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School Lunch Program

School Food Matters Inc

The School Lunch Program is a model which provides a 'scalable' place-based approach in a school setting to enhance Tasmanian school children's food security, through access to local nutritious food that supports their concentration and learning at school.

  • Tas

Pricing: Free

Origin: Developed in Australia for Australian schooling contexts

Affiliations: Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People

Product type: Fact sheets; Online resources (e.g. videos, games, tools, readings); Whole school approach or initiative

Contact details

School Food Matters Inc
ABN: 46 684 486 304

https://www.schoolfoodmatters.org.au/school-lunch-project/

info@schoolfoodmatters.org.au

Focus areas

  • Positive relationships

  • Belonging and inclusion

  • Mental health literacy and life skills

  • Self-regulation and engagement

Curriculum alignment

  • Health and PE

  • English

  • Mathematics

  • Technologies

Prospective users

Audience: Whole school universal (Tier 1)

Context: School or centre-based

Main beneficiaries: Foundation/Prep, Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5, Year 6, Year 7, Year 8, Year 9, Year 10

Delivery style: Delivered by program staff

Aims & approach

The SLP aims to provide every Tasmanian child with a nutritious daily meal using local and seasonal produce. It is flexible and able to be customised to meet the unique needs of each school. At the heart of its approach are the following key principles:

  • Equity and universal access for all Tasmanian children.
  • Nutritious, fresh and seasonal meals made from predominately local produce.
  • Support students for a successful future more broadly than the academic process alone.
  • Instill good eating habits and develop positive social connections between students and their communities.

Currently fully funded by the Tasmanian Government to 15 government primary schools (including primary years in District Schools) a year. Will move to a co-payment system in future.

Implementation support

  • Access to professional facilitator, instructor or mentor
  • Ongoing helpdesk, email or phone support

Evidence

The Menzies Institute for Medical Research has undertaken a developmental evaluation of the SLP during its initiation and pilot phase. Evaluation will continue as the pilot project has now moved to a program.