU public health senior lecturer and project lead Dr Stephanie Godrich said food security is a “wicked issue”.
“And that’s why we need to take a systems approach to address it,” she said.”
“We need to work with diverse stakeholders to strengthen how the system of initiatives is working together as a whole to support food security.”
Funded by Healthway, the project is based on the success of ECU’s South West Food Community pilot, which used Wicked Lab’s Systemic Innovation Lab methodology and award-winning Tool for Systemic Change.
Systemic Innovation Labs aim to address wicked problems by transitioning systems of initiatives through a multi-stakeholder and co-design process.
This collaboration will create Systemic Innovation Labs addressing food security across six Western Australian regions.
The ECU team will work with government and community food organisations to undertake the six-stage methodology (Form, Explore, Map, Learn, Address and Share stages).
The online Tool for Systemic Change will support the labs through its ability to visualise, strengthen and measure systems change.
“I am delighted to continue our excellent working relationship with Wicked Lab over the next three years,” Dr Godrich said.
“The Food Community funding will enable us to work with organisations leading food projects across the state and to understand how they contribute to the bigger food security system.
“Importantly, we aim to support and enhance their work and facilitate action to improve healthy food availability, access and utilisation.”
Wicked Lab chief executive Emily Humphreys was honoured to continue partnering with ECU.
“This is such an ambitious project that will have a significant impact on communities within these six regions,” she said.
“We are excited that our Systemic Innovation Lab methodology and Tool for Systemic Change will underpin this project and are looking forward to building the capacity of a core team in each of these regions to create systems change.”
About the Food Community Project
For more information about the Food Community project, see this webinar, this case study, the Food Community website (www.foodcommunity.com.au) and Facebook page.