Nutrition education returns to Laverton

At Laverton School, 36 students participated in three nom! Kids sessions, where they learnt about the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and put their new knowledge into action through interactive food group sorting activities. The students then rolled up their sleeves to prepare a variety of healthy recipes, sampling new foods and developing valuable kitchen skills along the way. Two standout dishes emerged as clear favourites, with Faster Pasta and Lean Mean Chicken Curry receiving enthusiastic approval from the young cooks.

The team also delivered two nom! Adults sessions at the Laverton Cross Cultural Association (LCCA), engaging 18 local community members. Participants learnt about the different food groups and the important role they play in maintaining health and wellbeing before heading into the kitchen to prepare Rice Salad, Chicken and Corn Soup, Speedy Stew and Choc Amazeballs. The Speedy Stew quickly became a crowd favourite, with participants keen to recreate it at home. 

The final session for the week focused on making the most of ingredients commonly available through the Foodbank Pantry. Through live cooking demonstrations, community members discovered how the ingredients from the Foodbank Pantry can be transformed into nutritious family meals. Recipes included Stir-fry Noodles, Creamy Tuna Pasta and Butter Chicken, all of which proved extremely popular. A key message throughout the session was finding practical ways to increase vegetable intake by incorporating canned and frozen varieties, as well as making use of leftover ingredients to minimise food waste.

Beyond the workshops, Laura and Skye connected with several local organisations to discuss opportunities for training local stakeholders as nom! Cooking Coaches. Developing local capability will help ensure cooking workshops and nutrition education can continue within the community between Foodbank WA visits, creating a lasting impact long after the team has returned home. 

The visit also included a quick trip out to Mt Margaret Remote Community School, where the team met with staff and spoke with students, strengthening relationships and exploring future opportunities for engagement. 

This successful visit marks the beginning of a renewed commitment to the region. Thanks to the generous support of AngloGold Ashanti Australia, the nom! team will return to Laverton in 2027 and 2028, ensuring the community continues to benefit from practical nutrition education and cooking skills development. We also extend our sincere thanks to Lynas Rare Earths Limited for helping make this important trip possible. 

Together, these partnerships are helping empower regional and remote communities with the knowledge, skills and confidence to prepare healthy, affordable meals and make nutritious food choices for years to come. 

Published on 8 October 2026.