HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

Introduction
This document provides background information and instructions to help you succeed in Assessment Task 2. Please also make sure to read The ‘Assessment Task 2’ content page on CloudDeakin, which offers more background reading, including examples of actual policy briefs, and examples of poorly written and better written ones. Because Assessment Task 2 contributes 50% of your final mark for this unit, it really pays to invest time and effort to do well. Please also make sure to attend (or watch the recordings) of the seminars, where we also guide you on how to succeed with this.
HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

There is also a ‘Policy Brief Assignment – FAQs’ document in the Assessment Task 2 content page on CloudDeakin. If you have any questions, there is a good chance that this document provides an answer.There is also a discussion board for this assessment, although please be sure to read the materials provided and watch the seminars before posting any questions as there is a very good chance your question will have been answered already.

What is a policy brief?
A policy brief is an advocacy tool that is often used to inform policy decision-making. It communicates information to policymakers and advocates for a certain course of action. Persuasive, evidence-based,and structured writing of this type represents one of the most powerful ways of contributing to policy debates and influencing the policy-making process.

A wide range of stakeholders issue policy briefs. Non-government organizations, such as think tanks the health groups and industry groups produce such documents to convince policymakers that a certain course of action is in their best interest and in the interest of society at large. Keep in mind that the positions of these different stakeholders may vary and often conflict on a given policy issue.

A policy brief is an objective presentation of a problem with a discussion of alternatives and logical analysis, which ends with a conclusion and/or set of recommendations. There is no personal sentiment or unsupported opinion in a correctly written policy brief. A good policy brief is supported by evidence and findings from peer reviewed publications.

Whilst a general assignment or academic paper provides an overview of research about a specific issue(e.g. childhood obesity in Australia), a policy brief focuses on a specific aspect (e.g. links between childhood obesity and junk food marketing to children). It distils or synthesizes information from a range of sources, so the reader can easily understand the heart of the issue, its background and the players(“stakeholders”) involved. It also takes the next step which is to make recommendations to decision makers on solutions to the problem.

A policy brief may have tables and graphs and it usually has a list of references, so the reader knows something about the sources on which it is based, and where to go for more information. Providing references also indicates that the policy brief is well-researched and evidence-based.

What is the difference between an academic paper and a policy brief?
While both are based on rigorous research and aim to educate, a policy brief also aims to influence so that action is taken by policy-makers in a certain direction. The table below highlights some differences between an academic paper and a policy brief.

A policy brief will be most impact ful when it is: focused; rigorous and academic in approach; responsible,unbiased and reliable; current and issue oriented; provides applicable solutions; and is engaging. The information above is extracted from here.

Structuring a policy brief
A convincing policy brief requires a specific structure and you are advised to follow this structure. You need to guide your target audience through the brief by ensuring all sections and arguments are well-structured, logically developed and focused on the topic. More specifically, your policy brief should be structured using the format in the table on the following page. This was adapted from

Use the template below to structure your policy brief.

Step-by-step guidance for completing this assignment

This assignment requires you to put yourself in the following scenario:
You are a nutritionist working in the Department of Health of either a State/Territory Government (for example the Victoria State Government) or or of the Common wealth Government of Australia. The Minister for Health is aware there is an issue with the topic you choose to write about, but is not sure of the whole story and whether or not to support the approach identified. You need to write a policy brief to provide background and evidence about whether or not this approach would work, and to make recommendations to the Minister about whether the approach should be supported. To give you an example of who you will be writing to, the current Minister of Health for the Common wealth Government is The Hon. Greg Hunt. The The Minister is frequently provided with briefs from the Department of Health and other government agencies to help inform policy decision-making.

STEP 1: CHOOSE ONE OF THE TOPICS LISTED BELOW TO FOCUS YOUR POLICY BRIEF ON

Before you choose your topic, it’s a good idea to read over the background information provided in the bullet points below, including the links. We will also discuss these topics in Seminar 1 which may also help you to decide which one to choose.

Option 1: Should the Government expand restrictions on the marketing of ultra-processed foods to children?

• Your policy brief should advise the Minister whether the Commonwealth Government should expand restrictions on the marketing of ultra-processed (or ‘discretionary’) foods to children in Australia. This might include the government developing new legislation (i.e. through an Act of Parliament, which is sometimes called ‘primary legislation’) or by calling on the Australian Communications and Media Authority to develop statutory regulation (sometimes called ‘secondary legislation’).
• Note the term ‘ultra-processed foods’ is just one among several terms used to describe junk food – for example confectionary, savoury snack foods, refined breakfast cereals and sugary drinks. For example, the uses the term discretionary foods. The uses the term ultra-processed foods. Other terms you might see around, for example, are ‘energy-dense and nutrient-poor’ and ‘high sugar, salt and fat’ foods among others. In your policy brief use either of the terms ultra-processed food or discretionary food.
• Growing evidence shows that diets high in ultra-processed foods are Evidence on the harms of sugar-sweetened beverages is particularly strong. For a video introduction to the topic of ultra-processed foods, world-leading expert Professor Carlos Monteiro (make sure to take some notes). The World Health Organization and many experts recommend that governments restrict the marketing of these foods, especially to children, as a group that is uniquely vulnerable. Furthermore, the prevention of obesity in early-life is identified as a key approach to obesity prevention. The WHO’s ECHO Commission report provides good background on this topic.
• Marketing is a set of techniques used by the food industry to promote sales, generate brand loyalty and grow their market share. This includes the design of products, pricing, promotion,and public relations. Australia does have some statutory regulations on marketing to children on television through the Children’s Advertising Standards, however, the issue is mainly regulated through a complex established by the food and grocery, and advertising industries. There’s a long history of industry and public health groups and other obesity prevention issues in Australia.
• Much of the public health literature on this topic has focused on the need for restrictions on certain promotional techniques like mass-media advertising (e.g. on television and print media), and increasingly on with the rise of social media and the susceptibility of children to techniques like adver-gaming. See these for an overview. It is a good idea to focus your policy brief on one of these topics e.g. on expanding the existing television advertising restrictions, or new regulations on digital advertising, or new regulations on sports sponsorship.

HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

Option 2: Should the Government fund school food programmes to address food insecurity and promote good nutrition?

• Your policy brief should advise the Minister on whether the State or Territory Government should fund the expansion of a school food programme to address food insecurity and promote good nutrition. You might also consider other positive outcomes in your policy brief, like the impacts on child learning.
• One in four children in Australia were overweight or obese in 2017-18. Very few meet the guidelines for the recommended daily intake of vegetables, with a high share of total daily energy intake coming from discretionary foods, and many exceeding the recommended consumption of added sugars. School food programmes are recognised as an important intervention to address food insecurity, promote good nutrition and foster better learning outcomes. Such programmes can include, for example, the provision of meals like breakfast and lunches, rules restricting vending machines, nutrition standards for canteens, nutrition education in curricula, school garden programmes, and ensuring access to drinking water.
• The Australian Government has guidelines for and most State and Territory Governments have implemented these. are also common. However, school food programmes that provide meals for kids have not been implemented in Australia until recently. The Victoria Government, for example, initiated a in 2016 and is now expanding it further with a $58 million investment in 2019-2023.Acknowledging high levels of food insecurity and child obesity as major problems, the New Zealand Government recently implemented the (Healthy school lunches programme) to provide regular nutritious foods to children.
• There is also international guidance on this topic. The WHO, for example, launched the and has published guidance.

STEP 2: SEARCH FOR DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE TO REFERENCE IN YOUR POLICY BRIEF
The next step is to search for documents to provide you with background reading to help understand your chosen topic. You will also use some of these documents as references in your policy brief.Remember that you want your policy brief to be evidence-based, and so referencing research studies and authoritative reports (e.g. like those by the WHO) to back up your statements is important. There are two main ways of searching for documents;

Search for academic literature: use the Deakin Library search tools to find studies on this topic. You might use the main search tool on the Library homepage. You can also do more detailed searches using certain databases like Scopus or Web of Science available through the Library. Also try doing some searches using Google Scholar. Use various key words for your searches e.g. marketing food children or digital advertising food children; or school nutrition programme or school food program.

HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

Search for grey literature: you might also do some general web searches using Google, and search the websites of authoritative organizations for relevant documents. For example, the WHO has website pages dedicated to the topic of marketing of foods and beverages to children, and also school food programmes. You may also find media articles. Various public health organizations in Australia may also have documents or web pages on the topic.

As you find these documents, store them in a folder. Scan each document and find relevant / useful text that helps to inform your policy brief. You might find additional studies by reading these documents. As you read, take notes and start trying to organize these into the sections outlined in the template provided on page 3.

HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

STEP 3: WRITE YOUR DRAFT POLICY BRIEF
Below is some general guidance on writing your policy brief.

• Remember to keep in mind the word count – you should NOT exceed 2000 words. Words in figures, headings and references are not included in the word limit. Whilst words in tables are generally not included in the word count, if a table is word content-heavy (i.e. full of paragraphs), these words will be included in the word count. You may include tables in your policy brief for clarity, however, if a large amount of information is written in tables as a means to reduce the word count, then those words will be added to the word count.
• Use any direct quotations sparingly – if at all. Quoting the words of others is not appropriate at this level of study, as it suggests the student does not understand this point so has had to copy and paste it. Inappropriate use of quotes (i) interrupts the flow of ideas and writing, (ii) is often less effective or persuasive because the importance of the quoted words are usually not explained and the point is not linked to the argument, and so (iii) significantly decreases the strength of the argument and the credibility of the writer.

HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

• Make sure that you acknowledge your sources of evidence. Acknowledging your sources is very important because it increases your credibility as a writer as you demonstrate that you are familiar with the related theories and/or empirical evidence and understand the issue.Acknowledging your sources is also important because it provides an opportunity for your reader to verify the evidence you have provided, and this demonstrates your confidence in your interpretation of the evidence. Providing the sources allows the reader to evaluate the quality of the evidence you have selected, and therefore, the strength of your claim.
• Importantly, acknowledging your sources acknowledges the ideas and contributions of researchers and writers who have provided the evidence you cite. If you fail to cite your sources,your evidence will be discounted (and therefore the section will attract no marks), and you risk being charged with stealing the ideas of others – this is plagiarism and taken very seriously by the university. For more information about plagiarism and the consequences of plagiarism at Deakin University, please
• Use only high quality evidence. Do not use your own opinion, personal anecdotes or emotive language. Do not use newspapers or magazines as evidence. Cite peer-reviewed references (in academic journals) or references from reputable government reports or websites.
• Have a friend read your policy brief once you have written it to ensure that your sections/subsections and arguments/writing within are clearly written, logically structured, persuasive and well supported.

STEP 4: ASSESS YOUR DRAFT POLICY BRIEF AGAINST THE ASSIGNMENT RUBRIC

Assess your final brief against the HSN309 policy brief assignment rubric by reading the column descriptions for each aspect and selecting (i.e. circling, ticking or highlighting) the column that most closely represents the standard you think your brief has achieved.

HSN309 Food Policy And Regulation Assignment-Australia.

STEP 5: SUBMIT YOUR FINAL POLICY BRIEF BY FRIDAY 28 MAY 08:00PM VIA CLOUDDEAKIN

• Please make sure to include a front page that states your name, student ID, title of your assignment and total word count.
• Your final policy brief and completed assignment rubric should be submitted via the CloudDeakin drop box, by the due date and time, in either Word or PDF format. Please include your name and topic in the document title e.g. Jane_Smith_School Food Programme.
• Please see the document ‘Policy Brief Assignment – FAQs’ document in the Assessment Task 2 content page on CloudDeakin for more information on extension requests and late penalties.
• We will have your grade back to you within 3 weeks of your submission.

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