Wodonga TAFE OFF Group members Visit Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare

Tuesday, 8 October 2024

Earlier this week, members of Wodonga TAFE's OFF GROUP were invited by Albury City Council to tour longstanding partner Albury Wodonga Regional Foodshare, to hear how we can be more efficient in waste management whilst fighting the ongoing food crisis. 

CEO Katrina Pawley and Operations Manager Sue Thornton shared creative ways on how FoodShare are currently making the most of what they have, and debunked the public perception that you must be a big donator to make a difference.

An intriguing and effective solution was creating long life products with an accumulation of small donations, such as producing jars of relish and jam. 

Another topic of focus was centred around NSW EPA's Bin Project, and how commercial kitchens within the region can donate frozen meals for those in need. Friction points included education in the process and implementing it to each individual business, as there is no one size fits all solution. Accessibility for meals to be heated up and served for those without homes was also raised as a main concern.

Wodonga TAFE has been heavily involved in the Bin Trim project in relation to our Commercial Cookery Kitchen, and the tour ultimately provided further insight into how the efforts from the Bin Trim Project can assist FoodShare's mission in maximising the volume and nutritional quality of food available for local people in need.

Thank you to Albury Wodonga Regional FoodShare for the insightful tour and Albury City Council for the invitation, we look forward to working with both partners to improve our food waste management systems.