Minister for School Education Peter Garrett today officially opened the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Learning Centre at Collingwood College in Victoria.

The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden program is made possible by a $12.8 million Australian Government investment over four years and a further $1 million for resources and training at the new learning centre.

Mr Garrett said the new learning centre in inner-city Melbourne will provide training for teachers and specialists, inductions for school principals, collaborative learning for school teachers and students through online curriculum resources, and workshops for members of the public.

“The hugely successful Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program shows students how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh food; encouraging them to connect with the source of their food and to learn healthy lessons for life,” Mr Garrett said.

“The teaching resources at the new learning centre will link directly with the Australian Curriculum for Health and Physical Education and the finalised Australian Curriculum for English, History, Mathematics and Science.

“The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation has also released a new resource book for teaching professionals Tools for Teachers 2, which will help teachers working in schools participating in the Kitchen Garden program.”

Mr Garrett said the learning centre has been established at the site of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden’s pilot school, Collingwood College.

“The Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Program allows students to grow food in their own kitchen garden, building healthy and enjoyable eating habits,” Mr Garrett said.

“The Australian Government is dedicated to increasing the health of our Australian students, ensuring they get the best start in life.”

For more information visit: http://www.kitchengardenfoundation.org.au/index.php