Motions

School Meal Programs

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (11:04): I move:

That the Social Development Committee inquire into, and report on, the prevalence and effectiveness of current programs in preschools and schools to ensure children and young people do not go hungry during the day, with particular reference to:

(a) the proportion of children and young people in South Australia who go to preschool and school without having breakfast and/or bring lunch;

(b) the academic and social impacts of preschool and school hunger;

(c) the effectiveness of the recently expanded public schools breakfast program in 2023 by the South Australian government;

(d) ways to support families to decrease the number of children and young people going to preschool and school hungry;

(e) the operation of other national and international preschool and school meal programs and their effectiveness; and

(f) any other related matters.

Research indicates that approximately one in three South Australian students sometimes or often will skip breakfast, with nearly 10 per cent skipping breakfast every day. This statistic translates to thousands of children starting their day with an empty belly and without a nutritious lunch, and we know that this impacts their ability to learn effectively. Tired and hungry kids are also more prone to behavioural issues, social difficulties and mental health challenges, and this affects the overall classroom dynamics.

This inquiry will allow us to assess the extent of the issue in our state and explore policy solutions. Consider the story of Emily, a dedicated teacher in the southern suburbs in my electorate of Davenport. She often observes students arriving at school without having eaten, their concentration waning as the day progresses. Emily recalls a particular student who, due to financial hardship at home, frequently attends class without breakfast or lunch. This child's academic performance and social interactions suffer as a result, highlighting the immediate need for intervention.

The ramifications of hunger in educational settings are profound. Children who miss meals are more likely to experience diminished cognitive function, reduced attention spans and lower academic achievement. Socially, these kids can feel isolated or stigmatised, leading to behavioural issues and strained peer relationships. At schools in all of our electorates, teachers are facing these challenges daily.

Many students come to class tired and hungry. Many teachers I know are dipping into their own pockets to provide fresh fruit in their classrooms, knowing that there is a need, and many schools will ask the canteen to prepare a sandwich for a child if they notice that they have come to school with an empty lunchbox. Despite the school's best efforts though, the lack of adequate nutrition remains a significant barrier to student success.

In response to this pressing issue, the South Australian government allocated an additional $6.5 million in 2023 to expand the school breakfast program, aiming to provide over one million additional free breakfast meals to students over four years. This initiative, delivered in partnership with organisations like Foodbank SA and KickStart for Kids, has been a commendable step forward.

However, while the expansion has increased the availability of meals, challenges persist. Ensuring equitable access and encouraging participation among the most vulnerable students remain critical issues. Some children, due to stigma or logistical barriers, may still not benefit from these programs.

Globally, various models have been implemented to combat child hunger. In Finland, for instance, a universal free school lunch program has been in place since 1948, ensuring all students receive a nutritious meal each day. Similarly, the UK's Universal Infant Free School Meals initiative has demonstrated positive impacts on student concentration and academic performance. These international examples underscore the potential benefits of adopting comprehensive meal programs here.

Closer to home, I am particularly interested in the work being done in my original home of Tasmania, where their Healthy School Lunches program is already seeing positive impacts, such as improvements in attendance, behaviour and educational outcomes. Launched in 2022, the program started in 15 schools and has since expanded significantly. In fact, such has been the success of this program that the Tasmanian government has plans to further increase the number of schools offering the Healthy School Lunches program to 60 sites across the state.

One of the key benefits of this program is that it offers healthy cooked lunches to students for a voluntary gold coin donation. This is helping families save up to $950 a year, relieving pressure on household budgets at a time when every cent counts. It is a program that is making it easier for families to ensure their children are eating well, without the added stress of preparing or paying for a lunch every day. Perhaps more importantly, it is also supporting families that may not have the resources to provide their kids with nutritious and filling meals each day as they head off to school.

Teachers have seen positive changes in Tasmania as well. Students are attending school more regularly, showing better behaviour and achieving improved academic outcomes. Moreover, they are trying new foods and developing healthy eating habits that will benefit them long term. I would like to acknowledge the Hon. Emily Bourke from the other place for the work that she has already done in this space. One initiative that she has been involved in is a trial currently underway in Murray Bridge South Primary and Fraser Park Primary. It is an initiative that is underway for term 1 of this school year, so it would be ideal timing for the committee to consider the results of this trial along with exploring what else is happening around the world and across the nation.

This work goes so much further than setting up our kids for the best chance at school. It is also a preventative health measure. Australia has the second highest obesity rate in the world. We have an opportunity here to educate kids and change bad habits. Ensuring that our children have access to nutritious meals is not merely a matter of policy, it is a moral imperative. The stories from our schools highlight the tangible impact of hunger on education and wellbeing. By conducting a thorough inquiry into this issue, we can develop informed, effective strategies to eradicate hunger in our preschools and our schools, and give young South Australians the best opportunity at success. I commend this motion.

The Hon. G.G. BROCK (Stuart) (11:11): I certainly support the motion. There is a lot of misunderstanding out there about young kids going to school, and things like that. I can talk from past experience. Coming from a less fortunate family, quite often we would go to school without lunches and also without breakfast. That was just the way it was in those days; and we had to walk two and a half to three kilometres to actually go to the school.

One thing I have found out from having grandchildren at school is that it is amazing the number of children who do go to school without breakfast and nutrition. Our schools in Port Pirie—Pirie West Primary School, Solomontown Primary School, and also the Risdon Park Primary School and Airdale—they all have these little groups. They have breakfast there for those children and also at the preschool, and I commend the volunteers who go there. I certainly support this motion for the Social Development Committee to inquire into and report on these issues.

Ms THOMPSON (Davenport) (11:12): I would like to thank the member for Stuart for his contribution to the debate and I also acknowledge the many volunteers across schools in South Australia who keep an eye out for hungry kids in our state each day. I commend the motion.

Motion carried.