Finalists! National Kitchen Garden Awards 2024

Thank you to everyone who entered the first National Kitchen Garden Awards! Our team read hundreds of incredible submissions spanning regional, remote and bustling metro locations in every state and territory. This week, we were very excited to share the news with each of the 27 finalists!

Each finalist’s entry is now with our incredible judges Stephanie Alexander, Thanh 'Fruit Nerd' Truong and Alice Zaslavsky who have a very tough choice to make. Winners will be showcased at a special Kitchen Garden Month celebration hosted by Stephanie Alexander at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 11 September.

Let’s reveal the most outstanding entries from our nine award categories. Keep your fingers crossed for each of them! There's an amazing prize pack on offer.

Level up your Veg

Presented by AUSVEG

Question: We love to hear stories of how kitchen and garden lessons are encouraging students to try new vegetables, often for the very first time! Tell us the changes you’re seeing in your students when they get to be hands-on in growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing nature’s greatest goodies.

The finalists!

• Majura Primary School, ACT
• Marist Sion College, VIC (pictured)
• Sunbury Primary School, VIC

Sustainable Solutions

Presented by Costa

Question: Share some of the ways you’ve learned about sustainable practices in the kitchen or garden. Have you initiated composting, recycling, reusing, or reducing? Have you minimised food waste with pro pickling and preserving? Perhaps you’ve explored climate change and actioned preventive practices in the garden?

The finalists!

• Corowa Public School, NSW
• Walcha Central School, NSW
• Zuccoli Primary School, NT

Wellbeing Champions

Presented by Kellogg’s

Question: We know getting hands-on in the kitchen and garden is great for our mental health, fitness and wellbeing. Show us how your activities have improved the wellbeing of your students. Does your garden offer a space to reflect, connect, or simply relax? Do you gather around a table to share healthy, delicious meals and conversation?

The finalists!

• Happy Trails ELC, NT
• Kilkenny Primary School, SA
• Kincumber Public School, NSW (pictured)

Recipes of the Imagination

Presented by General Mills

Question: Get your creative juices flowing! We’d love to see original recipe creations from educators and their class. What have you been cooking up in the kitchen with fresh, seasonal and delicious produce?

The finalists!

• Ashgrove State School, QLD
• Erskine Park High School, NSW
• Truro Primary School, SA

Beyond the School Gate

Presented by Novo Nordisk

Question: Show us some great examples of how your school’s kitchen or garden has had ripple effects beyond your school gates. Have your students taken your excess produce to a local market? Have you partnered with a local organisation and brought in wonderful community volunteers to help your garden flourish?

The finalists!

• East Fremantle Primary School, WA (pictured)
• John Pujajangka Piyirn School, WA
• Montville State School, QLD

Showcasing STEM

Presented by Seasol

Question: How are you using green space or kitchen activities to explore science, technology, engineering and maths? Do you measure up garden beds, weigh seasonal produce or experiment with fermenting and rising agents?

The finalists!

• Clarendon Vale Primary School, TAS
• Namadgi School, ACT
• Ruyton Girls' School, VIC

The Art of Kitchen Gardening

Presented by MSP Compass

Question: The garden and fresh ingredients often inspire storytelling and artistic pursuits. Show us how you’re encouraging creativity with your class through the kitchen garden.

The finalists!

• Berrima Public School, NSW
• Brindabella Christian College - Norwest Campus, ACT
• Clarendon Children’s Centre, VIC 

Everyone’s Welcome

Presented by Arnold Bloch Leibler

Question: Tell us how you celebrate togetherness, understanding, all cultures and abilities. Have recipes and ingredients been adapted to reflect the traditions and culture of your students? Have garden designs been modified to serve sensory needs and all abilities?

The finalists!

• Aspley Special School, QLD
• Evandale Primary School, TAS
• Westgarth Primary School, VIC

First Nations Foods

Presented by Murnong Mummas

Question: We’d love to see how schools are incorporating First Nations Food into their learnings. Do you have a bush tucker garden? Do you plan according to your local Indigenous season? Have you used Australian native ingredients to make delicious dishes?

The finalists!

• Birdwood High School, SA (pictured)
• Emmaus Christian Extended Day Preschool, ACT
• Memorial Oval Primary School, SA

We’ve been so impressed by the hundreds of entries from our Kitchen Garden Program members, and those schools and early childhood services yet to join. Stay tuned to our Instagram and Facebook for the big reveal on Wednesday 11 September!

With thanks to our award category partners

With thanks to our prize partners