Social supermarket expansion pilot project

The Social Supermarket Expansion Pilot Project, initiated as the second phase of the Social Supermarket pilot, aimed to refine the model with the help of the City of Onkaparinga.

Launched in July 2021, the project was:

• funded by Wellbeing SA (now Preventive Health SA) and the Department of Human Services (DHS)
• a collaboration with the City of Onkaparinga’s Healthy Lifestyle Officer
• evaluated by Flinders University Centre for Social Impact.

Social Supermarkets partner with local services and groups to provide affordable and nutritious food and groceries, opportunities for learning and skill development, social connections and connection to food, as well as offering access to wrap around services and support.

Partnering with local food relief organisations like Adventist Development and Relief Agency and Anglicare SA's Outer Southern Hub, the project assessed their service models against the Social Supermarket Best Practice Rubric.

Despite demonstrating the Rubric's effectiveness, challenges arose due to the emergency food relief sector's systemic limitations. The short time frame and funding obligations hindered significant changes in service ratings over the six-month period.

While exploring the feasibility of a multi-site model, coordination among services emerged as crucial for success. The project's findings highlighted the need for a dedicated resource coordinator and encouraged services to operate from existing community centers to enhance referrals and social connections.

The Pop-ups were a collaborative effort driven by the emergency relief and community sector, responding to the Cost-of-Living Crisis. Co-designed and funded through pooled resources, they provided valuable insights into the continued interest in the Social Supermarket model.

A participating community member expressed gratitude for the event saying, "{the social supermarket was} such a great event. As a large family, this has really helped us."

In response to challenges such as time, cost, and resourcing, ongoing leadership of the model and finding a space for a hub remain priorities. However, the project's success has sparked interest and momentum, paving the way for continued exploration of the Social Supermarket approach in partnership with the community sector.

Find out more

City of Onkaparinga
Linda Enright, Healthy Lifestyles Officer
Email: linda.enright@onkaparinga.sa.gov.au