An evaluation from the Menzies Institute for Medical Research shows the Tasmanian School Lunch Project provided 190,000 nutritious cooked lunches to 4,104 students in 30 schools in 2023.
Principals and other school staff said that the project was a positive experience, as students had access to a healthy lunch, could try new foods and it promoted healthy eating.
Other schools added benefit to the project by linking it with curriculum such as through hospitality training and leadership opportunities.
Two thirds of school staff noted the School Lunch project helped build social connections. Many students said that they “like eating with my friends.”
Students enjoyed the cooked lunches saying “you know it’s filling, you look forward to it three days a week”, but they would like more involvement in choosing and preparing the food.
Parents also liked the School Lunch Project with nearly three quarters saying their child ate the lunches on the days they were available. Yet half of parents still packed food on School Lunch Project days “just in case” their child did not like the meal or remained hungry.
Principals, staff, parents and students said that the lunches would help families who were finding it difficult to afford food with students aware that ‘It is some people’s only meal’.
Julie Dunbabin, School Lunch Project Manager, said it was a team effort.
“This was an ambitious task made possible through collaboration, a shared vision and commitment from all organisations and individuals involved,” she said.
The government-funded lunches were provided 1-4 days per week for 1-2 years. Key partners included Loaves and Fishes who sourced, cooked (using local ingredients where possible) and delivered food to schools. Schools could choose to prepare the lunches themselves. The menu was designed by dietitians from the Tasmanian Department of Health with input from chefs.
Although the cost to prepare each lunch increased from $3.03 in 2022 to $5.23 in 2023, the overall total cost decreased from $11.55 to $9.98 as more schools came on board, representing efficiencies of scale.
Nearly all parents said they were willing to contribute towards the costs, particularly if it meant the lunches could continue, and were happy to pay around $3 per lunch. A voluntary gold coin donation was requested from those able to pay.
Dr Kim Jose from the Menzies Institute said whilst there were challenges implementing the new approach to providing lunches in schools – such as providing food to students with allergies or food intolerances and ensuring adequate staff and space to deliver the lunches – the project was well received by the entire school community.
“With the commitment by the Tasmanian Government to extend the School Lunch Project to include a total of 60 schools in 2025, the Menzies evaluation team has made recommendations to strengthen the implementation and evaluation of the expanded project,” she noted.
The cost to extend the program from 30 schools to 60 is budgeted as $14.6 million over two years, including $600,000 in capital infrastructure.
At the state election earlier this year, Labor promised to roll out the program to all schools in Tasmania.
