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What is it?
Good Start Breakfast Clubs provide a healthy breakfast and nutrition education every day to school kids in areas of greatest need around Australia, to help them start the day well and concentrate better in the classroom.
Who is it for?
It is predominantly for primary school children, although Good Start Breakfast Clubs do operate in some high schools as well.
All children in a school can participate, which not only ensures that everyone can receive a nutritious breakfast and learn vital social and nutritional skills, but that the possible stigmas associated with participation are reduced.
Geographic areas considered socially or economically disadvantaged are given particular focus.
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What's important about providing a nutritious breakfast to young children?
Many nutritionists consider breakfast to be the most important meal of the day. It assists children's physical, mental and emotional development. Children who miss breakfast are less able to concentrate, are more prone to fidgeting and find learning difficult by mid-morning. Furthermore, there is evidence to suggest that children who miss out on a healthy breakfast are more likely to suffer from obesity later in life. |
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It is estimated that up to 40% of children regularly miss breakfast.1
Rates of breakfast omission are believed to be higher in schools in disadvantaged areas. Children from lower socio-economic backgrounds are six times more likely to miss breakfast than students from higher socio-economic backgrounds.2
The reasons for missing breakfast are numerous and varied however Australia-wide it is estimated that approximately 5-6% of people experience times when they have no food and no money to purchase food.3
In areas of high disadvantage this number is much higher and children can be particularly vulnerable.
1. Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Study, The University of Sydney, 2001
2. Does Your School Need to Provide Breakfast? Guidelines to Needs Assessment, Implementation and Evaluation. New South Wales Department of Education and Training, State Health Publication 9700011, December 1997.
3. See "National Nutrition Survey" 1995 and "NSW Child Health Survey" 2001
Why is Red Cross involved?
The Good Start Breakfast Club not only provides kids with a healthy breakfast but also provides an opportunity for nutrition education -- both of which help to combat health problems such as diabetes and obesity later in life.
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Where are Good Start Breakfast Clubs located?
GSBC now operates in all States and Territory having an amazing impact, especially during the current economic climate which has brought challenges to many families.
There are more than 260 Good Start Breakfast Clubs operating nationally serving in excess of 800,000 meals a year. |
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With ongoing support from the public and our principal program partners, the Good Start Breakfast Club will continue to expand to provide the service in areas of greatest need around Australia.
How can I get involved?
- Volunteer - The role of volunteers is critical to the success of clubs. By volunteering as little as two hours per week, you can contribute directly to the positive development of a young child and will be joining a team of 3,500 volunteers nationally who are currently running Good Start Breakfast Clubs. Contact the Good Start Breakfast Club in your region listed below.
- Become a sponsor of the program by calling 02 9229 4130.
Contacts
National
Jennifer Evans, National Program Coordinator Families and Children (including Food Security)
Email: jeevans@redcross.org.au
Phone: (02) 9229 4269
Sebastien Brignano, National Indigenous Services and Program Development - Nutrition and Food Security
Email: sbrignano@redcross.org.au
Phone: (07) 3367 4722
New South Wales
Ciara Paramore, NSW Youth and Food Security Program Coordinator
Email: cparamore@redcross.org.au
Phone: (02) 9290 8914
Victoria
Lynn Schweicker, Project Officer Youth and Family Services
Email: lschweiker@redcross.org.au
Phone: (03) 8327 7809
Tasmania
Michelle Ewington, Manager Youth and Family Programs
Email: mewington@redcross.org.au
Phone: (03)6235 6018
South Australia
Holley Jones, Team Leader Food Security
Email: hjones@redcross.org.au
Phone: (08) 8100 4679
Western Australia
Barbara Hollin, Senior Manager Regional Development and Aboriginal Support
Email: bhollin@redcross.org.au
Phone: (08) 9225 1984
Narelle Little, Community Nutrition Programs Manager/Nutritionist
Email: nlittle@redcross.org.au
Phone: (08) 9225 1951
Northern Territory
Jessica Watkinson, Nutrition Program Manager
Email: jwatkinson@redcross.org.au
Phone: (08) 8924 3947
Queensland
Nicole McGregor, Project Worker Youth and Development Services
Email: nmcgregor@redcross.org.au
Phone: (07) 3367 4719
Australian Capital Territory and south-east New South Wales region
Penny Jackson, Manager Nutrition Services
Email: pjackson@redcross.org.au
Phone: (02) 6287 4311
What do schools say about Good Start Breakfast Club?
'The breakfast club gives all of our children the opportunity to have a healthy start to their day. As most of the students leave home early to travel to school by special transport, breakfast is often a meal that it missed.
'The program here is short and intensive and it is often quite demanding being in a class of six students with one teacher. Without nutrition in the morning meal, energy quickly dissipates.
'Children gain excellent informal experience in a social setting by sharing a meal with others. There are procedures that the children follow each morning to ensure that all enjoy their interaction with adults and other children. Children practice the skills of listening, talking in turn, being considerate of others and being responsible for requesting and cleaning up their breakfast settings.
'We have been most fortunate to have the assistance of Red Cross volunteers - the role modelling they provide in the kitchen and in the playground is invaluable.'
--- NSW School Principal.
'I had a student who could not concentrate and by recess had no energy. The student is now (since breakfast club commenced) on-task, has much better concentration, is interacting with his peers in a more positive manner and is happy!'
--- NT Teacher.
'Prior to the Breakfast Club we had a marked rise in behaviour problems around 10.30am each day due to irritability through hunger. Some children are picked up from home at 7am and have little time for breakfast.
'No breakfast impacts on a child's ability to learn and function appropriately and meet the demands of the day.
'The children are provided with nutritious food which they would not necessarily receive at home. At the Breakfast Club students have the opportunity to practice appropriate manners and social skills and the teachers also have the opportunity to monitor the social behaviour of students.
'We would like to thank you for your support on behalf of our students, families and staff.'
--- NSW School Principal.
'One child was coming to school hungry and was often 'caught' out of class going through school bags to find food to eat. This has now ceased as the child is going to breakfast club.'
--- Queensland Teacher.
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