BREAKFAST and lunch programs are set to be on the menu at more Victorian schools thanks to a Labor election promise.
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Labor candidate for Buninyong Michaela Settle backed the promise at Sebastopol Primary School where she volunteers in a breakfast club.
“I’ve been a breakfast club volunteer for over two years here and I’ve seen how important breakfast club can be,” Ms Settle said.
“I’ve seen the look on their faces when they get a warm Milo in the middle of Ballarat winter and you can tell it makes a real difference.”
Labor provides free breakfasts in 500 primary schools each week, including more than 217,000 meals dished up in Ballarat the past four years. This move would expand the program into secondary schools and lunches.
Ms Settle said one in seven children arrive at school on an empty stomach and the meals made a big difference in helping children to focus in class and get the most of their education.
About 10 per cent of children who attend breakfast club also have nothing packed for lunch.
Labor will work with Foodbank to source fresh local food. This comes a day after Labor pledge to develop a Foodbank hub in Ballarat.
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