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Kitchen Garden Program

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

The Kitchen Garden Program is a positive, preventative health and education program that supports wellbeing, learning and development outcomes, enabling positive skills and habits for life.

Overview

Alignment with Be You Domains

  • Mentally Healthy Communities

  • Family Partnerships

  • Learning Resilience

  • Responding Together

Alignment with Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF)

  • Children are confident and involved learners
  • Children are connected with and contribute to their world
  • Children are effective communicators
  • Children have a strong sense of identity
  • Children have a strong sense of wellbeing

Alignment with Australian Curriculum

  • English
  • Health and PE
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Mathematics
  • Science
  • The Arts

Target audience

  • Early learning
  • Primary school
  • Secondary school

Target groups

  • Small group
  • Whole class
  • Whole school

Aims

The Kitchen Garden Program is a holistic program that aims to support children and young people's healthy physical, emotional, educational and social development. The program aims to improve school engagement and social connection for children, young people, their families and communities, enabling them to form positive food, health, sustainability and wellbeing habits for life.

Program theory

The program's approach to health promotion through pleasurable food education harnesses the power of values-based messaging and positive psychology. The program is aligned with the Early Years Learning Framework, National Quality Standard and the Australian Curriculum. It is included on the Wellbeing panels of state education departments, and on ARACY's Wellbeing in Education panel for its demonstrated impact in all 6 domains of the Nest, Australia’s wellbeing framework for children and young people. The program is also aligned with the World Health Organization's Health Promoting Schools, the National Children's Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the National Preventive Health Strategy.

Topics

The program aims to positively influence mental health and wellbeing by improving food literacy and behaviour; building life-long skills, confidence, agency and pride in achievements; supporting all types of learners to experience school success; increasing physical activity and the therapeutic benefits of green spaces and nature connection; and engaging students, families, and communities in school life thereby building social capacity and connection.

Cost

Early learning services: $975 for a 24-month membership, followed by $440 for a 24-month renewal. Primary schools: $1650 for a 24-month membership, followed by $440 for a 24-month renewal. Secondary schools: $1650 for a 24-month membership, followed by $440 for a 24-month renewal.

Program structure

Educators deliver the program to children and young people through hands-on kitchen and garden experiences.

Instructor

  • Educator
  • Wellbeing leader

Instructor training

Educator training is offered through a combination of online webinars and professional development sessions, ongoing one-on-one phone/online individualised support appointments and optional face-to-face workshops.

Supporting resources or materials available with program

  • Manual
  • Online webinars
  • Posters
  • Workbook
  • Other (please specify)

Other materials

Resource packs, an online members' portal and an online individualised support tool.

Ongoing support

Training, guidance, support and educational resources are available throughout the course of the membership. Ongoing support is available for members and is offered at no extra cost via a dedicated support line, one-on-one phone/online scheduled support sessions, email or web forms. Schools may opt to participate in extra Professional Development sessions (in addition to those included in the membership) at approximately $45 per person, per session.

Parent involvement

  • Attend program sessions with child
  • Online resources

Origin of program

Australia

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Program authors

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

Address
PO Box 104,Abbotsford VIC 3067 Australia
Phone
610384151993
Email
info@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au
website
Visit website

Ratings

4/4 Evidence
3/4 Implementation

Summary of evidence factors

This is a summary of the evaluation or research study characteristics that contribute to the program’s evidence rating.

Positive impact on at least one outcome for children and/or young people? Yes
Link between program description and theory of change Comprehensive
Study design Quasi-experimental
Independence Completely

Summary of implementation factors

This is a summary of the program’s characteristics that contribute to its implementation rating.

Feedback sought from participants Yes
Feedback sought from instructors Yes
Groups program is not suitable for Assessed and reported
Training provided during study Face to face train-the-trainer in person
Ongoing instructor support provided during study Yes

Context

This is a summary of the context in which the evidence for the program was established.

Study Participants

Primary school
Country of Study/s

Australia
Location of Study/s in Australia

VIC
Evaluation of program in culturally and linguistically diverse populations Yes
Evaluation of program in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people Yes
Evaluation of program in low socioeconomic groups Yes
Developmental based adaptations to program design and delivery Yes
Evaluation of program in children and young people with disability and/or learning difference Yes

Last updated: 8 July 2024