Cr Charlotte Baines' motion to make Monash Council a Fair Trade municipality was carried at a meeting on October 28 last year.

The proposal recommended the council adopt Fair Trade Association of Australia and New Zealand's guidelines and meet the terms of the program within 12 months. These included serving Fair Trade-certified products such as coffee at its meetings and offices.

Cr Baines said it was a chance for the council to look outside the municipality and into the global world.

"We've traditionally had a focus on rates, roads and rubbish, but I think now is the time to be thinking outside of the box.

"We're pretty well off in the City of Monash on the whole and I think it's good for us to begin to have a focus on charities and the notion of giving more and volunteering."

The next step of the council's Fair Trade commitment is to form a steering group of eight voluntary members to help promote the benefits of fair trade within the community and local businesses.

Fair Trade products ensure that farmers in Third World countries receive a fair price for their produce and guarantees that they are not exposed to dangerous working conditions.

For more details, contact Priya Prasad on 95183577 or email priyap@monash.vic.gov.au