Food education grants for 62 Victorian schools

• Sixty-two Victorian government schools will receive grants to deliver hands-on food education through the Kitchen Garden Program. 

• In their applications, schools identified food insecurity, the need to rebuild gardens, and the importance of creating inclusive learning environments as key challenges. 

• Schools will receive tailored resources, training, and support to embed inclusive food education that builds lifelong skills. 

Close to 14 000 students at 62 government schools across Victoria will soon embark on two years of nourishing, hands-on food education as part of a partnership between health promotion foundation VicHealth and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation. 

Common themes in the grant applications were food insecurity, rebuilding gardens, fostering a whole-school approach to healthy eating, and a desire to share fresh food with the wider community.  

By embedding  food education into schools, the partnership enables children to build lifelong skills — strengthening food literacy, confidence and resilience in ways that reach beyond the classroom and into homes and communities. 
 
Spanning the state from West Wimmera to East Gippsland and urban centres in between, the grants are reaching a diverse range of communities. They will be especially impactful in regional and remote areas (which are receiving 71% of the funding) where access to fresh food and health education can be limited. 

Raywood Primary School

“I’m excited about having healthy greenery in our school.” -  Callum, Year 4, Carlisle River Primary 

“Our goal is to grow and share food with those in need.” - Alex Mercuri, Specialist Teacher, Flowerdale Primary   
 
"The Kitchen Garden Program will help our gardens grow, and that’s really exciting!" - Grace, Year 5, Pembroke Primary School   

"I'm super excited to see the community kitchen garden flourish. I feel it will be a great opportunity for the school to come together to help support their community with access to fresh, healthy produce." - Jess, parent, Manorvale Primary School  

What the schools receive   

Each school receives a two-year Kitchen Garden Program membership and a $1,500 grant for new equipment. Membership includes curriculum linked lesson plans, professional development, and tailored support to help educators deliver engaging, inclusive food education. 

All schools will have the opportunity to join the Vic Kids Eat Well movement with advice from a local health promotion professional. 

Preston North East Primary School

Towards healthy futures 

CEO of the Kitchen Garden Foundation, Rob Rees MBE DL, said: “These grants highlight the strong demand from communities across Victoria for a whole-school approach to hands-on, engaging food education. 

“Inclusivity and diversity are at the heart of our work. Evidence shows our Kitchen Garden Program has a particularly powerful impact in communities facing socio-educational barriers, with more than half of our reach in regional and remote areas. 

VicHealth CEO Professor Anna Peeters AM added: “Supporting schools to create hands-on food education experiences helps set young people up for healthier, fairer futures. 

“When students learn to grow, cook and share fresh food, they gain more than practical skills — they build confidence, connection and lifelong healthy habits. 

About the partnership 

VicHealth is investing $2.7m over three years, to ensure more young Victorians have the chance to develop lifelong skills and confidence in cooking and gardening through the globally-renowned Kitchen Garden Program. 

Thanks to this partnership, Victorian schools have already received recipes, a free food education resource and opportunities to attend online and in-person professional development.  

On Tuesday 18 November ALL Victorian educators are invited to join us for a free virtual tour of a Kitchen Garden Program school — usually reserved for members only!  Register now. 

VicHealth and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation are partnering to ensure more young Victorians can develop lifelong skills and confidence in cooking and gardening through preventative, positive food education and the Kitchen Garden Program.