Bridging Voices Through Food: Sub-Saharan African Young People's Perspectives of Food and Nutrition Policy in Victoria, Australia

Abstract

Objectives

Marginalised and non-white voices are under-represented in food and nutrition policy in Australia. To achieve equitable food systems that support healthy diets for all, the voices and lived experiences of people from diverse cultural backgrounds must be meaningfully included in decision-making. This research aimed to understand Sub-Saharan African (SSA) young people's experiences of food and nutrition and identify opportunities for culturally sensitive policies that can improve these experiences in Victoria, Australia.

Design

A qualitative approach, grounded in critical theory, experience-based co-design and the Social and Emotional Wellbeing framework, was employed to attain a policy-relevant understanding of SSA young people's perspectives and engagement with food and nutrition in Australia. In-depth interview guides were co-designed with an advisory committee of multicultural young people, including two young SSA Australians.

Results

Twenty young people (15–25 years) with East and West African backgrounds were interviewed, mostly from metropolitan Victoria (75%). Four overarching themes were identified describing (i) young people's experiences of cultural food shaping their identity but being difficult to access due to systemic barriers, (ii) food affordability and economic opportunities influencing community wellbeing, (iii) the mixed relevance of dominant food and nutrition policy priorities and (iv) the need for stronger government prioritisation of migrants and equity.

Conclusion

This research identifies food as a critical determinant of health and wellbeing among SSA youth, serving not only as a cultural factor but also as a pathway for economic and social advancement. Mainstream food and nutrition policies do not fully address the priorities of SSA youth and opportunities exist to develop more culturally sensitive policy options. Additional efforts are required from the public health community to address discrimination across food systems, starting with better inclusion of multicultural experiences and voices in research, policy and practice.