News

New funding for a more accessible Kitchen Garden Program

New Australian Government funding heralds a more accessible, affordable and flexible Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program. The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is thrilled to announce new funding support from the Australian Government.

This funding, provided by the Department of Health and Ageing, will make the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program more affordable, flexible and accessible to Australian schools with a primary curriculum.

This welcome news was announced by the Minister for Health and Ageing, The Hon Tanya Plibersek, at Dorset Primary School in Melbourne, during the official opening of the Dorset PS garden. Minister Plibersek was accompanied by special guests Mike Symon MP, Member for Deakin, Kitchen Garden Foundation Founder Stephanie Alexander and CEO Ange Barry.

Principal John Jacobs escorted the official party to the garden where students and parents were assembled. Principal Jacobs led an acknowledgement of country and welcomed the VIPs and the school community to the celebration.

Minister Plibersek said: ‘The Kitchen Garden Program helps tackle childhood obesity – giving children a hands-on experience in healthy eating through the growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing of fresh and healthy food.’

Stephanie, also in attendance, said: ‘We are thrilled to receive this funding from the Australian Government as it will enable us to bring the Kitchen Garden Program to thousands more school children by making it more affordable, flexible and accessible to all Australian primary schools.’

If you are interested in bringing the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program to your school or your child’s school, please register your interest and we will contact you with news of how you can access the Kitchen Garden Program as soon as it becomes available.

The Foundation is currently working through the implications of the new funding arrangements for all schools and will provide a detailed Q&A document about the future Kitchen Garden Program in coming weeks.