School’s back, and so is breakfast

While parents and caregivers prepare their child for school each morning volunteers across Tasmania are busily buttering hot toast and filling cups of yoghurt to deliver the Variety School Breakfast Club, ensuring students start their day with a full tummy.

In 2025 the Variety School Breakfast Club was delivered across 40 government schools, with thanks to strong support from Founding Partner, Aurora Energy, as well as TasNetworks, Tasmanian Community Fund, TasPorts and committed school communities.

Variety Tasmania CEO, Mohammad Aldergham said what began as a small pilot program in four schools in 2022 has now grown into one of Tasmania’s most significant child wellbeing initiatives, which fed 11,000 students every school day in 2025.

“The evidence shows that a hungry child can lose up to two hours of learning a day, equivalent to a full school term each year,” he said.

“Since the club was established, teachers have reported a 52 per cent increase in attendance and a 21 per cent decrease in negative behaviours.”

Aurora Energy CEO, Nigel Clark, said the local retailer joined as Founding Partner in 2024 because the evidence on improving educational outcomes was compelling.

“It was clear that our funding would help make a practical and long-term difference in the lives of young Tasmanians,” he said.

“We are so proud that our support has helped to drive the program’s success and we welcome the Tasmanian Government’s commitment to increase the program’s reach.”

The Tasmanian Government has committed to a landmark $6.5 million commitment to expand the program into a universal School Breakfast Program over the next four years.

Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, announced 36 additional government schools will benefit from a free, healthy school breakfast from term one 2026, nearly doubling the program’s impact.

“The response from schools involved in the program has been incredibly positive and reflects the positive impact it is having on student learning and behaviour,” Minister Palmer said. 

“This program also supports families with cost-of-living pressures by ensuring students can access a healthy breakfast that sets them up for learning. 

“Expanding the program takes us another step toward our goal of providing free breakfast to every student in every Tasmanian Government school.”

For further information visit variety.org.au/school-breakfast-club

Pictured: Forth Primary School