Project snapshot

In 2015 MosaicLab was engaged to independently design and facilitate discussions and activities for both the online and face to face components of the VicHealth Citizens’ Jury on Obesity.  

The process asked 100 everyday Victorians respond to the following remit:
‘We have a problem with obesity. How can we make it easier to eat better?’

Obesity is a difficult, contentious and complex issue.  Despite the ongoing efforts of public health organisations, the obesity crisis continues to worsen. In order to identify actions to battle this critical problem, an innovative, consensus- building process was developed.

The process  

The process was designed to: 

• put everyday Victorians in the driver’s seat,
• mobilise communities and individuals to take action,
• encourage industry to initiate change, and
• create an enabling environment for stronger government action.

Tools for success 

This innovative process included: 

• opportunities for the wider Victorian public to get involved through a VicHealth/Herald Sun poll (eliciting 2580 responses – a record for a Herald Sun poll) and a digital #ShowUsYourFridge #Shelfie campaign,
• invitations to key stakeholders to provide submissions of evidence for the jury’s consideration (resulting in 64 submissions),
• six weeks of online jury deliberation using a custom-designed collaboration platform,
• the jurors coming together to consider additional evidence, consolidate their views and develop their final ‘asks’ (actions),
• the incorporation of a steering group representing key government, industry, public health and community decision makers and convened by VicHealth.    

Outcomes 

The jury presented 20 ‘asks’ (or requests for action) to the steering group.  The steering group responded to the jury’s ‘asks’ in December 2015.

Further outcomes have included: 

• a number of ‘asks’ have been progressed by VicHealth, 
• there has been broad media coverage touching on issues discussed by the jury such as a ‘Sugar Tax’,
• VicHealth and public health advocates have had the opportunity to refer to the jury’s relevant supporting ‘ask’ (e.g. a tax on unhealthy foods).

A range of other actions are being progressed by other agencies.  For example, the Victorian Government recently mandated that kilojoule information be on fast food menus in line with an ‘ask’ presented by the jury.