- Published:
- Wednesday, 31 January 2024
More Victorian students are starting their day on a full stomach, with the Allan Labor Government’s School Breakfast Clubs program serving up its 40 millionth meal.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Education Ben Carroll today visited Wyndham Park Primary School to mark the milestone and share a tasty, healthy breakfast with the school community.
Victoria’s School Breakfast Clubs program provides free nutritious breakfasts, lunches, snacks and take-home food packs for those in need. 1,000 primary, secondary and specialist schools across Victoria participate in the program.
The Breakfast Club at Wyndham Park Primary School supports around three-quarters of the school’s 400 students daily, and since 2016, it has served up more than 100,000 meals.
One hundred participating schools also provide healthy food packs and practical cooking classes for families through school holidays – making sure students have healthy, affordable and tasty meals at home as well as at school.
Feedback from schools has shown the program has had benefits beyond making students happier and healthier – it has led to greater social outcomes for students and the school community, improved student engagement and concentration, stronger staff-student relationships, enhanced social skills and better academic performance.
As part of a $69.5 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2023/24, the program will only grow, helping more students than ever get the most from their education by providing healthy and nutritious meals.
In 2023, the Labor Government provided $2 million in grants to participating schools to purchase kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers, microwaves, toasters, sandwich presses, blenders and rice cookers.
The School Breakfast Clubs program, delivered in partnership with Foodbank, is just one of a suite of initiatives the Labor Government is providing to support busy and hardworking families with the cost of living – and learning.
Students can get free dental care through the Labor Government’s Smile Squad initiative, students with vision impairment that may otherwise go undiagnosed are supported with the free Glasses for Kids program, and the Affordable School Uniforms program and Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund make sure no student misses out.
Quote attributable to Premier Jacinta Allan
“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day – and this is just one small but important way we’re helping busy, hardworking families with the cost of living and the cost of learning.”
Quote attributable to Minister for Education Ben Carroll
“I want to thank and congratulate everyone involved in this beloved program – you have helped countless children have a nutritious meal every morning, and helped their families put affordable, healthy food on the table at home.”
Quote attributable to Member for Tarneit Dylan Wight
“The Breakfast Club at Wyndham Park Primary supports 350 students every day, and over the years it’s made such an incredible difference.”