A Minns Labor Government will commit $8 million to Foodbank NSW & ACT to help it continue the School Breakfast 4 Health program – which currently delivers millions of nutritious breakfasts to children across more than 500 schools.
The funding would help Foodbank continue the successful program over the next four years, meaning they could support 1000 schools in total.
The program has been credited with improving health, participation, learning and social development outcomes.
It has been found to have improved nutrition and eating habits; improved mental and physical health; and assisted in combating childhood obesity.
School Breakfast 4 Health has also been attributed with reducing absenteeism, improving punctuality, enhancing engagement and productivity in the classroom, and improving concentration.
And it has led to improvements in learning outcomes, including readiness to learn, cognitive function, educational outcomes and assisting improved test results.
In terms of social development, the program was found to have contributed to developing social and leadership skills, widening social networks and friendships, and building stronger relationships between students and staff.
According to data from Foodbank, around three children in every classroom across Australia are going hungry.
Right here in NSW, 23 per cent of households in NSW are classified as “severely food insecure”.
In addition to this, 12 per cent are deemed “moderately food insecure”.
Meanwhile, the cost-of-living crisis has been exacerbated by rising interest rates, rising electricity prices and with Sydney CPI increasing by 7.6 per cent over the past year alone, more NSW families struggling to make ends meet.
Quotes attributable to Chris Minns, NSW Labor Leader:
“Parents and families are doing it really tough right now. The cost of everything is going up.
“This is a program that ensures the most vulnerable children have the opportunity to have a fresh and healthy start to the day.
“Sorting out breakfast is a simple and effective way of improving not only health outcomes, but education outcomes.
“If we can get some of the basics right, like a guaranteed nutritious breakfast, the rest will follow.”
“Investment in education and programs like this one is the best investment we can make for our children.”
Quotes attributable to Prue Car, NSW Deputy Labor Leader:
“This program is a simple yet effective way to ensure that the children who need it most, get a fresh and healthy start before a day of school.
“No child should go to school hungry.”
Quotes attributable to John Robertson, Chief Executive Officer, Foodbank NSW ACT:
“We’re incredibly grateful to NSW Labor for committing to extend funding of our essential School Breakfast 4 Health program. This will have an immeasurable impact on the lives of so many children and families across the state.
Since July 2019, thanks to funding from the NSW State Government, we have been able to provide more than 500 schools with 1.55 million meals to students who are coming to school without breakfast from some of the most disadvantaged communities.
This funding would mean we can support an additional 500 schools over the next four years.”
“Devastatingly, we know that three kids in every classroom are going to school hungry, and the need for our program continues to grow – in the last year alone, we have seen the demand increase by 50%.
CHRIS MINNS MP
NSW LABOR LEADER
PRUE CAR MP
NSW DEPUTY LABOR LEADERNSW SHADOW MINISTER FOR EDUCATION AND EARLY LEARNING
