Rosie Shand and Liz Fitchett: Community Foodies

In 2006 a scoping exercise in Rotorua identified cooking skills as the most significant need for people at risk from obesity and diabetes.

As a result, Waiariki Institute of Technology and the Rotorua Primary Health Organisation have joined together in partnership to establish a sustainable programme which aims to address this concern.

It has been decided to base what happens in Rotorua on a successful programme run in Adelaide, Australia called "Community Foodies". This programme is about to go nationwide in Australia and they are keen to have the Rotorua partners on board. The programme will teach cooking skills based on nutritious food, taking into consideration budget restraints and available equipment and utensils. The use of community mentors to assist with transfer of skills to the home situation will be a critical component.

Rosie Shand and Liz Fitchett. from Waiariki Institute of Technology, Rotorua. will present the concept, project plan and vision for the Rotorua "Community Foodies" project.

Rosie Shand is a graduate of the Home Science School in Dunedin and a very experienced home economics teacher. She has a proven track record working successfully with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and ethnicities.

Liz Fitchett is a New Zealand registered dietitian and a qualified tertiary teacher. In 2002 she won a prestigious Tertiary Teaching Excellence Award in recognition for her work teaching facilitators within industry to train their own staff.