About Us

Vision

Children form positive food habits for life.

Mission

We provide the inspiration, information, professional development and support for educational institutions to deliver pleasurable food education in conjunction with educators, partners and the wider community.

Pleasurable Food Education Philosophy

The purpose of the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation is to introduce pleasurable food education to children during their learning years, in order to form positive food habits for life. 

• Pleasurable food education emphasises the flavours as well as the health benefits of fresh, seasonal, delicious food. 
• Dishes cooked reflect the vegetables, herbs and fruits grown, season-by-season, by the children in their organic gardens, and also reflect the Australian Dietary Guidelines.
• Kitchen educators emphasise balance and moderation, and endorse the concept of preparing fruit-based desserts ‘sometimes-only’.
• Pleasurable food education is designed to be fully integrated into the curriculum or learning framework as it offers infinite possibilities to reinforce literacy, numeracy, science, cultural studies and all aspects of environmental sustainability.
• In addition, pleasurable food education delivers observable social benefits to all children, including those with special needs.
• Pleasurable food education encourages critical thinking, teamwork, an understanding of cause and effect, and increased levels of observation.

Theory of Change

Find out how our program contributes to improved health and wellbeing for all Australians and the steps we take to help make this happen. Our Theory of Change document will be available by end 2021.

Strategic Priorities

A summary of our strategic priorities, 2019–24, can be found here.

Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals

We are regarded as a global leader in kitchen garden education. We align with both internationally and nationally recognised social and environmental initiatives including:

• The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): a universal set of 17 goals created by the United Nations. These goals act as an urgent call to action for countries to help end global poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all by the end of 2030. Our program supports:

GOAL 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture

GOAL 3 - Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all, at all ages

GOAL 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

GOAL 11 - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

GOAL 12 - Ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns 

GOAL 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

• The World Health Organization’s Health Promoting Schools model and Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion
• The UN Food and Agriculture School Food and Nutrition Framework
• The Australian Government’s National Preventive Health Strategy and Good Practice Guide to Healthy Food and Drink Choices at School
• The Victorian Government’s Consensus Statement ‘A Healthier Start for Victorians’.