Breakfast clubs for some of Victoria's most disadvantaged primary schools help students concentrate better, but the benefits extend far beyond learning, a Victoria University report found.
Dr Fiona MacDonald evaluated the Victorian Government's three-year $13.7 million partnership program with Foodbank Victoria, designed to tackle the disadvantage faced by one-in-five students who go to school hungry.
The program offered more than 50,000 breakfasts a week to 500 disadvantaged schools between 2016 and 2018, supplying cereal, canned fruit, milk, toast, and juice to thousands of children across the state.
"Nutrition and responding to immediate hunger needs are the focus, but importantly, the Clubs provide welcoming spaces where children and their families can connect with teachers, volunteers and the broader school community," she said.
The Clubs are available to all students at each participating school to discourage shame or social stigma of admitting to being hungry or living in poverty.
Decisions about Club frequency, times and staffing are made at school level, with about 40% of schools offering Breakfast Club every day, and more than half creating leadership roles for senior students as part of the program.
Some schools even incorporate cooking classes, kitchen gardens, or eggs from school chickens into their programs.
Great way to start the day
"Teachers report the greatest impact on student learning is children's capacity to concentrate in class, but the nurturing environment of the Clubs helps students feel cared for before they even start the school day," she said.
Volunteer workers include teachers, parents and grandparents, or at some schools, paid staff.
Places such as the United Kingdom have long provided free food in schools as a policy intervention for children's diet and to improve student learning. Australian schools are increasingly being asked to respond to the hunger needs of students.
Dr MacDonald recommends the Breakfast Club program be continued with the support of the Department of Education and Training and Foodbank Victoria.
Read Dr Fiona MacDonald's Evaluation of the School Breakfast Clubs Program.
