Kitchen Garden Program blossoms in Colac Otway kindergartens

• 600+ Colac Otway kindergarten children will join the Kitchen Garden Program thanks to their local council.  

• Educators gain resources, recipes, and training to embed food education into early learning. 

• The program fosters healthy habits through growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh food. 

More than 600 kindergarten children in the Colac Otway Shire, on the land of the Gulidjan and Gadubanud Peoples, are about to embark on a delicious learning journey. Children across the shire will engage in learning experiences that promote healthy eating, sustainability, and community connection through growing, harvesting, preparing, and sharing fresh food.

The Colac Otway Shire Council is providing 13 local kindergartens with a two-year membership to the Kitchen Garden Program.

Through the Kitchen Garden program, the kindergarten educators receive tailored resources linked to the Early Years Learning Framework, access to over 1,200 recipes and kitchen garden activities, personalised support from the Kitchen garden Team, and professional development to help deliver fun, hands-on food education.  

Building healthy habits early 

Colac Otway Shire Council’s Community Service Manager, Ashish Sitoula, said the strong uptake from kindergartens in their region reflects a shared commitment to lifelong health and wellbeing: 

“Currently, only 3.9% of adults in our shire eat the recommended daily servings of fruit and vegetables. We also face challenges with obesity, dental health, and food insecurity. Teaching children and families about the benefits of growing and eating fresh, seasonal produce has never been more important.” 

Michelle Muraca, Manager Kindergarten Educational Outcomes at Meli, echoed the excitement: 

“We’re delighted to introduce the Kitchen Garden Program across our kindergartens in Colac. It’s an engaging addition to our curriculum, giving children the chance to grow, cook, and share fresh food together —  skills that will stay with them well beyond their early years.” 

In November, the Kitchen Garden team visited the region to deliver a professional development session tailored for Early Childhood educators. Participants explored ways to make the most of their Kitchen Garden Program membership, and enjoyed practical activities, from quick garden experiences to preparing no-cook and easy recipes. 

The in-person session also provided an opportunity for educators to network and share ideas, strengthening connections across the community.  

Partnering with councils to create change 

Foundation CEO Rob Rees said: 
 
“We’re thrilled to see more children gaining access to the health, wellbeing, and learning benefits of the Kitchen Garden Program — made possible through the inspiring leadership of Colac Otway Shire.” 

“A heartfelt thank you to our partners and the dedicated educators who bring this vision to life every day. We warmly invite more community leaders, families, and youth organisations to join this growing movement!”  

If you are a council that wants to bring the impact of the Kitchen Garden Program to your community, contact us at membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au