Victorian health promotion foundation VicHealth and the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation are thrilled to announce a transformative $2.7 million partnership aimed at giving children at more than 500 Victorian schools a positive relationship with fresh, healthy food.
VicHealth will invest $2.7m in the 3-year partnership, 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.
VicHealth CEO Dr Sandro Demaio said the new, long-term partnership will help ensure children, particularly those in regional and remote communities, can enjoy the program.
“Supporting kids to learn about and enjoy fresh, healthy food from a young age has profound benefits for their overall health and wellbeing. Developing these skills early not only encourages healthy habits but also builds confidence, resilience, and creativity,” Dr Demaio said.
“By partnering with the Kitchen Garden Program, we’re helping reduce health inequities and ensuring more Victorian children, regardless of their background, have the opportunity to thrive.”
Stephanie Alexander AO, Founder of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation, said: “Our Kitchen Garden Program promotes healthy lifestyles by engaging children in the magic of watching a seed sprout, developing their appreciation of local and global cuisine, building pride in their own cultural traditions, nurturing practical life skills about the food system, and celebrating the joy of sharing food with friends and families.
“Our big dream is for all Australian children and young people to have access to our globally-recognised Kitchen Garden Program. Our partnership with VicHealth will support us to continue our impactful work in Victoria and reach even more children across the state, no matter how small their veggie patch, or how humble their cooking space.”
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation CEO Dr Cathy Wilkinson said they are thrilled to be partnering with VicHealth to support all children right across Victoria.
“The Kitchen Garden Foundation is focused on addressing preventable health inequities so children and communities can thrive,” Dr Wilkinson said.
“The evidence for the benefits of our Kitchen Garden Program, generated over our 20 years, is so strong, and the need and demand from communities has never been greater.
“Our partnership with VicHealth will enable us to keep supporting Victorian children and communities where they need it most.”
A recent VicHealth survey of kids aged four to 12 found that nine in 10 enjoy learning where food comes from, and want to help plan family meals and pack their lunchboxes, highlighting the need to give kids more opportunities to get involved in growing and preparing food.
This is echoed by research by the Kitchen Garden Foundation which found that an astounding 97 per cent of children involved in the program express excitement about attending school on Kitchen Garden Program days.
The Kitchen Garden Program has been shown to significantly improve children’s:
Food literacy and behaviour: Increased willingness to try new foods, enhanced recognition of fruits and vegetables, and boosted cooking and gardening skills.
Social and emotional learning: Strengthened social skills, resilience, and school engagement, as well as an appreciation of cultural diversity.
Community connection: Collaborative partnerships with families and communities foster inclusive and supportive learning environments.
