Meet the 2026 Kitchen Garden Kickstart Grant schools

• More than 200 schools applied this year, highlighting strong national demand for hands-on food education. 

• Twelve schools will receive a two-year Kitchen Garden Program membership and a $5,000 infrastructure grant, thanks to General Mills Australia. 

• Student wellbeing, food literacy, and food insecurity were common themes among the applicants.  
   

We’re excited to award 12 schools a Kitchen Garden Kickstart Grant, thanks to the generous support of our partner, General Mills Australia. 

This year, more than 200 schools applied, highlighting a growing demand for hands-on food education across the country. Since 2020, the grants have supported 72 under-resourced schools, helping establish thriving kitchen and garden programs. In the past year alone, these schools shared over 65,000 fresh meals with students and their communities. 

Each successful school receives a two-year Kitchen Garden Program membership and a $5,000 grant to help bring their vision to life — whether that’s building garden beds, installing irrigation, or equipping kitchens for hands-on learning. 

Meet the 2026 recipients 

Cue Primary School (WA) 

Cue Primary School, located in the remote Murchison region, serves a community with limited access to fresh food. With a predominantly Aboriginal student population facing significant disadvantage, the school is focused on improving health outcomes through food education. A full-time gardener and strong community partnerships will support the Kitchen Garden Program, helping students grow and prepare their own food. 

Funding will provide essential garden beds, tools, fertiliser and cooking equipment, enabling students to actively participate in growing and preparing fresh produce. 

Budawang School (NSW) 

Budawang School supports students with medium to high needs in Milton on the NSW South Coast. Their Kitchen Garden Program will create a vibrant, inclusive space for neurodivergent students to thrive through sensory-rich, hands-on learning. Students will build practical life skills, develop confidence in food preparation and gain a deeper understanding of healthy eating.  

Funding will support a garden shed, soil, plants and adaptive kitchen equipment to ensure all students can safely and independently participate. 

Healesville High School (VIC) 

Healesville High School will establish a Kitchen Garden Program to build students’ food literacy through real-world learning. Students will be involved in designing, building and maintaining the kitchen garden space, developing practical skills in gardening, sustainability and food preparation. Integrated across multiple subjects, the program will support collaboration, student agency and environmental awareness.  

Funding will provide essential infrastructure such as garden beds, soil, plants and tools to establish a functional and engaging learning environment. 

Natone Primary School (TAS) 

Natone Primary School, set in a small rural Tasmanian community, aims to create a kitchen garden that supports both learning and wellbeing. The Kitchen Garden Program will provide a calm, engaging space where students can connect with food, build confidence and experience hands-on success.  

Funding will support kitchen upgrades and equipment, enabling students to prepare and share meals together, strengthen community connections and develop practical life skills that extend beyond the classroom. 

Cooyar State School (QLD) 

Cooyar State School faces significant challenges due to an unreliable water supply. Their Kitchen Garden Program will focus on teaching student resilience and sustainability practices suited to a drought-prone environment.  

With strong support from staff, families and a chef-trained chaplain, the school will use the grant to install wicking beds and expand garden and kitchen resources. This will enable students to grow and prepare food while learning practical skills for sustainable living. 

Elizabeth North Primary School (SA) 

Elizabeth North Primary has begun building a student-led garden featuring bush tucker plants and herbs. The next step is to expand this into a larger growing zone with fruit, vegetables and a sensory cultural pathway that incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives. 

Their Kitchen Garden Program will connect to enterprise learning, with students selling produce at market stalls to support the sustainability of the program, while building skills in gardening, cooking and community engagement. 

Bees Creek Primary School (NT) 

Bees Creek School is a small, community-focused rural school where many students live on properties with inconsistent access to fresh food. After a successful start to kitchen and garden activities, the school is now expanding into a full Kitchen Garden Program. Students will learn to grow, harvest and prepare food while building confidence, independence and healthy habits.  

Funding will support irrigation for the tropical dry season, additional garden beds, tools and kitchen equipment, ensuring the program can thrive year-round. 

Eudunda Area School (SA) 

At Eudunda Area School, the Kitchen Garden Program will be integrated into curriculum areas such as Food and Hospitality and Agriculture, as well as co-curricular programs like Breakfast Club and the school café. Students will grow, harvest, prepare and share seasonal produce while developing skills in nutrition, teamwork and food production. The Kitchen Garden Program will support diverse learners through inclusive, practical activities, and strengthen connections across learning areas.  

Funding will support expanded garden infrastructure, irrigation and kitchen equipment. 

Bullyard State School (QLD) 

Bullyard State School, in rural QLD, plans to embed its Kitchen Garden Program as a core part of school life, building on existing garden spaces. With a focus on sustainability and climate resilience, the school will introduce wicking beds and automated irrigation to ensure consistent production. A key goal is incorporating garden produce into the school tuckshop, encouraging healthier food choices while strengthening connections with families and the wider community. 

Glebe Public School (NSW) 

Located in inner-city Sydney, Glebe Public School serves a highly diverse community, with many students facing barriers to accessing fresh, healthy food. The school plans to establish the Kitchen Garden Program to help address food insecurity by building lifelong skills in growing produce and preparing simple, nourishing meals. 

The grant will support new garden beds, soil, irrigation and seedlings, creating opportunities for students and families to connect with fresh food and practical learning. 

Lalor North Primary School (VIC) 

Located in a diverse suburb of Melbourne, Lalor North Primary School offers bilingual Greek and Macedonian programs. Starting from the ground up, they will create a Kitchen Garden Program that connects learning across science, numeracy and wellbeing. Students will gain hands-on experience growing and preparing food while building lifelong healthy habits. Supported by staff and community partnerships, the program will be embedded through garden clubs, cooking sessions and classroom learning.   

Funding will support garden infrastructure, water catchment, seedlings and soil.   

Malvern Springs Primary School (WA) 

Malvern Springs Primary School will establish a whole-school Kitchen Garden Program to increase students’ access to fresh food and hands-on learning. The initiative will connect gardening with science, health and sustainability, helping students build confidence and practical skills. Led by a dedicated teacher and supported by a school-wide team and community partners, the program will foster collaboration and wellbeing. Funding will support garden infrastructure, irrigation, composting systems and kitchen equipment to embed the program into everyday learning. 

From remote communities to urban classrooms, these schools share a common goal: empowering students with the skills, confidence and joy that come from growing, harvesting, preparing and sharing fresh food. Thank you to our partner, General Mills Australia, for their support!   

To learn more about the Kitchen Garden Program, reach out to membership@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au or 13000 SAKGF (13000 72543). And for more grant opportunities throughout the year, subscribe to our newsletter.