EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST:
Fully funded
whole school program!
Sydney's Certified Instructors. Second from the left is Sokka Ung, who is SWSPHN local Certified Instructor. Sokka will be supporting and mentoring schools for 12 months as part of the SWSPHN scholarships.
Would you like to boost wellbeing, improve learning, behaviour and reduce waste?
Are you looking to do something fun and forward-thinking with your school in 2024?
Want a new way to engage the wider school community and meet your curriculum needs?
Look no further – your school could be granted a full scholarship to run our award winning, tried and tested Whole School Wellbeing Partnership - Making Friends With Food by The Root Cause - for a whole 12 months!
Allocation has been filled but please complete to join the waitlist in case further opportunities become available. Your local instructor will be in touch to discuss your options in still having this program in your school in 2024.
This initiative is proudly funded by the South Western Sydney Primary Health Network.
About Making Friends With Food by The Root Cause
Making Friends With Food (MFWF) is an innovative food literacy partnership for schools, with:
- Fun in-person incursions and workshops for the whole school community,
- Online resources for teachers and parents, plus
- Year-long mentoring lovingly provided by your dedicated Certified Instructor.
MFWF engages students, empowers parents to make better food choices at home, and equips schools with resources to integrate nutrition education into everyday activities.
Scientific research shows the quality of food consumed impacts, health, leaning, behaviour, resilience and academic results. MFWF helps whole school communities create lifelong nourishing friendships with food.
MFWF features in-person workshops for students, parents and staff, plus an array of classroom resources, professional development, and an online portal for families to use from home. It has been refined by The Root Cause over the past 10 years, with more than 60,000 participants from over 260 schools Australia-wide.
The Mad Food Science Incursion in action. The incursion is a fun and interactive incursion with students engaged in hands on activities to reinforce the key health messages delivered.
In 2021 and 2022, over 30 Darling Downs schools partnered with The Root Cause, Darling Downs Health and the Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network to improve wellbeing in their schools and to help tackle the regions Children's Health Crisis.
In 2023, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network have given schools in the Murrumbidgee Region the same opportunity to improve wellbeing in their schools. The program was just awarded the winner of the Promoting Healthy Living Award in the Murrumbidgee Primary Health Care Awards.
Now, it's with much excitement that we share that South Western Sydney Primary Health Network are giving up to 5 Schools from the South Western Sydney Region the same opportunity.
Images show of Sokka Ung, our Certified Instructor for the South Western Sydney Region.
Sokka will provide you with ongoing mentoring and support in 2023 and 2024.
Expressions of Interest for this Fully-Funded Program are now open to Primary Schools in the South Western Sydney Region.
Limited Places. Act Now! Applications closing soon.
Apply Before The Cut Off Date - Friday 1 December, 2023
Darling Downs Region - Qld Partnering Schools
The following schools are part of the Darling Downs Health initiative to improve wellbeing in their schools and to help tackle the regions Children's Health Crisis. They have received fully funded scholarships from the Darling Downs and West Moreton Public Health Network.
Our formula for peak performance:
The Root Cause is a trusted, education partner, with more than a decade of experience collaborating with schools. We keep things fun, while sparking conversations about food, health impacts, education, sustainability, and the environment.
Partner with us as we guide you on your journey to empower your whole school community. We meet you wherever you are and take you to where you'd like to be.
Apply Before The Cut Off Date - Friday 1 December, 2023
THIS PROGRAM HAS ALREADY REACHED:
60,167
PARTICIPANTS
260
SCHOOLS
7
STATES & TERRITORIES
Our whole school approach:
We understand that as parents, sometimes our children don’t listen to us. This parent-child power struggle often leads to food becoming an uphill battle at home. Our program is built by parents for parents.
Science has proven there is a direct link between our food and sleep choices, and the effects of those choices on our behaviour, mood and ability to perform both academically and physically. This program provides a way of partnering with the school to help your children learn and thrive, both in and out of the classroom.
Our program is developed to be fun, with results that prove that through the program, children make better choices around food and sleep. Our participants show a great level of engagement which we believe builds accountability through awareness.
Apply Before The Cut Off Date - Friday 1 December, 2023
What people are saying:
"Involvement in the Children’s Health Program gives us a platform from which to share important messages around food and waste and helps us to empower children in making more positive choices, both for their health and the environment. It supports parents and carers by providing some really wonderful resources that are easy to access and implement."
TANIA ANGUS, PRINCIPAL, NEWTOWN STATE SCHOOL
"A topic that needs much more coverage. Thanks for the fantastic job you are doing to spread the word. I am much more educated and will be adjusting what I provide for my own children and myself as well as sharing more in the classroom."
CAROLINE BUDGEN, TEACHER, MIDDLE RIDGE STATE SCHOOL
FELICITY, PARENT, KINGSTHORPE STATE SCHOOL
"Amazing seminar! So informative on food health, food ideas, Preservatives, long term effects. Really enjoyed it. Thank you!!"
PARENT, ST STEPHEN'S CATHOLIC SCHOOL, PITTSWORTH
Impacts of The Children's Health Program
Watch as this young student shares how her lunch is so
different a day after she participated in the Mad Food Science Incursion component of The Children's Health Program.
Our signature Mad Food Science Green Smoothie is always a winner with the students, Teachers watch in amazement as even the children they think won't taste the smoothie do.
Gowrie State School has taken the Eat A Rainbow message
from The Children's Health Program and extended it
into their school garden.
Watch as this teacher continues the conversation
about fruits and vegetables by incorporating
it into a literacy lesson.
Apply Before The Cut Off Date - Friday 1 December, 2023
Making Friends With Food includes:
Food & Waste Research and Data Report
A snap shot of food at the school, and the waste generated by lunchbox food packaging.
Personal Wellbeing Journal
Students and Teachers track key markers of their wellbeing.
Student "Mad Food Science" Incursion
Gives the entire school a new way of viewing their wellbeing.
Teacher and Canteen Manager Professional Development
Online program to boost teacher and canteen manager knowledge about the impacts of food on wellbeing.
Communications Plan and School Aids
Online resources and teaching aids to support rollout and implementation of the program.
Community Engagement Parent Seminars and Events
In person and online education and Q&A events to reach more parents.
Support Tools for Families
A range of online tools and resources to supportongoing change in the home.
Online Subscription for Parents
Families of our Partner Schools receive free access to our Online Subscription for Parents, including access to lunchbox recipes and ideas to save time (valued at $60 per family).
Expressions of Interest are now open to Primary Schools in the South Western Sydney Region.
Limited Places. Act Now! Applications closing soon.
Apply Before The Cut Off Date - Friday 1 December, 2023
Are you ready to have healthier, calmer students who are better learners?
SWSPHN LGA's Schools Application
Thanks for your interest in the Making Friends With Food fully funded scholarship provided by South Western Sydney Primary Health Network (SWSPHN). Please complete the form below to apply.
Once you Submit the form you will receive an email confirmation, and you will be contacted directly within 48 hours to discuss your application and your school's suitability.
Thanks for standing with us for Children's Health.