Miles doing what matters: Free school breakfasts help Gold Coast students

Published Thursday, 15 August, 2024 at 09:58 AM

JOINT STATEMENT

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Public Works
The Honourable Meaghan Scanlon

Minister for Treaty, Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships, Minister for Communities and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Leeanne Enoch

  • Miles Government supporting free food program across 20-plus schools on the Gold Coast
  • A further $15 million has since been announced in Budget for School and Community Food Taskforce, which schools are able to directly apply for
  • Builds on government’s free kindy, rollout of hundreds more teachers and multi-million dollar investment for coast state schools

The Miles Government is giving hundreds of students across the Gold Coast a free breakfast of healthy choices to start their day right.

More than 20 schools have received funding to rollout a free breakfast and lunch programs, including:

  • Cedar Creek State School
  • Coolangatta State School
  • Coombabah State High School
  • Coombabah State School
  • Coomera State School
  • Coomera Rivers State School
  • Currumbin Community Special School
  • Gainsborough State School
  • Gaven State School
  • Helensvale State High School
  • Keebra Park State High School
  • Labrador State School
  • Merrimac State High School
  • Nerang State High School
  • Numinbah Valley State School
  • Ormeau State School
  • Ormeau Woods State High School
  • Oxenford State School
  • Picnic Creek State School
  • Pimpama State Primary College
  • Pimpama State School
  • Pimpama State Secondary College
  • Southport Special School
  • Southport State School
  • Upper Coomera State College
  • Woongoolba State School

One school participating in the program is Nerang State High School, where breakfasts are offered four days per week from Monday to Thursday.

Here, around 70 students each day get a good meal before they head into class.

For the Gold Coast schools, the government funds Y Queensland to deliver the program.

The Miles Government has now announced in its Budget a further $15 million for the School and Community Food Taskforce, with schools able to apply directly.

This includes $10.7 million in funding to support school food programs.

All Queensland state schools are encouraged to apply for the funding through an expression of interest process.

For more information head to:  https://education.qld.gov.au/students/student-health-safety-wellbeing/student-health/school-food-programs

Quotes attributable to Miles Government Minister and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon:

“It’s hard to concentrate in the classroom when you’ve got an empty stomach.

“Giving our kids a good breakfast sets them up to start the day right and help them focus on their schoolwork and learning.

“This program is making a difference for families on the coast who are struggling with rising grocery prices and cost of living pressures.

“It adds to all the cost of living support we’re providing like $1,300 off your power bill, 50 cent fares, 20 per cent off rego and free kindy.”

Quotes attributable to Miles Government Minister Leeanne Enoch:

“Kids who learn on a full stomach are more engaged and find it easier to concentrate, leading to better education outcomes.

“In addition to relieving cost of living pressures, the school breakfast program helps promote social inclusion and attendance within school communities.

"Our community partner, Y Queensland, received $423,000 to deliver the school breakfast program at participating schools across the south-east.”

Quotes attributable to Damian Foley, Y Queensland:

“For a variety of reasons, a significant number of children come to school without having had breakfast and as a result these children are disadvantaged by hunger and poor nutrition.

“Y Queensland’s aim is to ensure students are provided with the best opportunity to make the most of their education and develop healthy eating habits.

“Our school breakfast program supports improved behavioral outcomes in the classroom, enhances student engagement and school connectedness, and positively impacts student academic performance.

“In 2023, through the Queensland Government-supported school breakfast and food relief programs, Y Queensland provided more than 1.3 million free breakfasts to students across more than 400 schools.

“At the beginning of 2024, new funding enabled us to support more schools across the Metropolitan, Darling Downs, Western Downs and Gold Coast regions.”

ENDS

Media contact: Francis Dela Cruz – 0420 592 078