Every morning, students from nine schools across Doolandella, Durack, Forest Lake, and Inala line up for their free breakfast before the class bell rings.
In 2016, Inala’s Blue Fin Fishing Club (BFFC) set up the breakfast program at six local schools.
Marketing Manager at the BFFC, Donnelle Brooks said the not-for-profit club had a desire to give back to locals.
“A lot of our members are parents to students within the community, and they noticed that some students were going to school or class hungry,” Ms Brooks said.
“We want the kids in our area to do the best that they can at school, and often that starts with adding something in the belly.”
The schools currently involved in the program include Durack State School, Forest Lake State High, Forest Lake State School, Glenala State High School, Grand Avenue State School, Inala State School, Serviceton South State School, St Mark’s School, and Western Suburbs Special School.
School volunteers like school chaplains, teachers, or parents determine the needs of their students and prepare the food for the program.
“We [BFFC] give them the funding, and they decide, based on the needs of their students, how they’re going to run it,” Ms Brooks said.
“Durack State School has a rotating menu of different items; they do fried rice some mornings, because for a lot of their international students, that’s their breakfast of choice.
“They do pancakes and fruit other mornings, and that’s the way they run it with their volunteers.”
In the nearly ten years that the program has run, staff and students have changed, but the breakfast has remained a constant.
“The breakfast is open to everyone, so it’s not means-tested,” Ms Brooks said.
“Any kid who wants to come up and have something to eat is welcome to, even some of the teachers regularly come up and grab a bit of toast.
“It makes the kids who actually need it, who aren’t getting a breakfast, feel included and not singled out.”
The program has also helped students develop communication skills and good manners when ordering their food, Ms Brooks said.
Teachers at the schools where the breakfast programs are run have noticed a behavioural difference in their students, who are showing up to class well-fed.
“It just sets them up for a good day of learning and makes the day for students and staff a lot easier,” Ms Brooks said.
For the program’s 10th anniversary next year, Ms Brooks said the BFFC hoped to add a 10th school to its program roster.
“It would be wonderful to hear from schools in the area that would be interested in hosting a breakfast program that aren’t currently hosting one.”
