Healthy Options WA Food and Nutrition Policy

Applicable to: This policy is applicable to WA health entities.

Description: The Healthy Options WA Food and Nutrition Policy aims to improve the health of staff members and the community visiting WA health entity sites by providing environments that support and model nutritious and healthy eating options. It supports staff members, outpatients and visitors to make healthier choices by promoting and increasing access to affordable and nutritious food and drinks.

The objectives of the policy are to ensure that on all WA health entity premises:

  • the majority of food and drinks available for purchase are healthy choices consistent with health promoting initiatives and messages supported by the Department of Health
  • unhealthy food and drinks are not promoted or displayed in ways that encourage their consumption, with particular emphasis on minimising their impact on children
  • all business catering purchased using WA health entity funds align with health promoting initiatives and messages supported by the Department of Health
  • all fundraising initiatives align with health promoting initiatives and messages supported and promoted by the Department of Health.

The following services are outside the scope of this policy:

  • hospital inpatient and aged care resident meals
  • food and drinks brought in by staff members, patients and visitors for personal consumption.

This policy aligns with the Western Australian Health Promotion Strategic Framework and the National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Dietary Guidelines.

The policy is a mandatory requirement for Health Service Providers under the Public Health Policy Framework pursuant to section 26(2)(c) of the Health Services Act 2016.

This policy is a mandatory requirement for the Department of Health pursuant to section 29 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994.

Date of effect: 01 February 2021

Policy Framework

Related documents

Supporting information