Ballarat Community Health’s (BCH) Health Promoting Schools team has joined with the Victorian Department of Health, Cancer Council Vic and Nutrition Australia to ensure kids in our region have access to healthier food and drink options in the places they play, learn and live.
Vic Kids Eat Well (VKEW) supports a range of community organisations from schools and outside school hours care (OSHC) services to sports clubs and community spaces, to promote healthier food and drink options as well as healthier fundraising activities. BCH Health Promotion Officers are registered VKEW Health Promoters and have access to training and development, a comprehensive range of resources and an extensive support framework to help promote, support and implement changes to create healthy food and drink environments for children and young people in our community.
Local Health Promoter at BCH, Alexandra Bell says the focus is on simple changes and healthy swaps that organisations and clubs can make that make a big impact.
“We’re excited to launch the new?Vic Kids Eat Well?movement for schools and outside school hours care services in the Ballarat area,” Ms Bell said.
“We’re currently recruiting schools and services into the movement to help reach as many local kids as possible with healthier food and drink options”.
“We’re making it easier for Ballarat kids to get the fuel they need to thrive. We’re improving access to delicious and nutritious food in the places that kids frequent, like their schools and out-of-school-hours care,” Ms Bell said.
Local schools and their outside school hours care services have been invited to attend the official Ballarat launch and can sign up to join the movement at that time.
“The launch event will give schools and services the opportunity to learn more about the?Vic Kids Eat Well?movement and the support available from BCH to participate.”
“Schools and services who sign up on the day will receive a voucher of their choice to help kickstart the Vic Kids Eat Well movement at their school,” Ms Bell said.
Attendees at the launch event will also hear from local champions Mount Rowan Secondary College about their?Vic Kids Eat Well?journey and learn more about healthier fundraising options that are available locally.
LAUNCH EVENT:
Monday 27 March, 2023
Ballarat Community Health, 12 Lilburne Street, Lucas
4.00pm – 5.30pm
Guest speakers:
- Laura Paulsen, Manager Healthy Communities & Nutrition, Cancer Council Victoria
- Chloe Hewitt & Jody Burgess, Food Tech Assistant/Canteen Assistant, Mount Rowan Secondary College
To find out more about how Ballarat Community Health supports children and young people through schools, visit our website: https://bchc.org.au/health-promoting-school-news/
Find out more about VKEW here: https://www.vickidseatwell.health.vic.gov.au/downloads/resources/health-professionals/Vic-Kids-Eat-Well-Flyer.pdf
