New partnership serving up breakfast to Tassie students

Breakfast is back on the menu for school students around Tasmania thanks to a new partnership.

Aurora Energy has teamed up with Variety Tasmania to become the founding partner of its Variety School Breakfast Club, which will enable allocated schools to deliver a nutritious breakfast five days a week to all students.

The multi-year, $50,000 annual agreement will fund approximately 12 schools’ breakfast programs from different areas across the state every year.

Variety Tasmania CEO Mohammad Aldergham said the partnership offered students a wonderful opportunity for what was the most important meal of the day.

“We all know the best possible start to the day involves a nutritious breakfast. It’s shown to improve problem solving, memory, concentration, and anecdotally, the teachers find the kids are calmer and ready to learn,” Mr Aldergham said.

“Our partnership with Aurora provides the much-needed funds to expand the Variety Kids Breakfast Program. We applaud Aurora for recognising the value of investing in the health and well-being of our Tassie kids and our communities more broadly.”

The Breakfast Club was first piloted in 2022 and has provided 30,000 breakfasts across 10 schools over two years. Parents are also invited to join in, drink a cup of tea, and chat to teachers and students to facilitate communication and sense of community.

Survey results from pre and post program data show that the Breakfast Club has led to a 22 per cent decrease in negative student behaviour as well as a 22 per cent reduction in late attendance.

Aurora Energy CEO Nigel Clark said the local retailer was a proud Tassie organisation supporting Tasmanians, especially when it produced practical and long-term benefits to the community.

“I know many moons ago when I was a kid at school how important it was to eat breakfast. It gave me the energy I needed to get through a full day of classes,” Mr Clark said.

“This partnership will not only help put smiles on kids’ faces, but more importantly mean they don’t fall behind in their learning – a win-win.”

Aurora Energy is fully owned by the people of Tasmania, based in Tasmania, employing Tasmanians. In the last financial year, the retailer contributed close to $1.9M in customer and community support, and all of its financial returns remain within the state and don’t flow back to foreign owned entities. 

Variety have been supporting Tasmanian kids and families who are facing many challenges through sickness, disadvantage or living with additional needs for over 30 years.

To find out more Variety Tasmania, visit variety.org.au/tas/