Healthy places for kids have been celebrated across Victoria in the second Vic Kids Eat Well Awards with 9 winners serving nutritious and tasty options in canteens, after school or at weekend footy.
These awards acknowledged outstanding community organisations and individuals who boosted healthy and delicious food and drinks options for kids. Changes included adding colourful veggies to meals and swapping sugary drinks for healthy hydration options.
State-wide winners included primary schools, a regional secondary school, a football club, a leisure centre, Outside School Hours Care (OSHC), networks of community health organisations and a dedicated community volunteer.
Over 1000 organisations have now joined Vic Kids Eat Well reaching around 200,000 kids across the state. This initiative is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria, in partnership with Nutrition Australia.
Mulgrave Football Club nourished young players with hummus and carrot sticks, protein balls, salad rolls, homemade air fryer wedges and trail mix thanks to Vic Kids Eat Well.
A rural winner, Heywood & District Secondary College, empowered students to take over the canteen menu – teenagers came up with meal deals where popular side-salads could be selected.
Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas expressed the importance of this free initiative.
"We want all Victorian children to enjoy a healthy and happy childhood that establishes the foundations for a life of good health and wellbeing – Vic Kids Eat Well is a vital tool that is helping to educate children and young people and I congratulate all the winners who are empowering them to make healthy choices,” Minister Thomas said.
Cancer Council Victoria, CEO, Todd Harper AM, said the Vic Kids Eat Well Awards showcased the healthy and delicious changes happening for kids in canteens, lunch orders, at events and in fundraising across the state.
“It is wonderful to celebrate the second year of Vic Kids Eat Well with our 9 winners today. Bite by bite, we’re creating a healthy start for Victorian kids along with the support of dedicated community health promotion teams,” Mr Harper said.
“It is also encouraging to see kids involved in preparing a variety of healthy foods to share with other students,” he said.
Nutrition Australia, Acting Program Manager, Kirsten Johnson congratulated the Vic Kids Eat Well winners, along with the staff and dedicated volunteers at weekend sport and in school canteens for making simple swaps.
“It has been inspiring to see how community organisations have used Vic Kids Eat Well’s resources and support to refresh their canteen and add nutritious options for kids. We encourage others to join Vic Kids Eat Well for free today,” Ms Johnson said.
VIC KIDS EAT WELL AWARDS – winners announced:
BIG BITE AWARDS
Outstanding Vic Kids Eat Well participant organisations that completed bite-sized changes.
Schools category
Joint winner: Campbellfield Heights Primary School
This northern suburb school added fresh salads, wraps and delicious snacks to their canteen. With a fantastic canteen manager, Jess, kids enjoyed being involved in preparing and serving food and were ready to learn and play sport. They received on-the-ground health promotion support from DPV Health.
Joint winner: Heywood & District Secondary College
This small rural secondary school in south-west Victoria empowered students to take over the canteen menu – teenagers came up with a meal deal with a side-salad option. They received local support from Healthy Kids Advisor Jane Killmister from the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation (SAKGF).
Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) category
Winner: Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre
Kids at this community-based OSHC, in Melbourne’s south-east, enjoyed zucchini slice and delicious veggie-loaded curries after school. They received on-the-ground health promotion support from Laura Ayres at Monash Health.
Sports Clubs category
Winner: Mulgrave Football Club
Active young players at this footy club in Melbourne’s south-east were nourished with hummus and carrot sticks, protein balls, salad rolls, homemade air fryer wedges and trail mix. They received local health promotion support from Link Health and Community.
Community, Sports & Recreation category
Winner: Peter Krenz Leisure Centre
This leisure centre in the town of Eaglehawk of Greater Bendigo added delicious items like vegetable frittata and frozen fruit-and-yogurt icypoles. They received local support from Healthy Kids Advisor Rebecca Fry from SAKGF.
CHAMPION AWARDS
Individuals from Vic Kids Eat Well member organisations, health promotion professionals and networks who made a significant impact and demonstrated outstanding community support.
Community champion
Winner: Kerrie Smith, volunteer at Bolwarra Primary School
As a school volunteer in south-west Victoria, Kerrie brought a garden-to-plate philosophy to the canteen and ran a healthy smoothie fundraiser for kids. She received on-the-ground Vic Kids Eat Well support from Maddi Cram at Portland District Health and from Healthy Kids Advisor Jane Killmister from SAKGF.
Health Promoter champion
Winner: Tameaka Lakey and Alexandra Bell, Ballarat Community Health
Tameaka and Alexandra mentored other health promotion professionals and supported 14 Vic Kids Eat Well member organisations in the Ballarat region so they could add delicious and healthy food and drink options for local kids.
Kids champion
Winner: St Joseph’s Primary School students, Coleraine
These junior winners from a regional town in western Victoria designed their own canteen called “Kids Kitchen” and helped prepare and sell delicious and healthy food like veggie loaded baked potatoes. They received local support from Healthy Kids Advisor Monique Sobey from SAKGF.
Network champion
Winner: Extend OSHC Vic Kids Eat Well South East Network
Health promotion professionals from 9 organisations joined forces and won, supporting 27 OSHC services in Melbourne’s south-east.
Organisations can join for free today at vickidseatwell.health.vic.gov.au