The Education State digs food education!

More Victorian schools and early years learning centres will be able to access pleasurable food education thanks to a very exciting announcement from the Victorian Government!

State Education Minister and Acting Premier James Merlino visited Elwood Primary School’s kitchen garden yesterday to announce continued support of $1.5m for the Kitchen Garden Foundation’s work.

“The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be continuing its partnership with the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation through this $1.5 million investment,” Mr Merlino said.

“This is part of the Education State plan to better prepare our kids for work and life. Many young lives will be improved, and many delicious, healthy meals made, thanks to this great program.”

The funding is part of the Victorian Budget 2016/17 and will be delivered over three years.

Stephanie Alexander, who was at Elwood Primary for the announcement, said it was apt that the Victorian Government was continuing to support the Foundation.

“The first funding for the Kitchen Garden Program came from Lynne Kosky, who was then the Victorian Education Minister,” Stephanie said.

“I took her to see the students cooking in the Kitchen Garden Program and she was blown away.”

Foundation CEO Ange Barry said the funding would help provide more Victorian primary and secondary schools, as well as kindergartens, childcare centres and preschools with access to the Foundation’s range of pleasurable food education services and tools.

Ange said the Foundation would work with the Department of Education to explore ways to encourage disadvantaged schools and centres in particular to participate.

She said the funding would also be used to develop new resources for teachers based on the Victorian Curriculum, as well as training and support for Victorian schools and centres.

While visiting Elwood Primary to make the announcement, Mr Merlino and Stephanie were able to see kitchen and garden classes in action.

Out in the garden on the crisp, sunny autumn morning the students were busy with jobs, including collecting leaves for mulch, and the kitchen was a hive of activity as students cooked up a seasonal autumn menu of delicious spanakopita and arancini.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all the action!

Victorian schools and centres should stay tuned to find out how the new funding will help them access the Foundation’s pleasurable food education model, and can keep up to date with all the latest news by signing up to our mailing list.