Healthy choices: policy directive and guidelines for health services

The Healthy choices: policy directive and guidelines for health services aim to improve the availability and promotion of healthier food and drink options on health service premises.

Announced in mid-2021, the Healthy choices: policy directive for Victorian public health services (Policy directive) requires health services to meet food and drink requirements for their in-house managed retail food outlets, all vending machines, all staff/event catering, and items purchased by staff and visitors from patient/resident menus machines.

In addition, health services are encouraged to continue implementing the Healthy choices: policy guidelines for hospitals and health services in their commercially/privately managed retail food outlets. See Healthy Choices for more information.

Reporting on the Policy directive

The Department of Health requires ongoing annual reporting on the Policy directive (during September each year).

Phase 1 (drinks) target progress

Phase 2 (food and drinks) target progress

2024 (food and drinks) target progress

2025 (food and drinks) target progress

The Healthy Eating Advisory Service (delivered by National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government) continues to support all Victorian public health services to report on and maintain the requirements of the Policy directive.

For further information or support, visit the Healthy Eating Advisory Service website, or contact HEAS on 1300 22 52 88 or heas@nnf.org.au.