News

The Kitchen Garden Program expands!

We’re thrilled to share some wonderful news! The Australian Government today announced a new $5.4 million funding commitment to support the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program over the next three years and provide opportunity for 400 new schools to join the Program. The Minister for Health, the Hon. Tanya Plibersek, joined Stephanie Alexander at Meadows Primary School to make the announcement along with special guests including the Foundation CEO Ange Barry, Medibank Managing Director George Savvides, Frank McGuire MP and Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP, and Meadows PS Principal Julie Cooke.

Stephanie Alexander welcomed the announcement, ‘We’re delighted and grateful to have the continued support of the Australian Government to allow the Program to enter a new and exciting era.’

Importantly the funding heralds a transition in the way the Kitchen Garden Program will be delivered. From 2013, schools will have greater choice in how they deliver the Program where they can elect one of three models of delivery.

• A specialist delivered model; a Kitchen and/or Garden specialist in the presence of a classroom teacher delivers classes. This is the current model of the Program and is still the preferred model to deliver the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program.
• A teacher delivered model; a classroom teacher who has completed a training course offered by the Foundation delivers classes.
• A hybrid model; classes are delivered by a Kitchen and/or Garden specialist and supported by another school staff member.

We’ve prepared a brief summary of the changes to the Kitchen Garden Program which make it more accessible, affordable and flexible to all Australian schools. Click here to view the summary.

‘Over the past 10 years it’s been important for us to continually seek and listen to feedback from our Kitchen Garden Program Schools across Australia who have been our biggest advocates of the Program. Through this Program we will continue to change the health outcomes of the next generation of children and we’re pleased to be able offer more Australian schools a selection of opportunities in how the Program is delivered in the future.’ said Ange Barry, CEO of the Foundation.

Thank you to Meadows Primary School for being wonderful hosts for this important announcement. The students prepared a delicious seasonal meal which they ate with the special guests at beautifully-set tables. Two grade six students, Grace and Youssef, made exceptional speeches about how much they enjoy the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program and what they have learnt in the kitchen and garden. Youssef shared some words he has learnt in the kitchen which included scrumptious, translucent and sauté.

All Australian schools (government and non-government) with a primary curriculum are able to join the program. Applications to join the Program open 4 September.

If you’re interested in bringing the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program to your school or your child’s school, see our Join Our Program page.

Read the Minister for Health's media release here.

Promotion of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program is supported by the Medibank Community Fund.

Photographs by Marcel Aucar Photography