A familiar face encourages healthy attitudes

Two regional schools are reaping the rewards from a unique opportunity to have a Healthy Kids Advisor based permanently on their grounds. The regular presence of an Advisor provides positive, consistent opportunities to support healthy, fun learning during the students’ weekly routines.

Actioning ideas with the Junior School Council

Our Healthy Kids Advisor for Northern Grampians, Lauren Dempsey, supports 7 out of 13 schools in her local government area. She has had the special opportunity to base herself at Stawell West Primary School, working from the school grounds a few days a week.

“The principal, Anthony Cain, was very open and accepting to having me located at the school,” says Lauren. “My presence contributes to school culture and helps keep the communication flowing and the momentum of the work moving forward. I’m able to provide leadership staff with timely advice on grant opportunities, equipment recommendations, fundraising ideas and activities to support them in achieving their Vic Kids Eat Well goals.” 

The principal and teachers have embraced Lauren’s embedded role within the school community. She is often called on for recipe ideas and food education activities, teaching students how to select and prepare healthy, seasonal ingredients.

A major focus of Lauren’s time at Stawell West is supporting the Junior School Council to add delicious, healthy and nourishing alternatives to the lunch order menu. Lauren recently supported them in running a fundraising initiative out of the canteen, selling freshly made fruit smoothies and milkshakes. Money raised went towards new audio equipment for the classrooms.

Students from the Hands-on Learning Program have been busy building an outdoor pizza oven near the soon-to-be-built garden beds. Each year level will be responsible for a garden bed, so they can grow, harvest, cook and eat the fresh vegetables and herbs they nurture. Lauren will host sensory cooking activities with students to use their garden-grown produce in pizza-making sessions. Everyone is excited about cooking their pizzas from scratch in the oven they created themselves. 

As well as Stawell West Primary School, Lauren works with other local health promoters to support six more schools in her local government area. St. Arnaud Primary School, Marnoo Primary, St Patrick's Catholic School, Halls Gap Primary, Stawell Primary and St. Arnaud Secondary all benefit from her hands-on support.

Lauren Dempsey outside Stawell West Primary School

Building mindful relationships with senior students

Further down the state in Portland, our Healthy Kids Advisor for Glenelg Shire, Jane Killmister, has also been fortunate to base herself at a vibrant school location.

After consulting with SEA Change Portland and the wellbeing team at Glenelg Shire Council, Heywood was identified as a priority area to boost children’s access to fresh, seasonal food and encourage positive, simple changes to the town’s school environments.

Heywood & District Secondary College (HDSC) already had an established, thriving Kitchen Garden Program and strong partnerships with community leaders and wellbeing advocates. The school embraced the opportunity to have Jane join the school grounds in her Healthy Kids Advisor role to provide a positive, daily influence for their 75 students.

“When I’m lucky enough to be out in the garden with our young people, I often join in mural painting or weaving freshly pruned twigs to decorate an area of upcycled fencing,” says Jane. “These mindful activities are often a good place to check in and show up for students one-on-one, to build a relationship with them.”

Students from HDSC whip up breakfast burritos.

Jane’s diverse on-the-ground role has seen her support champion educators Elly Colley and Gregg Housden co-host the 'Get to Grow Us' event which raised the profile of the proposed Heywood Community Garden project. She has also helped the school’s Student Representative Council generate healthier fundraising activities for the school and reimagined the Breakfast Club program with boosted fruit, student-made breakfast burritos and seasonal smoothies. 

Besides her daily presence at HDSC, Jane regularly visits her other regional school partners, including Portland South Primary, Portland Primary, Narrawong & District Primary, Bayview College and Portland Secondary. She also assists local health promoters at Bolwarra Primary School and All Saints Primary School. 

About the Healthy Kids Advisors initiative 

The Healthy Kids Advisors initiative is delivered by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and supported by the Victorian Government and Australian Government. 

This community engagement initiative is active in 13 priority communities to spread pleasurable food education and encourage participation in the state-wide Vic Kids Eat Well movement. 

In collaboration with local health promoters, Council and community, our Advisors offer free support and simple ideas to boost healthy and delicious food and drink in schools, sports clubs, after-hours care and council-run facilities. 

Want more information?

Visit the Healthy Kids Advisors news page or contact us at hka@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

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