Goal 2: Zero Hunger

Led by UOW’s world-leading children's nutrition expert,Led by UOW’s world-leading children’s nutrition experts, Professor Bridget Kelly, Dr Megan Hammersley, and PhD student, Sharon Duncan, First Bite – Get it Right is a nutrition program conducted in partnership with UOW researchers and the Illawarra Shoalhaven and Western Sydney Local Health Districts. 

The primary aim of the program is to increase preschool children's intake of vegetables. The eight-week program used multiple strategies, including training for educators, a daily vegetable break, vegetable-related hands-on learning curricula, and information and resources for parents.  

Researchers measured changes in children's vegetable intake using a Veggie Meter, a device that measures skin carotenoid levels, which reflect fruit and vegetable consumption. The results showed that children who received the intervention had an increase in carotenoid levels compared to those who didn't receive the intervention, especially in centres that followed the program closely. 

With only two per cent of Australian children aged four to eight years meeting the recommended daily vegetable intake, this intervention shows strong potential to drive meaningful improvements in early childhood nutrition and establish healthy eating patterns for life. 

• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
• SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing 

Explore our work supporting early childhood health

With 53 per cent of UOW students experiencing food insecurity in 2024, the University’s Pulse Pantry initiative continued to assist students facing financial hardship or who required a last-minute meal. Launched as an ongoing initiative in 2021 after an overwhelming response to COVID-19 pantry packs, the service operates on a points-based system where students receive 10 points weekly to claim items.  

In 2024, 7,599 students accessed the service (a 10 per cent increase from 2023) with 96 per cent being international students. The initiative expanded to twice-weekly operations during high-stress periods and introduced innovative initiatives such as the Pulse Giving Tree campaign. Held throughout December 2024, the campaign generated almost $1,500 in financial donations via the UOW website and over 500 grocery and hygiene items dropped at donation spots. 

Additionally, a pilot program in partnership with Aspire Events, Venues and Catering distributed unused catering orders to students via Pulse Pantry, while offering corporate clients the option to sponsor meals for students. Supported by generous donors and volunteers, Pulse Pantry continues to represent a collaborative approach to addressing student food insecurity and food waste in an era of rising living costs. 

• SDG 2 – Zero Hunger
• SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities 

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UOW’s partnership with Healthy Cities Illawarra, aims to address the underlying social, economic and environmental causes of health inequity. Healthy Cities Illawarra is a local organisation working to create healthy environments and enable healthy choices for the people of the Illawarra and Shoalhaven. Together, we are committed to taking action to prevent and control diseases such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, asthma, dementia, depression and anxiety.

Join the movement for a healthier Illawarra and Shoalhaven!