New report on rural meal provision gap prompts call for targeted early learning funding

A new national report has called for targeted investment in food provision across early learning services with findings revealing only 58% of long day care services in small rural towns provided meals, including lunch, compared to 91% nationally.

The report, Food where it matters most, was developed by Social Ventures Australia (SVA) and the Queensland Brain Institute at the University of Queensland. It looks at where meals are being provided through services and highlights gaps with childhood disadvantage.

"Children should be able to access good quality, nutritious and culturally appropriate food as a fundamental part of their involvement in early learning," UQ Professor Karen Thorpe said.

"Children who go hungry can’t control themselves or learn," Professor Thorpe said

Smaller and rural services face gaps in meal provision

The report, reveals the first national snapshot of meal provision in Australian long day care services. The lowest meal provision was found in Tasmania at just 66%.

Meal provision was most correlated to the size of the service. Small centres with less than 30 approved places had a 67% meal provision while centres with 100+ places had a 98% meal provision. This is due to financial and resource issues affecting meal provision.

This report looked at meal provision but did not look at nutritional content of the meals. It does not mean that children attending these services do not get food. Some families may provide food. 

Proposed 50-community trial would test funding and support needs

SVA are recommending that there should be targeted meal provision within ECEC. They suggest starting with 50 communities that have the highest risk of food insecurity to trial how nutritious meals can be provided.

Meals can be costly for providers. Budgets, facilities and staff training were identified as barriers to meal provision and nutritious meals.

Recommendations include providing funding based on need so that it is better reflecting the cost of supporting children and communities with disadvantage. Meal menus, meal times, staff involvement and family engagement should be considered when providing quality practice. 

Food access reform needs practical backing for services

Healthy eating is currently covered under the NQS Element 2.1.3. The ACECQA guidelines show that children should have access to safe drinking water and be provided with appropriate food and drinks regularly. If services provide food then they must ensure that it is nutritious and sufficient. It must also meet children’s specific dietary needs. 

The report recommends that there is increased recognition of access to nutritious food in the national quality environment. It also recommends greater coordination with an ECEC Commission. 

To increase meal provision there must be support in place. Smaller/rural services will need support with the cost of food, good facilities and staff. By providing a targeted meal program, they will trial what is required to ensure meal provision can be sustained in areas where children will benefit most.

Read the report ‘Food where it matters most’ and UQ research announcement.