Updated Advice
The Department of Health and the Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) acknowledge current pressures on Victorian health services due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are taking a flexible approach to implementing the Healthy choices policy directive. We congratulate and recognise the significant efforts and progress already made by health services towards meeting this policy. HEAS will continue to support and meet with all health services to assist them in their progress. Health services are encouraged to contact HEAS if they are having any difficulties meeting the Policy directive requirements.
The Healthy choices: policy directive and guidelines for health services aim to improve the availability and promotion of healthier food and drink options on hospital premises.
From mid-2021, health services were required to implement the Healthy choices: policy directive for Victorian public health services (Policy directive).
This Policy directive applies to in-house managed retail food outlets, all vending machines, all staff/event catering, and items purchased by staff and visitors from patient/resident menus within public health services.
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.
The Policy directive has a phased approach to implementation. Health services’ progress on meeting the Phase 1 (drinks) targets can be found in the Short Summary – 2022 results, which can be downloaded.
Details
- Date published
- 27 Apr 2023
Downloads
Reviewed 01 May 2023