Free lunches in Vic

There is such a thing as a free lunch, Victoria is expanding the School Breakfast Clubs Program to offer lunches and school holiday supplies to children who need them.

The breakfast program has been a success, emulating that which similar programs have had in the UK and US. Since the program started in 2016, more than 8.8 million breakfasts have been delivered to Victorian students.

St Albans North Primary School hosted the launch of the $58 million expansion of the School Breakfast Clubs Program. This is the first week that the new lunch program is being offered at the school.

A limited lunch menu starts at some schools from Term 3, with a broader menu offering to be rolled out.

A total of 500 new schools will join the School Breakfast Clubs Program next year, with lunches and school holiday supplies to be provided to students who need them. The first 250 schools to participate in the program will receive their invitations in coming days.

The expansion will offer meal preparation and nutrition training for students and families at 100 schools in 2020.

Schools that currently host the School Breakfast Clubs Program will start serving lunches at school and providing holiday supplies to students who need it in Term 3 of this year.

Under the expansion, the School Breakfast Clubs Program will be rolled out to an additional 500 schools, with a total of 1000 government primary, secondary, P-12 and special schools set to benefit by the end of 2020.

The breakfast and lunch menu offerings include a range of healthy options such as muesli, Vita Brits, milk, baked beans, fruit cups, fresh apples, Vegemite and honey, and lunch bowls.