Food Security in the NT: A Chat with Dietitian Rebekah Clancy

Monica Bugno
May 12
3 min read

In this episode of Local Territory Flavour, I sat down with Rebekah Clancy—a dietitian working in remote Northern Territory communities—to unpack the complex topic of food security in our region.

Who is Rebekah Clancy?

Bek’s journey started almost a decade ago, and her first role took her three hours from Uluru, working with families where children were at risk of growth faltering. Since moving to Darwin about four years ago, she’s been part of the nutrition team at Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, working in Northeast Arnhem Land alongside Yolŋu communities. She currently leads the nutrition team, but today’s chat reflects her own views, not those of Miwatj.

What is Food Security?

At its core, food security means everyone has reliable physical and financial access to safe, nutritious food that meets their needs and preferences. Simple in theory—complex in practice.

There are six pillars of food security:

Availability – Is enough food physically there?
Access – Can people afford and reach it?
Stability – Is that access consistent over time?
Utilisation – Do people have the skills, tools, and storage to prepare it?
Agency – Can people make culturally relevant choices about food?
Sustainability – Is the food system environmentally, socially, and economically sustainable?

Why Are Remote Communities More Vulnerable?

Distance. Transport. Cost. Infrastructure. Add in rough weather, low purchasing power (remote stores make up just 4% of the national food market), and minimal competition, and it’s easy to see why remote NT communities face higher rates of food insecurity.

Bek broke it down: in East Arnhem Land, food is trucked to Darwin, loaded onto a barge, separated into smaller barges, and sent to individual communities. One weather delay and it all halts—prices rise, options shrink, and everyone feels the impact.

What’s Being Done?

At the NT Level:

The NT Government recently took over the NT Stores Licensing Program from the federal government, with the goal of improving store standards and promoting healthier store environments.
Strategies like product placement (fruit at the checkout, smaller soft drink sizes, cold water front and centre) are being trialled and are showing promising results in encouraging healthier choices.

At the National Level:

A Remote Food Security Strategy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Communities has just been released by the federal government.
It promotes a “health in all policies” approach, recognising that food security intersects with education, housing, transport, and more.

Community-Led Initiatives:

In Galiwin’ku, the Nutrition Action Group is bringing together Yolŋu leaders to take ownership of food and nutrition conversations, fostering leadership from within.

Food Security in Darwin

It's not just a remote issue. In Darwin, monsoon season regularly disrupts supply chains—Bek reminded us of the time shelves were empty for days when the Stuart Highway flooded. When trucks can’t get through, our own food systems feel the pressure.

What Can Locals Do?

Here’s where we all come in.

Support local producers (when financially possible).
Get involved with community gardens and programs.
Advocate—talk to your local MPs about food policy.
Reduce food waste—pickle, preserve, and use everything you can.
Share excess—got a fruit tree bursting with citrus? We’ll trade you a beer for your lemons at the bar!
Learn and pass it on—understanding how to store, cook, and stretch food is a valuable life skill. Teach your kids. Swap recipes.

Bek also highlighted some of the under-celebrated native superfoods like Kakadu plums (crazy high in vitamin C) and mud mussels (10x the iron content of steak). The potential for fusion food from bush ingredients and Western cooking is immense—and delicious.

Big thanks to Bek for joining me and sharing her knowledge. If you’ve got spare citrus, a thriving herb pot, or just want to chat sustainability, come visit us at The Last Supper.

Thank you to the NTG and Arts NT Mentoring Grants for supporting us to make this podcast a reality. And, a massive shout out to Brent Watkinson: Entertainment and events consultant, Comedian, MC, Radio & Podcast host, Owner operator of Sounds Familiar NT and Fruit Bat Entertainment Integrated Account Manager at kwpx - for mentoring me.