The Tasmanian Liberal Government is committed to ensuring Tasmanian children have the best possible start to life by supporting them to be happy, healthy and active.
That is why we are delivering on our commitment to extend the School Lunch Pilot Program.
Having access to fresh, nutritious food is important for overall wellbeing and our Government is already providing more than 3000 healthy lunches to over 1600 students across 15 public schools each week through the School Lunch Pilot program.
Today, we can announce the additional 15 successful schools selected from an expression of interest process to participate in the initiative next year:
- Mole Creek Primary School
- JRLF Senior School
- Waverley Primary School
- Clarendon Vale Primary School
- Huonville Primary School
- Campbell Town District High School
- JRLF East Derwent Primary School
- Dodges Ferry Primary School
- Montello Primary School
- Swansea Primary School
- Fairview Primary School
- Bridport Primary School
- Cosgrove High School
- Winnaleah District School
- Havenview Primary School
This will take the total number of schools participating in the pilot program to 30.
Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch, said the wellbeing of children and young people is a priority for the Tasmanian Government and that is why we committed $1.87 million to the school lunch pilot.
"This helps ensure children and young people have the material basics such as access to nutritious food to thrive in learning and in life," Minister Jaensch said.
Minister for Community Services and Development, Nic Street, said School Food Matters had done a great job to date delivering the program with about 50,000 meals served within the 15 schools and a menu that all children are enjoying.
"School Food Matters will work with the new schools to develop food plans and implement a healthy lunch program, along with key food security partners Loaves and Fishes, dietitian and food safety adviser support," Minister Street said.
The two-year pilot will be independently evaluated by the Menzies Institute of Medical Research to understand whether there are benefits to student engagement, challenges and costs of providing nutritious cooked school lunches.
Our Government supports healthy eating and physical wellbeing in schools through a range of programs and funding commitments. Importantly these food programs in schools build the health literacy and understanding of nutrition for children and families.
