More than 200 additional schools across Victoria are now serving free, healthy breakfasts thanks to the expansion of the State Government’s School Breakfast Clubs Program – giving busy families across more than 1,200 participating schools one less thing to worry about as they start the day.
On 1 September. Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Ben Carroll announced that nearly 60 million free breakfasts have now been served to students across the Education State – ensuring no student starts the day hungry.
“Hunger has a big impact on children’s learning, which is why we’re helping families by expanding School Breakfast Clubs to every government school,” he said.
“We know how tough it is for families right now. That’s why we’re helping busy families with the cost of living and the cost of learning.”
The program provides free healthy breakfasts, lunches, snacks and take-home food packs to students across all year levels. Families can save on meal costs while ensuring their children receive proper nutrition delivered in partnership with Foodbank Victoria.
By supporting students who may otherwise go without breakfast, the School Breakfast Club Program is helping students achieve their best at school and beyond.
The School Breakfast Club Program has transformed learning for students who arrive at school hungry, ensuring they have the energy and focus needed to engage with their education and reach their full potential.
The government says it significantly expanded the program with a $21.1 million boost in the Victorian Budget 2024/25, building on the $141.2 million invested since 2016. The program will be available to every government school and over 600,000 students by June 2026 through a partnership with Foodbank Victoria.
Further, 211 schools joined the program during the 2024 and 2025 school years as part of the expansion, with menu options including cereals, fresh fruit, soups and rice dishes that are healthy and prioritise fresh, locally produced foods.
The School Breakfast Club Program also supports cooking classes for families from 166 Victorian Government schools, with a focus on the preparation of healthy, affordable meals at home.
The government also pointed to other support, including free glasses for kids, free dental checkups with Smile Squad, affordable uniforms, free swimming lessons, free pads and tampons in government schools, and more.
