Co-designing an intervention to improve food security and healthy eating among university students
Co-designing an intervention to improve food security and healthy eating among university students
Co-designing an intervention with university students and stakeholders to reduce food insecurity and improve access and affordability of fruit and vegetables for university students
About the project
The prevalence of food insecurity in Australia was estimated to be up to 15% before the COVID-19 pandemic, and there was a significant increase in the need for food relief since the COVID-19 outbreak. University students have been identified as a new at-risk population group for food insecurity.
This project aims to co-design an intervention with university students and other stakeholders to reduce food insecurity and improve access and affordability of fruit and vegetables. Using a co-design approach, university students and stakeholders will discuss options and be involved in the design process to ensure that the interventions meet their needs and expectations. Moreover, they are able to share their experiences in solving food insecurity issues among university students.
Understanding university students’ eating habits on campus will help identify appropriate interventions to reduce food insecurity and improve access and affordability of fruit and vegetables.
Survey 2020
This survey was conducted from July to September 2020 and we found a high prevalence of food insecurity among university students (41.9%) and psychological distress (52.2%, with high and very high levels). You can read about the findings here.
Survey 2022
We concluded the survey in early January 2023. Thank you to all our participants and those who have shown an interest in this research. The findings will be available soon!
Survey 2024
We are running another survey in Session 1 2024 to explore food insecurity, healthy eating, and housing security. You are invited to complete this survey or scan the QR code below if you are at least 18 years old and enrolled as a Macquarie University student.
Research output
UniFood Australia 2023
Macquarie University was one of nine Australian Universities across four states (VIC, TAS, QLD, NSW) that was assessed the extent to which university food environments are healthy, equitable and sustainable using the Uni-Food tool in 2022. Please read the full report of the Uni-Food Australia 2023: Benchmarking the healthiness, equity and environmental sustainability of university food environments in Australia which has been released by Deakin University.
Project funding
This project is funded by the Macquarie University Research Acceleration Scheme 2021.
Research team
- Associate Professor Seema Mihrshahi
- Dr Josephine Chau
- Dr Miriam Williams
- Dr Rimante Ronto
- Dr Stephanie Partridge
- Putu Novi Arfirsta Dharmayani
- Jemma Keat
- Carla Vanessa Alves Lopes
- Nadia Farnaz
Further information
For further information please contact us at dhs.foodenvironment@mq.edu.au