The School Breakfast Program (SBP) is one of the most important and unique programs run by Foodbank WA. The program commenced in 2001, with 17 schools registering in response to a growing awareness that students were going to school most days without eating breakfast. Over 430 schools across the state are now involved in the Program, stretching from Kalumburu and Kununurra in the north to Esperance and Albany in the south, to remote schools along the South Australia/Northern Territory borders. The Program directly reaches over 17,000 children, serving over 55,700 breakfasts and 22,800 ’emergency’ meals per week.
Foodbank WA supplies quality School Breakfast Program food products to registered schools free of charge, to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to receive a wholesome, nutritious breakfast on a regular basis. Non-perishable SBP product include canned fruit in natural juice, wheat biscuits, oats, Vegemite, canned spaghetti, canned baked beans and UHT milk.. Where possible (subject to availability) schools are able to access fresh produce, including bread, fresh fruit and vegetables and yoghurt.
The School Breakfast Program would not be possible without the generous support of Foodbank WA’s government, corporate and philanthropic sponsors. These organisations provide funding so that Foodbank is able to purchase the breakfast food items and pay for the freight to deliver the breakfast product to outlying regional schools.
School Breakfast Program Impact
With respect to educational factors, School Breakfast Programs were perceived to contribute positively to:
- Student punctuality by 81% of schools
- Student attendance by 83% of schools
- Student behaviour by 90% of schools
- Student academic outcomes by 76% of schools
- Student concentration by 95% of schools
- Students’ social skills by 89% of schools
- Student engagement with class activities by 81% of schools
With respect to wellbeing factors, School Breakfast Programs were perceived to contribute positively to:
- Students’ physical health by 97% of schools
- Students’ mental health by 91% of schools
With respect to nutrition factors, School Breakfast Programs were perceived to contribute positively to:
- Students’ awareness of healthy eating by 90% of schools
- Student food selection and food preparation skills by 75% of schools
- Student eating behaviours generally by 86% of schools
With respect to social and environmental factors, School Breakfast Programs were perceived to contribute positively to:
- The health promoting environment of the school by 93% of schools
- Social relations between students and school staff by 91% of schools
- Social relations between students and community members by 74% of schools
To view the 2014 School Breakfast Program Survey Report in full, please visit the Research & Evaluation tab.