Health services

Health services play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of staff and visitors. Supplying healthier foods and drinks to your staff and visitors is now part of the Department of Health’s Healthy choices: policy directive for Victorian public health services.

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Staff member receiving food at a canteen

We can assist your organisation in understanding and maintaining the requirements of the Policy directive.

All Victorian health services have implemented the Healthy choices: policy directive for Victorian public health services across all their in-house retail outlets and vending machines. Health services are encouraged to implement the Healthy choices: policy directive in privately managed retail outlets also.  

The Policy directive applies to all public health services across all of their sites and facilities, including – hospitals, integrated community health services and public residential aged care services. 

Resources to implement the Policy directive

Access our library of resources to learn more about the Policy directive and the relevant food and drink targets.

What if the Healthy choices: Policy directive doesn't apply to me?

If the Policy directive does not apply to your health service you can access our suite of resources for implementing the Healthy choices guidelines.

Assess your menu with FoodChecker

Get a free, instant report on the food and drinks you supply with our online assessment tool, FoodChecker! Use FoodChecker to assess menus, vending machines, recipes and products according to both:

  • the Victorian Government’s Healthy choices: policy directive for Victorian public health services
  • the original Healthy choices guidelines

Browse healthy recipes

Check out our range of delicious recipes to support healthier eating in retail food outlets and catering services. All recipes are classified as GREEN or AMBER, in line with the Victorian Government’s Healthy choices: food and drink classification guide.

Browse healthy recipes

Develop healthy eating policies and contracts for your organisation

Having a healthy eating policy in line with the Healthy Choices: policy directive is an important method for maintaining progress. Having Policy directive requirements in contracts and tenders is an effective way of ensuring your health service continues to meet the Policy directive.

Promoting healthy eating

Communicating your organisation’s progress and milestones to stakeholders is an important part of the Healthy choices: policy directive implementation process.