00:00For the past three years, mealtimes at Rokeby Primary School on Hobart's eastern shore
00:08have been a gourmet experience.
00:10Five stars. I get really good, like the food that my mum makes at my home.
00:18Since 2022, the school has taken part in Tasmania's School Lunches program, providing students
00:24with a healthy meal and snack at least once a week.
00:28What's your favourite bit?
00:30This, the potato.
00:32It's like really fun, like talking about the food and enjoying it at different ends.
00:37It's a way of connecting with the students over a meal, which is a bit like a family
00:43connection, I suppose, at home, sharing your day, what's working well.
00:46Over the next two years, the number of schools involved in the program will double.
00:51Springfield Gardens is one of 15 schools that will begin taking part this year.
00:56Improving the wellbeing of our students and the access to a good meal is always a benefit.
01:01Before students return to classes, the school had to get the necessary equipment ready,
01:06including an industrial oven and freezer.
01:09Later, it hopes to incorporate produce grown on site.
01:13I saw a genuine opportunity to continue building the understanding of good foods.
01:20The state government has committed just under $15 million for this program's expansion.
01:25But non-profit School Food Matters is hopeful it won't end there, envisioning a world where
01:30this program could operate in all Tasmanian schools.
01:34At the moment we're only working with government schools, but we know that the Catholic schools
01:38are very keen to be involved and the independent schools.
01:42It is an ambitious goal.
01:44A healthy appetite for expansion.
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