Vic Kids Eat Well is thrilled to announce the 10 winners in its first Vic Kids Eat Well Awards, whose amazing efforts helped organisations provide healthier food and drink options for kids across the state.
From 12 primary students running a ‘Camp Kitchen’ offering tasty weekly specials; a school canteen offering meals made from their veggie patch; and a sports club offering kids hearty soups and free fruit post games; these are just some of the inspirational stories that have been recognised from 45 community nominees.
These awards celebrate Victorian schools, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), sports clubs, community organisations, local health promotion teams and individuals, who demonstrated an outstanding commitment to boosting healthy, delicious food and drinks options for kids in 2022
Vic Kids Eat Well is supported by the Victorian Government and is delivered by Cancer Council Victoria’s Achievement Program, in partnership with Nutrition Australia’s Healthy Eating Advisory Service.
Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas, congratulated the winners and nominees, and said it was impressive to see the positive difference that programs like Vic Kids Eat Well make at a local level.
“We want all Victorian children to enjoy a healthy, happy childhood. Programs like Vic Kids Eat Well are helping to set up our children for good health and future wellbeing,” Minister Thomas said.
Cancer Council Victoria, CEO, Todd Harper AM, thanked all the award winners and nominees for their incredible progress since Vic Kids Eat Well was launched last year.
“We congratulate all Vic Kids Eat Well award winners and nominees for their passion, support and dedication to give kids the healthy start they deserve,” Mr Harper said.
“Community organisations, local health promotion teams and Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation’s Healthy Kids Advisors have worked together in creative and innovative ways to support kids’ health and wellbeing as they grow, helping set the foundations for good health later in life.
“Step by step, organisations changed canteen, sports club or kiosk menus to introduce delicious fruit and veggie options and promote water. They encouraged kids to get involved in planning and cooking fresh produce from their community gardens or learning about different food cultures.
“With over 650 organisations that have now joined Vic Kids Eat Well, we hope to see more inspired to ‘take a bite’ towards a healthier future for all kids living in Victoria.”
Nutrition Australia, CEO, Lucinda Hancock, added her congratulations to the winners and nominees and praised those who have been champions of change within their local areas.
“As a community we all want kids to grow up happy and eating well. Nutritious, tasty foods help kids enjoy school, their favourite sport or time with friends,” Ms Hancock said.
“It’s very encouraging to see the changes these organisations and champions have made; from involving kids in menu decisions at OSHC, prepping and cooking foods for their fellow school students or providing healthy snacks and water to help kids play sport.
“And our biggest champions are the kids who’ve embraced these food and drink swaps, which see them enjoy veggie-packed meals from their canteen menu or school lunch orders, or through fruit cups and snack packs for kids’ library story-time, using reusable water bottles and getting ‘hands-on’ using seasonal fresh produce grown from gardens.
“All the Vic Kids Eat Well award winners and nominees are our healthy heroes, who helped fuel kids’ learning, fun and activity at schools, OSHC, sports clubs and community organisations across Victoria.”
The recipients of the Vic Kids Eat Well Awards are:
‘BIG BITE’ AWARDS
These awards recognise member organisations that successfully completed one or more bite-sized changes as part of the free Vic Kids Eat Well movement in 2022.
Schools category:
Winner: Mount Rowan Secondary College, Ballarat
Honourable Mention: Toorloo Arm Primary School, Lake Tyers Beach
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) category:
Winner: Athol Road Primary School OSHC, Springvale South
Honourable Mention: Gumnuts Lakes Entrance OSHC
Sports, Community & Council-run facilities category:
Winner: Castlemaine Football Netball Club – Juniors
Honourable Mention: Springvale Library Café
SPECIAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AWARDS
These awards recognise individuals from Vic Kids Eat Well member organisations, health promoters and networks who made a significant impact and demonstrated outstanding support in 2022.
Community Champion
Winner: Chloe Hewitt & Jody Burgess, Mount Rowan Secondary College, Ballarat
Health Promoter Champion
Winner: Jaquie Nethercote, Gippsland Lakes Complete Health, Lakes Entrance
Kids Champion
Winner: Branxholme Wallacedale Community School students, Branxholme
Network Excellence
Winner: The Northern Grampians Shire Prevention Network, Stawell
For more information about the award winners please visit the Vic Kids Eat Well Award winners’ page here
Join the Vic Kids Eat Well movement by visiting vickidseatwell.health.vic.gov.au