My constituency question is directed to the Minister for Education. Can the minister explain how the school breakfast program will benefit students in the Glen Waverley district? We know that a quality education is the key to a thriving and growing state, as education is the single greatest investment government can make. We also know that our children deserve the best possible environment to learn in, and that includes making sure that no student starts the day hungry. The government’s school breakfast clubs program has delivered more than 40 million healthy, nutritious meals since its inception in 2016. Now there is a further investment of $21.1 million to expand this important program to every single government school. Unlike those opposite, who cut funding to government schools and cut funding to programs such as Fresh Fruit Friday, this government is investing in the future of our youth. Programs such as the school breakfast clubs program are part of the Allan Labor government’s record commitment to our education system. I look forward to minister’s response.
Minister’s Response:
The School Breakfast Clubs Program is continuing to support students and families experiencing cost of living pressures by providing hungry students with free, healthy and nutritious meals, helping them get the most out of the school day. The program currently makes a significant contribution to 1,000 school communities across the state, building positive connections between students, families and staff. The program has served over 40 million meals.
The Victorian Government has invested $141.2 million in the School Breakfast Clubs Program since 2016 and this year committed a further $21.1 million to expand the program to all government schools who choose to participate.
Across the Glen Waverly district, 6 government schools are already currently participating in the program, including two secondary schools (Glen Waverley Secondary College and Forrest Hill College) with over 200 students benefiting directly from the program every week. Many of these students also access snack, lunches and take-home food packs available to school families experiencing disadvantage throughout the school term and during the school holiday periods. Since the start of the program, schools in this area have enjoyed close to six million meals. As part of the program expansion, the schools not already participating in the program in the Glen Waverley district will be invited to join from January 2025.
A select number of participating schools are also invited to take part in opportunities such as cooking classes, which build food literacy skills and support families to prepare cost effective, healthy and nutritious meals at home. This is another example of how government’s School Breakfast Clubs Program is supporting students to get the most out of their school day, but also building community.
Hon Ben Carroll MP
Deputy Premier
Minister for Education
Minister for Medical Research
