CEQ and ALPA partner to grow First Nations nutrition workforce

Community Enterprise Queensland (CEQ) and Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) have formalised a partnership to deliver the Good Food People program across remote North Queensland, aiming to support healthier food choices and build a local First Nations nutrition workforce.

The partnership is designed to strengthen food security and improve health outcomes in remote communities by embedding nutrition support within local stores.

Key Points

CEQ Chief Executive Officer Michael Dykes said the initiative positions community stores as central to advancing healthier food access and local employment.

“Our stores are at the heart of the communities we serve, and they play a vital role in shaping access to healthy food,” Mr Dykes said.

“The Good Food People program will empower local First Nations team members to become leaders in nutrition and wellbeing in their own communities.

“By building a locally-based nutrition workforce, we can help create long-term change that supports healthier food environments and better health outcomes for families across remote Queensland.”

“Our stores are at the heart of the communities we serve”

— Michael Dykes

The collaboration forms part of the Australian Government’s National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Food Security and Nutrition Workforce Program. This national framework recognises remote retail as a key setting to improve health and nutrition outcomes.

ALPA CEO Alastair King said ALPA is incredibly proud to lead the Good Food People program.

“This program was originally developed by ALPA many years ago, so to see it continuing to grow and support communities is something we are very proud of as an organisation,” Mr King said.

“It’s fantastic to be working alongside CEQ – supporting good food and making it available through local people, for local people.

“Together, we can make a real difference in strengthening nutrition, building local skills and creating healthier communities across remote First Nations communities.”

Through the program, CEQ will receive $5.88 million over three years. The funding will help establish and grow a community-based nutrition workforce across CEQ’s remote North Queensland store network, with a focus on locally employed Good Food People supported by qualified nutritionists.

Building a local First Nations nutrition workforce

Under the partnership, Good Food People will be locally employed team members who receive practical training and education, with mentoring from qualified nutritionists. The model aims to empower First Nations staff to lead community-level nutrition and wellbeing initiatives in the places they live and work.

Mr Dykes said building a locally based nutrition workforce is intended to support long-term change, healthier food environments and better outcomes for families across remote Queensland.

Rollout and workforce targets

The program is being rolled out in stages. It begins with the recruitment and training of seven Good Food People, supported by a dedicated nutritionist. As the program expands across remote stores, the workforce is expected to grow significantly over the next three years.

By 2028, plans include employment of 35 Good Food People and three nutritionists. These targets are intended to scale the program’s reach and strengthen in-store nutrition capacity across CEQ’s network.

Good Food People will work in stores to provide on-the-ground nutrition support tailored to local contexts. Their responsibilities will include frontline education and practical improvements to food environments.

• Support nutrition education within communities
• Promote healthier food options to customers
• Improve fresh food departments and availability
• Help develop healthier takeaway and café offerings

Qualified nutritionists will mentor and support this workforce, delivering practical training and ongoing guidance to sustain momentum as the program grows.

Significance for remote community stores

CEQ said the partnership underscores the role of remote community stores as platforms for advancing food security, strengthening community wellbeing and creating meaningful local employment opportunities. The approach places local staff at the centre of change, with skilled guidance to help translate training into everyday in-store actions that influence purchasing and access to healthier choices.

According to Mr Dykes, CEQ’s stores “play a vital role in shaping access to healthy food,” and the program is designed to support “long-term change” across remote Queensland communities.