Apply today for a 2025 Kitchen Garden Kickstart Grant
[ EDIT: The Kickstart Kitchen Garden Grants have now closed ]
The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is excited to offer 12 Kitchen Garden Kickstart Grants valued at around $8000 each. This is a fantastic opportunity to join our Kitchen Garden Program and your school may be eligible to apply!
Since 2019, Kitchen Garden Kickstart Grants have provided much-needed funding to under-resourced schools across Australia. Generously funded by our partner General Mills, Kickstart Grants have supported 48 Australian schools, empowering 13,041 students to grow, harvest, prepare and share.
This opportunity is for schools where resourcing may be a barrier to implementing the Kitchen Garden Program. Schools with an ICSEA value of 1000 or under are eligible to apply. You can check your school’s ICSEA value on the My School website. Please note, current members of the Kitchen Garden Program are not eligible for these grants
Applications are now open for 2025
These grants are designed to enable schools to kickstart a successful and sustainable Kitchen Garden Program. Schools receive a $5000 grant and membership to the renowned Kitchen Garden Program, which includes support from our experienced team to bring each kitchen garden dream to life.
Here’s what’s included in a Kitchen Garden Program membership:
- Unlimited access to the Shared Table, our online resource library and community hub with 1200+ curriculum-linked lesson plans, recipes, kitchen and garden activities, videos and more.
- A Monthly Planner email newsletter where we do all the hard work for you! This is your shortcut to seasonal lesson plans, easy-to-follow menus, class activities and gardening advice.
- Unlimited participation in program enrichment webinars to upskill your educators and volunteers.
- Opportunities to attend in-person, accredited professional development days, held across the country.
- Tailored advice from our experienced Support Team available five days a week.
- Discounts on printed resources from our shop and complimentary seed membership to The Diggers Club.
The additional grant funds are there to support the purchase of key infrastructure and are often spent on essential items such as garden beds, ovens, fridges or storage facilities.
Kickstart Grant recipient 2024, Ngutu College, SA
Highlights from 2024 Kickstart Grants
“A highlight of the Kitchen Garden Program has been witnessing the growing enthusiasm and engagement of our young learners. Their excitement as they work in the garden; plant seeds, and watch their efforts blossom has been inspiring — watching them connect with nature and take pride in what they grow!” - Ngutu College, SA (2024 Kickstart Grant recipient)
Kickstart Grants have sparked creative solutions to assist schools of all shapes and sizes to deliver a tailored Kitchen Garden Program that impacts young people and their community.
Schools used their grants to establish core infrastructure and 100% of our recipients reported that their learning environments are now more inclusive and accessible. Rockhampton North Special School in QLD has prioritised inclusivity, creating wheelchair-accessible garden beds and kitchens, and Penong Primary School in SA have adopted sustainable practices, building wicking beds to conserve water over school holidays.
Our grant recipients also shared that establishing the Kitchen Garden Program has improved the wellbeing of students and staff, with 91% reporting improvement in school engagement and attendance. Holy Family Primary School in VIC and Villawood East Public School in NSW have reported increased student attendance, as the excitement and engagement of the garden has captivated students.
“It is wonderful to watch children with autism trying new foods; students with ADHD staying on task and pursuing a goal; and students with anxiety stepping out of their comport zone.” - Trinity Bay High School, QLD (2024 Kickstart Grant recipient)
About us
The purpose of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is to introduce pleasurable food education to children and young people during their learning years so they can form positive food habits for life. We believe in a fun, hands-on approach to teaching children about fresh, seasonal, delicious food.
For 20 years, the Foundation has provided inspiration, information, professional development and expert support to educators around the country, so they can deliver the Kitchen Garden Program – no matter the size or capacity of the school.
Make this the year your school and community receive a boost to start your Kitchen Garden Program.
For any questions or to run ideas by our team, please reach out to membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au or 13000 SAKGF (13000 72543) with any questions about your grant application.
[ EDIT: The Kickstart Kitchen Garden Grants have now closed ]
< Back to Latest News