School Breakfast Program expansion
New Foodbank WA centre in Perth takes social service to a new level
Foodbank WA’s new home at Perth Airport will enable affordable meals to be prepared for thousands of disadvantaged West Australians each year, Premier Colin Barnett said today.
Opening the distribution centre this morning, Mr Barnett said it marked a milestone for Foodbank WA’s 2030 Infrastructure Program which had been supported with a $12.3 million State Government contribution.
“WA has, over the past few decades, experienced a period of prosperity yet there are still families and children who miss out on getting regular meals,” he said.
“With Foodbank WA predicted to be providing 6.5 million meals for disadvantaged people by 2020, the Government will do whatever it can to support West Australians in need.
“I have been particularly impressed with the School Breakfast Program which makes sure more than 17,000 children at 430 schools right across the State get a wholesome, nutritious breakfast on a regular basis - helping kids to get off to a good start for the day.
“Forming partnerships with the community sector is a successful way of ensuring our most vulnerable people receive the support they need. This project is a great example of what can be accomplished when government and the community work together.”
Community Services Minister Tony Simpson said more than $12 million in State Government funding had gone towards Foodbank WA’s infrastructure program, which included completion of the new state-of-the-art centre in Perth as well as the construction of purpose-built warehouses in Albany, Geraldton, Bunbury and Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The Perth centre will feature a catering enterprise to produce frozen meals for disadvantaged people at reasonable prices, and training and work experience opportunities will be offered to young people and the unemployed.
The new centre and its facilities will also allow expansion of the School Breakfast Program, a $790,000 joint initiative between Foodbank WA and the State Government.
Fact FileThe Foodbank WA 2030 Infrastructure Program has been funded with $6m from the Department of Local Government and Communities and $6.3m from Lotterywest grants
Premier’s office - 6552 5000
Community Services Minister’s office - 6552 6600
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