Students and teachers at 30 primary schools in Lismore, the Northern Rivers and Northern NSW are using grants to help grow their own kitchen gardens, to support the Live Life Well @ School Program to promote physical activity and healthy eating. 

Northern NSW Local Health District Acting Director of Integrated Care and Allied Health, Kathryn Watson, said a total of $15,000 has been awarded to 30 schools in the region. 

Live Life Well @ School is a joint initiative between NSW Health, the Department of Education, Catholic and Independent Schools to support children to have healthy food and be more active during the school day. Healthy eating and active living have clear learning and wellbeing benefits for children.

Schools can contact their local NSW Health Support Officer to learn more at: [email protected]

Minister for Health, Ryan Park said, “School gardens can foster children’s wellbeing and lead to increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

“School gardens provide learning opportunities for students and can engage the wider school community in the process.”

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin said, “We are delighted to support so many schools in our region to start up or revitalise their edible gardens.

“Some schools are using the grants to grow bush tucker or to distribute or sell produce to the local community as a fundraiser.

“It’s great to see so many schools linking their gardens to Live Life Well initiatives, including vegetable, fruit and water breaks (Crunch&Sip®) and the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy.”

School garden grant recipients are:

1. Ballina Public School

2. Biala Special School

3. Blakebrook Public School

4. Bogangar Public School

5. Broadwater Public School

6. Byron Bay Public School

7. Centaur Primary School

8. Clarence Valley Anglican School

9. Condong Public School

10. Drake Public School

11. Dunoon Public School

12. Duranbah Public School

13. Empire Vale Public School

14. Eureka Public School

15. Evans River K-12 School

16. Gillwinga Public School - South Grafton

17. Gulmarrad Public School

18. Kingscliff Public School

19. Larnook Public School

20. Lismore South Public School

21. Maclean Public School

22. Murwillumbah East Public School

23. Nimbin Central School

24. Pacific Hope Christian School - Tweed Heads South

25. Sathya Sai College Primary

26. St Finbarrs Primary School

27. The Small School Murwillumbah

28. Ulmarra Public School

29. Urbenville Public School

30. Wilsons Creek Public School