Good nutrition is essential to good health and a strong future
Food Security means having continuous access to a range of food, drinks and other essential groceries that are reasonably priced, safe and meet the dietary and cultural needs of the household.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap commits all Australian governments to change the way we work to share decision-making and partner with Indigenous Australians to improve outcomes. The 2024 Commonwealth Closing the Gap Implementation Plan recognises remote food security as a national priority.
Higher costs in remote communities are broadly caused by two key factors: lower commercial purchasing power of remote suppliers; and higher operational costs, including freight and repair costs (HORSCIA Inquiry).
Price and availability of food in remote communities has been further stretched in line with national market trends impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chain interruptions, severe weather and rising fuel costs.
Through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy, the National Indigenous Australians Agency provides funding to First Nations communities and businesses for place-based projects to improve community nutrition outcomes.
2025 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan Food Security Initiatives
The 2025 Closing the Gap Implementation Plan details the Government’s $71.4 million commitment to improving remote food security through a low-cost essentials subsidy scheme, dedicated remote store governance training and support package and an in-store Nutrition Workforce.
Access to low-cost essentials for remote stores subsidy scheme
The Australian Government has committed to reduce the costs of around 30 essential items in more than 76 stores in remote First Nations communities. The reduced prices will be the result of a product ‘subsidy’ scheme that will grow to cover up to 152 remote stores.
The aim is to reduce the cost of items in remote stores to be comparable to supermarkets in urban areas, to help address cost-of-living pressures and high rates of food insecurity experienced in remote First Nations communities.
The subsidy scheme will be administered by Commonwealth company Outback Stores Pty Ltd to facilitate remote stores’ ability to purchase a range of essential products at a lower wholesale price, with freight costs also subsidised.
Further information on the subsidy scheme is available below.
The subsidy scheme will commence from 1 July 2025.
The Australian Government has committed to reducing the costs of 30 essential items to 76 remote stores initially, before expanding to up to 152 remote stores. The reduced prices will be the result of a low-cost subsidy scheme.
The aim is to reduce the cost of items in remote stores, so they are comparable to supermarkets in urban areas. This will help address cost-of-living pressures and the high rates of food insecurity experienced in remote First Nations communities across Australia.
The subsidy scheme will be administered by the not-for-profit Commonwealth-owned company Outback Stores Pty Ltd (Outback Stores). Outback Stores will source items from manufacturers and wholesalers, using freight companies to deliver the items to the store. This will make it possible for remote stores to purchase a range of essential items at a lower wholesale price, with freight costs also subsidised.
An expert Advisory Group has been established and have met to work through the list of 30 items.
At the 16 May 2025 Advisory Group meeting, the Group recommended a list of items to the NIAA to be drawn upon for the subsidy scheme commencing 1 July 2025. Further information including the list, rationale and Advisory Group membership is available:
- Interim Subsidy Scheme Advisory Group Meeting Communique 16 May 2025 - PDF 346KB
- Interim Subsidy Scheme Advisory Group Meeting Communique 16 May 2025 - DOCX 252KB
The following was considered when deciding on the subsidised items:
- Health impact
- Cost-of-living impact on consumers
- Impact on remote stores operations
- Supply chain and subsidy logistics.
The Advisory Group also considered feedback from community, health experts and consumer data to inform the approach.
Outback Stores is only supported by the Government to supply 30 subsidised items. The subsidy has been deliberately restricted to a limited number of items to ensure the bulk of store purchases will continue to go through usual wholesaler arrangements.
You can find the list of 30 items below and in Attachment A of the communique (PDF 346KB).
- Flour
- Pasta
- Rice
- Powdered milk
- UHT milk
- Quick (instant) oats
- Rolled oats
- Wheat biscuits (cereal)
- Tinned vegetables
- Tinned tomatoes
- Canned fruit (in natural juice)
- Tinned tuna
- Canned oysters
- Canned sardines
- Canned baked beans
- Canned meals (canned meals containing meat and vegetables)
- Canned spaghetti
- Tea
- Oils
- Baby wipes
- Facial tissues
- Feminine hygiene – Pads
- Feminine hygiene – Tampons
- Laundry powder
- Nappies
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Soap
- Toilet paper
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
No, Outback Stores will not be supplying outside of the subsidy. Outback Stores are only supported by Government to supply 30 subsidised items.
The subsidy will target 30 essential items. These items may be offered in various practical choices for consumers. For example, nappies will be provided in sizes that fit newborns through to toddlers, soft or medium bristle toothbrushes and 1kg or 2kg packs of flour. This will offer choice for remote community customers.
No – stores servicing remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia will be able to access the scheme, provided they meet the eligibility criteria. As well as the Northern Territory, there are also remote stores in South Australia, Western Australia, Queensland and New South Wales.
The scheme will initially support 76 remote stores, expanding to up to 152 remote stores.
The eligibility criteria to access the scheme is being developed.
Stores must sign up to the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations (currently being developed).
The NIAA is investing in governance and store-readiness support to enable remote stores to comply with the Code. Details on these projects will be updated on this website in due course.
The National Code is currently being developed.
The Code will support food security in remote communities by outlining minimum standards for governance, operations and health promotion in community stores.
The Code aims to further progress on Closing the Gap outcomes and contribute to the health and wellbeing of people in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
The Code will complement the Remote Retail pillar of the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
The Code was designed in partnership with membership from stores, jurisdictions and health experts.
Signing up to the Code will demonstrate a store’s commitment to providing food security for the communities they serve. The Code is not intended to replace existing legislation, policy or regulations at local, state or federal government levels, but to bring about increased capacity within the remote store retailers.
Yes. The NIAA also held a public consultation process called Have your Say which was open from 28 May 2025 till 11 June 2025. The public consultation process sought feedback on the implementation of the National Code to inform guidance and training needs to support remote stores to meet the standards of the Code. This consultation assisted in finalising the Code.
Additionally, the NIAA held a series of online workshops with remote stores.
Further information on how to apply will be available closer to the start of the scheme.
No, Outback Stores will wholesale 30 items to eligible stores that wish to place orders.
Outback Stores is a Commonwealth company and is well positioned to administer a Commonwealth subsidy scheme.
Outback Stores currently administers another Commonwealth subsidy, which underpins the financial viability of remote stores that lack the sales volume to cover operating costs yet are important for food security.
The low-cost essentials subsidy scheme has been designed to ensure savings will be passed on to customers, and that it is administratively easy for community stores to participate.
Other models were considered, including freight equalisation subsidies.
Remote stores participating in the subsidy scheme will be required to adhere to an intended maximum price for the items purchased through Outback Stores. Further information will be provided in due course.
Research undertaken by the Menzies School of Health Research shows the savings people make from the lower price products will be spent at the store. This may include consumers buying products not covered by the subsidy.
The NIAA is working with the Queensland Government to ensure the national scheme aligns with the Queensland Remote Freight Assistance Scheme. The two schemes will align to make sure remote stores in Queensland are not disadvantaged.
Outback Stores is working with the Arnhem Land Progress Aboriginal Corporation (ALPA) to trial subsiding a small range of essential items. The trial is the first step in preparing for the subsidy scheme and covers between 65-70 stores.
Stores covered by the trial will need to apply for the subsidy scheme.
Products in the subsidy trial have been chosen from a list of items developed by the Remote Food Security Working Group and are based on sales demand.
A more detailed list of these goods can be found on the Outback Stores website. This list will be updated as the trial evolves.
Additional information and updates will be located on the NIAA and Outback Stores websites.
Queries to NIAA can be made via remotefoodsecurity@niaa.gov.au
Dedicated governance training and support package
A dedicated governance training and support package for remote stores will be developed to build the governance and operational capability of remote stores. This will be developed with the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations.
Nutrition workforce
An in-store nutrition workforce will be established in over 100 remote stores. This will upskill a local First Nations workforce to support consumers to make healthier choices. This will expand on a successful model, where local First Nations nutrition workers use language and local knowledge to make positive behavioural change.
School Nutrition Program
The School Nutrition Projects (SNP) provides meal services to students in 73 schools across the Northern Territory. A key objective of the SNP is to improve school attendance and learning outcomes. Through the SNP, NIAA grant recipients provide a combination of breakfast, morning tea, lunch or afternoon tea to students attending school. Meals are prepared in accordance with the Northern Territory Department of Education’s School Nutrition and Healthy Eating Policy and National nutrition standards.
Remote Food Security Working Group
The Remote Food Security Working Group coordinates government and industry actions to identify and address issues with the remote supply chain. Through this Group, the Australian Government is working with state and territory governments, retailers, major wholesalers and distributors to ensure residents of remote First Nations communities have access to the essentials they need.
Outback Stores
The Commonwealth owned company, Outback Stores Pty Ltd (OBS), provides high quality retail management and support services to 56 First Nations owned stores across Australia (numbers can change slightly as management arrangements change). This includes providing financial support to a number of essential stores that may otherwise not be able to operate.
OBS was established in November 2006 and emerged from a need to improve the health of Indigenous people in remote Australia by addressing nutrition-related health problems, unreliable food supplies and store closures. Its purpose is to be a sustainable business that makes a positive difference in the health, employment and economy of remote First Nations communities by improving food affordability and availability, nutrition and community services.
OBS strives to enable and empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to live healthy and prosperous lives and work towards Closing the Gap. OBS does not receive any of the profits from the stores it manages on behalf of the community. Any store profits belong to the storeowner.
For further information, including locations, please visit Outback Stores.
Remote Community Stores
Over 200 stores service remote communities across Australia. The HORSCIA Inquiry found higher on average prices in remote stores are a genuine and direct result of the significantly higher costs involved with operating in remote contexts. If your community store needs support, you can contact:
- Outback Stores – provides retail store management and support services to Aboriginal owned community stores. Outback Stores does not receive any store profits; however does charge a fee for services.
- Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC) – provides training in corporate governance for directors, members and key staff; advice on how to incorporate; and legal compliance oversight and advice.
The Australian Government does not own any remote stores. Like commercial businesses nationwide, remote stores operate under a variety of ownership and management arrangements.
National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
Consultations on the National Strategy have closed. For more information, view the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities page.
View the National Strategy for Food Security in Remote First Nations Communities page
In partnership with state and territory governments and First Nations peoples, the Australian Government is developing a national strategy for food security in remote First Nations communities.
The Strategy responds directly to Recommendation 10 of the 2020 House of Representatives Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs Inquiry into food pricing and food security in remote Indigenous communities (HORSCIA Inquiry). It will shape actions in response to the HORSCIA Inquiry and seeks to provide a coordinated national approach to improving the price, availability and quality of food and essential groceries in remote First Nations communities.
The Commonwealth is investing up to $11.8 million over two years (2023-24 to 2024-25) for Strategy development and early implementation of priority projects.
- $10.4 million for priority actions identified through Strategy development.
- $1.4 million for remote consultations and project management activities.
Government response to HORSCIA food security inquiry
The Australian Government tabled its response to the HORSCIA Inquiry on 2 December 2021.
The report makes 16 recommendations, including a live price monitoring tool, national stores licensing, a focus on local distribution and food production, grants to support community stores, and other measures to address store governance and management.
Many of the recommendations cut across Commonwealth and state and territory responsibilities. The Government has supported or provided in-principle support for 10 of the 16 recommendations.
The NIAA is leading the Government response including engagement across governments.
Community Stores Licensing – Northern Territory
The Stronger Futures in the Northern Territory Act 2012 (SFNT Act) Commonwealth legislation sunset on 16 July 2022. Stores licensing has transitioned to the Northern Territory Government.