Tip-top announcement for Queensland kids: State budget to fund food relief

• The upcoming Miles Government State Budget will provide $15 million in funding for the School and Community Food Relief Program. 
• This funding will provide food security for families struggling with cost-of-living pressures, and boost the healthy options available at tuckshops.
• Government also announcing 277 state schools sharing in over $68 million to upgrade their playgrounds and tuckshops.

New Premier Steven Miles has today announced the upcoming state budget will include a $15 million boost for the School and Community Food Relief Program.

Direct support will be provided to schools in communities experiencing high cost of living pressures and food insecurity.

This will help to provide Queensland kids with free school breakfast and lunch, expanded healthy snack programs or other initiatives that support the health and wellbeing of students.

Funding will also help to deliver nutrition education and increase access to healthy food options.

The health and wellbeing of students is important, as we know a student with a healthy diet and a full stomach performs not only better in the classroom but will develop healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

A School and Community Food Taskforce, with cross-sector membership has also been established and will meet on 5 June to provide advice on options to support access to healthy food and drink for Queensland families.

The budget announcement comes as the government confirms the 277 Queensland State Schools that will share in $68 million to upgrade their playgrounds and tuckshops.

Schools were able to apply for funding of up to $500,000 to upgrade playgrounds, including to replace soft fall surfacing and install shade cover structures, and for tuckshops to purchase items such as catering appliances and equipment, install stainless steel benches and upgrade facilities.

The program prioritises funding playground and tuckshop upgrades at schools in communities where these improvements are needed most.

Quotes attributable to the Premier, Steven Miles:

“When I was in Bundaberg this month, I met with Sue and Jasmine from Angels Community Group who work tirelessly to provide over 200 lunches per week to local schools in need.

“That is just a slice of the growing food insecurity problem, which is impacting our school kids the hardest.

“It’s why one of my key priorities as Premier has been delivering more accessible food options at schools – to give kids the best start and help take the pressure of busy parents.

“I don’t want Queenslanders to choose between paying their rent or mortgage and putting food in their kids lunchbox.

“A full tummy leads to better concentration, better engagement and better results, which is what we all want.”

Quotes attributable to the Treasurer, Cameron Dick:

“$15 million is a small price to pay to ensure Queensland children are physically ready to learn each day.

“Decades from now, there will be a direct benefit to the health of our economy if we focus on the health and nutrition of schoolkids today.

“It’s programs like this that would be on David Crisafulli’s chopping block under a future LNP Commission of inquiry into government expenditure.”

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Education, Di Farmer:

“We know well-fed students perform better at school. The School and Community Food Relief Program will remove the barrier to active participation by providing healthy food options to students in communities doing it most tough.

“Together with our Student Wellbeing package, with provides access to mental health professionals and GPs in schools, the Queensland Government is helping families to support their children’s health and wellbeing without increasing the pressure on family budgets.” 

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Communities, Leeanne Enoch:

“By creating healthy food and drink habits early, we are investing in healthier outcomes for Queensland children and families now and into the future.

“Increasing awareness about affordable, nutritious and healthy food options for families with school-aged children will help create happier children who can focus on their school work and sporting and creative activities.”

BACKGROUND

$15 MILLION FUNDING – BUDGET BREAKDOWN

$10.65 million will be distributed direct to schools to support food programs through an Expression of Interest process, prioritising schools in communities experiencing high cost of living pressures and food insecurity.

The expression of interest process will confirm community need and the school’s capacity to deliver the program.

Priority will be given to schools in communities impacted by high cost of living pressures and food security challenges.

Funding can be used by schools without existing programs to purchase food and drinks, equipment to support their breakfast or lunch programs, or schools can use the funding to expand existing programs to include healthy snack breaks or other innovative projects that support the health and wellbeing of students.

Schools are also able to engage a part-time food coordinator for up to 10 hours a week to assist with delivery of the program in the first year.

$1.3 million will support food and nutrition education to families of school aged children.

$3 million will support healthy food and drink initiatives generated by the School and Community Food Taskforce.

$500 000 will be shared between five organisations [Y-Care, Fuel for Schools Ltd, Hope Centre Services, Scripture Union Service Ltd, and New Creation Christian Church Ltd] to deliver healthy food and drink programs to 253 Queensland state schools.

These charities and not-for-profit organisations applied for grants of up to $20,000 to support them continuing their existing services to Queensland state schools or expand their services to include other state schools.

All applicants had to demonstrate they could supply healthy food and drinks aligned to Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools.

The $15 million package is in addition to the funding provided by the Miles Government in this year to support the Department of Communities to expand the successful school breakfast program and the $2 million School Food Program funding announced late last year.

PLAYGROUND AND TUCKSHOP UPGRADES

Funded under the Eat right, Play right, Learn well initiative, 427 individual state schools have been approved for funding since 2022, 284 schools for playground upgrades and 143 schools for tuckshop upgrades.

The program supports the Department’s Smart Choices – Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools, and the Government’s ongoing commitment to enhancing the educational opportunities available to all Queensland children.

The program prioritises funding playground and tuckshop upgrades at schools in communities where these improvements are needed most.

List of successful schools here.

END