New co-operative links cheaper groceries with diabetes prevention

Box Divvy has opened a new neighbourhood hub at the Auburn Ruth Everuss Aquatic Centre, giving local residents a new place to collect lower-cost groceries during National Diabetes Week, which runs from 13th July to 19th July.

Local organiser Ernest Kulauzović runs the Auburn site. The hub is part of a community food co-operative that lets members place weekly orders online and buy direct from Australian farmers and producers.

Shoppers can collect fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, dairy, bakery goods and pantry staples. By pooling neighbourhood orders, the model cuts out much of the usual supermarket supply chain.

Auburn screening found 13 at risk

The opening follows a diabetes screening event at the same aquatic centre, where more than 51 people were checked and 13 were found to have pre-diabetes or a high risk of type 2 diabetes.

Those local results sit against a wider Western Sydney health gap. Around 65% of people living with diabetes across Greater Sydney are in Western Sydney, where 13.1% of adults live with diabetes and another 38% face a high risk of developing it.

According to Box Divvy Hub Development Manager Leigh Lind, the co-operative began after the Western Sydney Diabetes Alliance challenged the group to make healthy food easier to afford in areas with high rates of type 2 diabetes.

“Today, more than 14,000 households shop through over 360 Box Divvy Hubs across NSW, the ACT and Victoria, but our purpose remains the same – helping people eat well while building stronger local communities,” Lind said.

Kulauzović said the Auburn launch matters because many households are dealing with higher grocery bills while looking for healthier food choices.

“Box Divvy gives people another option, fresh, affordable food while also creating a sense of community,” he said.

Recent research by Western Sydney University and the University of Wollongong found Box Divvy members had much lower food insecurity after joining the co-operative. The study also found members reported eating more fruit and vegetables.

Residents who want to join the Auburn hub can register through the Box Divvy website.