In a significant milestone for the Victorian Government’s School Breakfast Clubs program, more students across the state are now commencing their school day with a nutritious meal, as the initiative reaches the remarkable achievement of serving its 40 millionth meal.
Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Education Ben Carroll marked this achievement with a visit to Wyndham Park Primary School in Werribee on Wednesday. The occasion not only celebrated the milestone but also allowed the premier and minister to share a wholesome breakfast with the school community.
The School Breakfast Clubs program, a part of Victoria’s ongoing commitment to student welfare, offers free nutritious breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and take-home food packs to those in need. Currently, 1,000 primary, secondary, and specialist schools throughout Victoria actively participate in the program.
At Wyndham Park Primary School, the Breakfast Club supports approximately three-quarters of the school’s 400 students on a daily basis. Since its inception in 2016, the club has provided over 100,000 meals to the school community.
Beyond the provision of meals, the program extends its support by offering healthy food packs and practical cooking classes for families during school holidays, ensuring that students have access to healthy and affordable meals both at school and at home.
The positive impact of the School Breakfast Clubs program is evident in the feedback received from participating schools. Benefits include increased student happiness and health, improved social outcomes within the school community, enhanced student engagement and concentration, stronger staff-student relationships, improved social skills, and better academic performance.
In a continued commitment to student welfare, the Victorian Government allocated a $69.5 million investment in the 2023/24 budget to further expand the program. In 2023, $2 million in grants were provided to participating schools for the purchase of kitchen appliances such as fridges, freezers, microwaves, toasters, sandwich presses, blenders, and rice cookers.
The School Breakfast Clubs program operates in partnership with Foodbank and is part of a comprehensive suite of initiatives offered by the State Government to support families with the cost of living and education. Other initiatives include the Smile Squad for free dental care, Glasses for Kids supporting students with vision impairment, and programs ensuring affordable school uniforms and financial assistance for camps, sports, and excursions.
Premier Jacinta Allan highlighted the significance of the program, stating, “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.”
