nom! Schools
goes North

Supported by Mineral Resources and PLS, Foodbank WA’s nom! nutritionists travelled across Newman, Port Hedland and Karratha during May and June,

delivering our nom! Schools hands-on nutrition education and cooking sessions to more than 300 students.

Through these practical and engaging sessions, students built confidence in the kitchen while developing skills to make healthier food choices.

The visits strengthened longstanding school partnerships, introduced the program to new school communities and highlighted the value of bringing engaging nutrition education directly to regional students, helping create positive lifelong healthy eating habits.

In May, our team travelled to Newman which marked the third consecutive year visiting the community, highlighting the strength of our partnerships and the value of consistent engagement.

Over four days, Jasmin and Jodi delivered eight sessions to almost 150 students across Newman Primary School, Newman Senior High School and South Newman Primary School. Students from Year 1 through to Year 7 participated, with sessions tailored to suit each age group’s educational needs. A standout moment was seeing students recall their nom! experiences from previous years. This continuing connection helps build confidence and allows us to deepen learning year on year. We also trialled a new lesson focused on food science with Year 6 students, exploring how food properties change when cooked – sparking curiosity and deep thought about what science happens in the kitchen. Our newest nom! Recipes #3 booklet also made its regional debut, with Mexican Mac n Cheese and Breakfast Burritos becoming instant favourites among the students.

The team continued travelling across Hedland and Karratha, delivering another eight sessions from Monday, 15 to Friday, 19 June. Jodi and Laura visited Cassia Primary School, St Cecelia’s Catholic Primary School, Karratha Senior High School and Peg’s Creek Primary School. For a few schools, it was a welcome return following visits in 2024. At St Cecelia’s Catholic Primary School, it was our first time delivering the program, creating a new opportunity to support young students and their teachers. Across the week, we reached more than 150 students from Kindy to Year 8, including a smaller group of girls from the STARS Foundation in the high school. Students cooked a variety of tasty recipes, including Legendary Lasagne, K-Pow Fritters, Mexi Mac and Cheese and Coco Loco Balls. These sessions combine practical cooking with nutrition education, helping students connect what they learn to everyday food choices. We were also pleased to have a representative from Mineral Resources join in at Cassia Primary School, providing an opportunity to showcase the impact of the nom! Schools program firsthand.

Feedback from schools continues to highlight the importance of bringing nom! directly into regional communities. Students are not only learning about healthy eating, but they are also building confidence in the kitchen. As one teacher reported, “students explained to me numerous times how it was their first time cooking and now they are keen to do it at home.”

This is exactly what the program aims to achieve, helping students feel capable and motivated to make healthier choices.

Feedback from one school Principal also reinforces this with them sharing, “having experts come directly to our school and provide hands on, engaging learning experiences is invaluable… it encourages students to think about the food choices they make and helps build positive habits for the future.” This feedback shows how practical, hands-on learning can spark confidence, build life skills and support positive behaviour change. Our nom! Schools program is designed to do exactly this, giving students the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices now and into the future. These regional visits go beyond delivering sessions. They strengthen relationships, create opportunities and help ensure every student, no matter where they live, can access quality nutrition education.

We would like to thank Mineral Resources and PLS for their ongoing support, which makes it possible for us to deliver the nom! program to regional schools and create meaningful learning opportunities for students.