The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) is administering both the National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations (the Code) and Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme) supporting remote First Nations households to have access to affordable essential items and supporting remote community stores to build their capability to meet the needs of their community.
Both the Code and the Scheme are part of the Australian Governments key commitment to increase food security.
The National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations
The Code is a non-prescribed, voluntary code that sets out governance, operations and health standards for remote stores.
As part of enrolling to become a participant of the Code, remote store applicants will be asked what standards of the Code are being met. If all standards are met, the applicant can be fully registered and considered for enrolment as a Code participant. If the applicant meets some of the standards, the applicant may be conditionally registered, with time and support given to allow standards to be met.
When enrolling to participate in the Code, applicants will also have the choice to enrol and participate in the Scheme to access subsidised items. To access the Scheme, an applicant must first be fully or conditionally registered as a participant in the Code.
Key documents for the Code
The National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations
Code Rules and Guidelines
Before enrolling to participate in the Code, read the Code Rules and Guidelines. Once an applicant is enrolled to participate in the Code, it must comply with these documents
Code Information Booklet
To familiarise and understand the Code standards better, the Code Information Booklet expands on the practical implementation of each standard and what additional support is available.
The Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme)
Through the Low-cost Essential Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme), the Australian Government has committed to reduce the costs of 30 essential items (Essential Items) in remote stores that will assist in improving health outcomes as well as providing cost of living relief by reducing the cost of everyday essentials in remote First Nations communities. The NIAA will engage the not-for-profit Commonwealth-owned company Outback Stores Pty Ltd (Outback Stores) to deliver the Scheme.
Outback Stores will source the Essential Items from manufacturers, wholesalers and use freight companies to deliver the Essential Items to remote stores participating in the Scheme at a subsidised price. This will make it possible for Scheme participants to purchase a range of Essential Items at a low price with freight and logistics costs subsidised through the Scheme.
NIAA has decision making responsibility for:
- Receiving and assessing applications,
- Monitoring compliance with the Scheme, and
- Taking action in relation to non-compliance.
An expert Advisory Group has been established to determine the list of the Essential Items. The published communique provides the rationale for determining the Essential Items, which took into account:
- Health impact
- Cost-of-living impact on consumers
- Impact on remote stores’ operations
- Supply chain and subsidy logistics.
Key documents for the Scheme
Scheme Rules and Guidelines
Before registering to participate to the Scheme, read the Scheme Rules and Guidelines. Once an applicant is enrolled for the Scheme, it must comply with these documents.
The application process
This application process is for operators of remote community stores across Australia.
The application process allows applicants to register for the:
- National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations (Code), and
- Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme (Scheme).
The following checklist can be used to ensure all requirements are met to apply for the store to be part of the Code and Scheme:
Open the checklist to see all the steps required to enrol for the Code
Download the application form or complete it online:
Complete the form online Download a PDF of the application form
Scan the completed and signed application form and upload it here:
Upload your completed and signed form
If you need to register an additional Store, you can use these forms:
Have a question or need more information?
- Read our FAQs below
- Reach out to remotefoodsecurity@niaa.gov.au and a team member will be in touch
- Call 1800 833 570.
FAQs
The Australian Government has committed to reducing the costs of 30 product lines (referred to as essential items) in up to 152 remote stores. The reduced prices will be the result of a Low-Cost Essentials Subsidy Scheme (the Scheme).
The objective of the Scheme is:
- to reduce the cost of living for people in remote First Nations communities who often face higher living expenses than the rest of Australia, and
- support health, wellbeing and food security outcomes by facilitating the provision of healthy foods and essential items at a lower price to remote First Nations communities.
The Scheme will be administered by the Commonwealth via the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), which will oversee eligibility, the pricing of the essential items, rules and guidelines for the Scheme. The NIAA will engage the not-for-profit Commonwealth-owned company Outback Stores Pty Ltd (Outback Stores) to deliver the Scheme.
Outback Stores will source the essential items from manufacturers and wholesalers, and use freight companies to deliver the essential items to remote stores registered for the Scheme at a subsidised price. This will make it possible for registered remote stores to purchase a range of essential items at a low price with freight and logistics costs subsidised through the Scheme.
The National Code of Practice for Remote Store Operations (the Code) is a non-prescribed, voluntary code that sets out governance, operations and health standards for remote stores.
Remote stores must be registered for the Code to be eligible for registration under the Scheme.
In 2022-23, 51% of First Nations households in remote Australia experienced food insecurity. This is compared to the national average of 4% of Australians experiencing food insecurity. With 90% of food consumed in remote First Nations communities purchased from the community store, the Scheme aims to give targeted assistance to households, noting the need to address the disproportionately high level of diet related disease which is resulting from poor food security.
The Code and the Scheme aim to improve health outcomes, and to assist with cost of living in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These go towards addressing the concerns raised by community through the national consultation for the development of the National Strategy for Remote Food Security in Remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
Applications to register remote stores for the Code and the Scheme will open from 25 June 2025. Remote stores registered for the Scheme will be able to order the essential items subsidised under the Scheme from 1 July 2025. Applications for the Scheme will remain open until the Scheme is fully subscribed (this will be when a maximum of 152 remote stores are registered for the Scheme). Once fully subscribed, a waitlist will be developed by the NIAA.
An expert Advisory Group was established by the NIAA to determine the list of 30 essential items to be subsidised under the Scheme.
At the 16 May 2025 Advisory Group meeting, the Advisory Group recommended a list of essential items to the NIAA to be drawn upon for the Scheme. Further information including the list, rationale and Advisory Group membership is available in the Advisory Group communique.
The following matters were considered by the Advisory Group when deciding on the subsidised essential 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 this approach.
Only 30 essential items will be subsidised under the Scheme. This is to ensure that the Scheme is targeting essential items that will assist in improving health outcomes as well as providing cost of living relief by reducing the cost of everyday essentials in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities.
The list of 30 essential items is below, and may be subject to change from time to time:
- 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. The Scheme is limited to 30 essential items. Owners and operators of remote stores that are registered for the Scheme are free to order as many or as few of the essential 30 items that they choose.
Outback Stores cannot supply remote stores with items at a subsidised cost that are not on the list of 30 essential items.
The Scheme will only subsidise the cost of the 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.
Remote stores in remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across all of Australia will be able to access the Scheme if they are registered for the Code and meet the eligibility criteria for the Scheme.
The Code was designed by the NIAA in partnership with membership from remote stores, state and territory governments and health experts.
The Code sets out minimum standards and best practice standards for the operation of remote stores. The standards are informed by the Commonwealth’s Remote Food Security Strategy. By complying with the Code, remote stores demonstrate commitment to areas, such as being transparent with pricing, not engaging in in-formal credit arrangements and allowing community to provide input into the management of the remote store.
Both the Code and the Scheme are voluntary. Applicants can choose to apply to register remote stores under only the Code, or both the Code and the Scheme.
The eligibility criteria for the Code are set out in the Code Guidelines.
The eligibility criteria for the Scheme are set out in the Scheme Guidelines.
Applicants can use the same application form to apply for the Code and Scheme. The application form can be accessed here.
The NIAA has engaged Monash University to provide dedicated support to help remote store owners and operators comply with the Code.
The NIAA has also developed the Code information booklet which expands on the minimum and best practice standards set out in the Code. The Code information booklet includes practical information on achieving compliance with the Code standards and also set out the additional support available to remote stores registered under the Code. The Code information booklet can be accessed here.
Yes. The NIAA held a public consultation process called Have your Say which was open from 28 May 2025 to 11 June 2025 on the NIAA’s website. The public consultation process sought feedback on the Code and its implementation 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 to explain the standards in the Code, answer questions from remote stores and inform tailored support.
The Application form for the Code and the Scheme is now live, apply now.
The NIAA will administer the Scheme and has engaged Outback Stores to deliver it.
As Commonwealth entities, the NIAA and Outback Stores are both subject to public accountability frameworks.
Remote stores registered for the Scheme will be required to sell each subsidised essential item at a price which is not higher than the intended maximum price for the essential items determined by the NIAA. The NIAA is responsible for overseeing compliance with the intended maximum price.
The intended maximum price will be set to reflect the cost of major urban supermarkets and allow remote stores to make normal retail margins on each item sold.
Research undertaken by the Menzies School of Health Research shows the savings people make from the lower price products will most likely be spent at the remote store. These savings may result in consumers buying other products not covered by the Scheme.
The NIAA is working with the Queensland Government to ensure the Scheme aligns with the Queensland Remote Freight Assistance Scheme. The two schemes will align to make sure remote stores in Queensland are not disadvantaged.
The NIAA administers the Code and Scheme. Any feedback or complaints on the administration, regulation and delivery of the Code or Scheme can be directed to NIAA Complaints on the Feedback and complaints page.
Additional information and updates are located on the NIAA website.
Remote stores can access information regarding ordering from the subsidised essential items from the Outback Stores website.
Queries to the NIAA can be made via remotefoodsecurity@niaa.gov.au