36 additional Tasmanian schools will join a free breakfast program from Term 1 next year.
Education Minister Jo Palmer announced the expansion during a visit to Glenorchy Primary School, one of the new schools set to benefit from the initiative in 2026.
“The response from schools involved in the program has been incredibly positive and reflects the positive impact it is having on student learning and behaviour,” Palmer said.
The expansion is part of a $6.5 million, four-year investment, with the program delivered in partnership with Variety Tasmania.
According to Variety Tasmania CEO Mohammad Aldergham, hunger significantly impacts educational outcomes.
“We know that students who attend after school hungry, they lose on average about two hours of learning every day. If you add this over the year, that’s nearly a tenth of missed opportunity in learning,” Aldergham said.
“If you add this over the year, that’s nearly a tenth of missed opportunity in learning.”
The program, which currently operates in 40 schools across Tasmania, aims to eventually provide free breakfast to approximately 50,000 students across all government schools over the next three years.
Schools selected for the expansion include Ravenswood Heights Primary School, Cosgrove High School, King Island District High School, and 33 others from across the state.
“It does allow the teaching staff and non-teaching staff to connect with the students, build that rapport, and of course, you know, build up the social connection between each other,” Aldergham said.
The Variety model offers a “click and deliver” system designed to minimise administrative burden on school staff and volunteers.
Schools have the option to maintain existing breakfast programs or transition to the new system.
Glenorchy Primary School Principal Michelle De Paoli says their school has run a self-funded school breakfast club for “many years”, but the new partnership with Variety mean’s the school’s funds can be directed into student learning.
“Classrooms are busy spaces … Every minute is precious in learning, so breakfast club sets them up before school starts,” she said.
“It’s not just the full tummy, which is really important, but being able to connect with our students is absolutely one of the sheer joys of my day.”
The full list of new schools:
1. Ravenswood Heights Primary School
2. Port Dalrymple School
3. East Tamar Primary School
4. Waverley Primary School
5. St Marys District School
6. Ringarooma Primary School
7. Campbell Town District High School
8. Mowbray Heights Primary School
9. Scottsdale Primary School
10. Exeter High School
11. Lilydale District School
12. St Leonards Primary School
13. Cressy District High School
14. Smithton High School
15. Havenview Primary School
16. Hillcrest Primary School
17. Ulverstone Secondary College
18. Reece High School
19. Table Cape Primary School
20. Natone Primary School
21. Somerset Primary School
22. Ulverstone Primary School
23. King Island District High School
24. JRLF – Senior School
25. Rokeby Primary School
26. Cosgrove High School
27. Bayview Secondary College
28. Warrane Primary School
29. Glenorchy Primary School
30. Longford Primary School
31. Tasman District School
32. Orford Primary School
33. Southern Support
34. Fairview Primary School
35. Moonah Primary School
36. Clarendon Vale Primary School
