Finalists! National Kitchen Garden Awards 2025

• The 27 National Kitchen Garden Awards finalists were selected from nearly 500 entries across Australia. 

• Finalists showcased creativity, sustainability, and community spirit. 

• Nine winners will be announced on 16 September at Kilkenny Primary School, chosen by a panel of expert judges. 

We’re incredibly excited to reveal the finalists of the National Kitchen Garden Awards 2025, chosen from almost 500 entries spanning Australia’s bustling cities to its most remote regional communities. 

"The creativity, passion and ingenuity shown by schools and early childhood services were truly inspiring. Many celebrated sustainability and inclusivity in beautiful ways, and our finalists, from a welcoming ‘grub club’ to a student-designed aquaponics system, showcased just how powerfully kitchen gardens can support learning, wellbeing and a sense of community,” says Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation CEO Rob Rees MBE DL. 

“We extend huge thanks to the children, parents, carers and educators who all took part, and to our judges who will have such a tough job.  We’re deeply grateful to our sponsors for helping make these awards — and the incredible work behind them — possible," he adds. 

Our expert judges, Stephanie Alexander AO, Clarence Slockee, Thanh 'Fruit Nerd' Truong and Alice Zaslavsky, now face the challenge of selecting nine winners. They will be revealed at a Kitchen Garden Month celebration at Kilkenny Primary School, South Australia, on 16 September. 

Each winner will receive a prize pack worth over $4000, including a $1000 cash grant, a two-year membership to the Kitchen Garden Program and a kitchen garden bundle with a wicking bed, organic garden solutions, a tree voucher and more! 

And now, let's meet our remarkable finalists:  

Beyond the School Gate 

Presented by Novo Nordisk Cities for Better Health   
Show us some great examples of how your school’s kitchen or garden has had ripple effects beyond your school gates.  

Yarram Secondary College

• Fairview Kindergarten, SA 

• Joondalup Education Support Centre, WA 

• Yarram Secondary College, VIC   

Down to Earth 

Presented by ABC Organic Gardener Magazine 
Show us how you get down-to-earth, getting your hands dirty understanding and shaping the soils that grow and nurture your kitchen garden. 

John Colet School

• Great Southern Grammar, WA 

• John Colet School, NSW 

• Lanyon High School, ACT 

First Nation Foods 

Presented by Indigiearth  
Tell us how your school or early childhood service is incorporating First Nations Food into your learnings.

Kilkenny Primary School

• Kilkenny Primary School, SA 

• St Leonards Primary School, SA 

• West Coast Steiner School, WA 

Flower Power 

Presented by ABC Gardening Australia Magazine
Show us how your activities have improved the wellbeing of your students. 

Great Lakes College

• Bundaberg Special School, QLD  

• Freshwater Creek Steiner School, VIC  

• Great Lakes College, NSW 

Recipe of the Imagination 

Presented by General Mills   
We’d love to see original recipe creations or how you've adapted a recipe. 

Mansfield State School

• Clarendon Children's Centre, VIC 

• East Devonport Primary School, TAS 

• Mansfield State School, QLD 

Sustainable Solutions 

Presented by Costa Group 
Share some of the ways you’ve learned about sustainable practices in the kitchen or garden. 

YMCA Children's Centre (Gungahlin)

• Belltrees Public School, NSW 

• Bright P-12 College, VIC 

• YMCA Children's Centre (Gungahlin), ACT 

The Art of Kitchen Gardening 

Presented by MSP Compass  
Show us how you’re encouraging creativity with your class through the kitchen garden. 

Five Dock Public School

• Five Dock Public School, NSW  

• Lucknow Kindergarten, VIC  

• St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Werribee), VIC 

Water Wise Design 

Presented by WaterUps  
Tell us how your garden promotes water conservation through wicking systems, time-efficient irrigation, drought-tolerant plants or thoughtful layout. 

Nawarddeken Academy Mamadawerre School

• Holy Cross Primary School (Trinity Park), QLD  

• Nawarddeken Academy Mamadawerre School, NT  

• Stanmore Public School, NSW 

Wellbeing Champions  

Presented by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation 
Show us how your activities have improved the wellbeing of your students. 

Woodbridge Primary School

• Belair Primary School, SA 

• Bonnyrigg Public School, NSW  

• Woodbridge Primary School, WA 

To learn about the benefits of the Kitchen Garden Program in your school or early childhood service, contact our Support Team, available five days a week on 1300 072 543 or membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au. 

For media queries, contact Audrey Bourget, communications lead, audrey.bourget@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au 

 With thanks to our award category partners

With thanks to our prize partners