This will allow BDHC to offer more food chice to aged care residents, patients and staff and can extend food services, like creating baked goods for the opportunity shop’s community espresso bar.

BDHC already also prepares meals for children at Ballan Childcare Centre, Meals on Wheels for the Ballan community, and a weekly meal for Ballan Senior Citizens Centre.

Buninyong MP Geoff Howard, who officially opened the kitchen this week, said it was great to have the new kitchen up and cooking in time for Christmas.

“This is just another example of the Ballan community getting behind this important regional health facility, which has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past decade,” Mr Howard said.

“I’d also like to acknowledge the dedicated staff here who do a remarkable job keeping this community healthy.”

The kitchen’s menus are dietitian-designed and cater for complex allergies.

All food is cooked from scratch.

The kitchen project was the result of more than $22,000 in community fundraising efforts and almost $108,700 in a state government grant under the regional health infrastructure fund.

A $10,000 Grosvenor Foundation grant allowed the purchase of a new oven.