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OSHC winners named in Vic Kids Eat Well Awards
Freya Lucas
Mar 12, 2024
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Nine winners, including two outside school hours care (OSHC) services have been named in the Vic Kids Eat Well Awards.
Over 1000 organisations have now joined Vic Kids Eat Well reaching around 200,000 children across the state. This initiative is supported by the Victorian Government and delivered by Cancer Council Victoria, in partnership with Nutrition Australia.The awards acknowledge organisations and individuals who boosted healthy and delicious food and drinks options for children, such as adding colourful veggies to meals and swapping sugary drinks for healthy hydration options.
Other winners in the state wide competition included primary schools, a regional secondary school, a football club, a leisure centre, networks of community health organisations and a dedicated community volunteer.
"We want all Victorian children to enjoy a healthy and happy childhood that establishes the foundations for a life of good health and wellbeing – Vic Kids Eat Well is a vital tool that is helping to educate children and young people and I congratulate all the winners who are empowering them to make healthy choices,” Victoria’s Minister for Health, the Hon. Mary-Anne Thomas said.
Merinda Park Learning and Community Centre (pictured) secured the win in the OSHC category thanks to ‘on the ground’ support from Laura Ayres at Monash Health, who helped the service to make a series of changes, which see the children enjoying things like zucchini slice and vegetable laden curries after school.
Extend OSHC Vic Kids Eat Well South East Network were named as the Network champion, in recognition of the way that health promotion professionals from 9 organisations joined forces to support 27 OSHC services in Melbourne’s south-east. Cancer Council Victoria, CEO, Todd Harper AM, said the Vic Kids Eat Well Awards showcased the healthy and delicious changes happening for children in canteens, lunch orders, at events and in fundraising across the state. “It is wonderful to celebrate the second year of Vic Kids Eat Well with our 9 winners today,” he said.
“Bite by bite, we’re creating a healthy start for Victorian kids along with the support of dedicated community health promotion teams.”
Visit the website to view the winners. To learn more about the program, or to sign up, please visit the Vic Kids Eat Well website.
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