Queensland’s public hospitals on target for healthy options

• On average across Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHS), almost 9 in 10 outlets (retail and vending machines) met all food and drink targets in 2025 
• Ten HHS met all food and drink targets, while 11 HHSs made improvements against the targets for either food or drinks 
• Nearly all HHS (96%) have free drinking water widely available or available in high traffic areas, up from 83%.

Queensland’s public healthcare facilities are making it easier than ever for staff, visitors, and the public to access healthier food and drink options.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s latest A Better Choice performance report highlights record-breaking progress, with 86% of retail outlets and vending machines across HHSs statewide now meeting healthy food and drink targets. This achievement delivers positive outcomes for both customer wellbeing and business performance.

The 2025 data is collected from retail outlets and vending machines in 17 Queensland HHSs (Including Mater Health).

The annual report is a requirement of the Health Service Directive: Healthier food and drinks at healthcare facilities (HSD), which has been in place since 2019, and is designed to support staff and visitors to make choices that promote health and wellbeing.

In 2025, 10 HHSs met all food and drink targets, achieving full performance, while 11 HHSs made year-on-year improvements against the targets for either food or drinks.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland’s Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood welcomed the efforts of the state’s HHSs, and the impact they are making.

‘These are great results. I’m thrilled to see such positive data, the best result we’ve ever seen, a true testament to the hard work and dedication driving this success.

‘The ABC Healthcare strategy is driving real change across the state, supporting hospitals to increase healthier choices in their cafes and vending machines.

‘Research has shown that when food environments offer nutritious and delicious options, customers are empowered to purchase them.

‘Changing the systems we live in is a key part of a holistic preventive health approach, and ABC Healthcare’s successes is demonstrating that in spades.’

ABC Healthcare ensures that healthier food and drinks are easily accessible, strategically placed, promoted, and competitively priced.

Among the HHSs embracing and promoting the Strategy are Queensland Children’s Hospital, Cairns and Hinterland, and Sunshine Coast.

All retail outlets at Queensland Children’s Hospital transitioned to ABC in the past 18 months and achieved 100% of targets for the first time.

Queensland Children’s Hospital Senior Dietitian, Sara O’Neill, said hitting the 100% target was testament to a shared commitment to providing a supportive and healthy environment for Queensland children and their families.

‘As Queensland’s single specialist paediatric hospital, we often care for families who travel long distances and spend extended time away from home, so having balanced and nutritious food options readily available is important,’ Ms O’Neill said.

‘Strong alignment with consumer feedback, which consistently indicated a desire for healthier, fresh and appealing food and drink options, was key to our success,’ she said.

Building on the recognition of an Award for Excellence at the inaugural A Better Choice Healthcare Awards in 2025, Sunshine Coast Health Service’s Jenny O’Dwyer has continued to champion ABC.

‘The commitment, dedication and cooperation of our retailers and vendors is the key to our success,’ said Jenny O’Dwyer.

‘Our retailers work tirelessly to source healthier product alternatives and modify favourite recipes to maintain customer loyalty and satisfaction.

‘Making healthy food and drink options widely available across Sunshine Coast Health, creates an environment where it’s easier for our staff and visitors to make healthy choices and champions a culture of health and wellness.’

Also recognised at the 2025 ABC Awards, was the Far North Queensland Hospital Foundation (FNQHF), which received the Transforming Food and Drink Environments award.

This year, for the first time, Cairns and Hinterland HHS (which includes FNQHF among its food and drink outlets) achieved 100% compliance with ABC Healthcare.

FNQHF Social Enterprise Operations Manager, Michael Hooper said that making healthier options accessible, appealing, and affordable encourages strong community uptake.

‘The transition to achieving 100% of the compliance with the A Better Choice Strategy has been overwhelmingly positive.

‘There has been a clear and measurable shift in purchasing behaviour.  Over time, customers have increasingly chosen healthier options, particularly when these are well-positioned, clearly labelled, and competitively priced.’

Cairns and Hinterland Food Services Manager, Charlie Kumarage, noted the transition to ABC Healthcare has positively impacted the bottom line, with staff café sales increasing by up to 30% over the past 12 months.

‘We always serve a large variety of meals through the staff cafe, (which also serves our patients). I believe it is essential for an organisation to maintain a healthy workforce; healthy food contributes to a healthier workforce.’

A Better Choice is a Queensland-first public health approach designed to make it easier for Queenslanders to access healthy food and drink options in places outside the home.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland has completed the annual auditing of Health Services against the Health Service Directive: healthier food and drinks at healthcare facilities (HSD) since 2021.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland and Statewide Foodservices Queensland Health continue to actively work with HHSs to help them achieve all targets across the categories.

Please visit A Better Choice to see the 2025 data and read more about ABC Healthcare.

Media contact details: Health and Wellbeing Queensland, 0439 599 210