A healthy start for all Tasmanian students

The rollout of free breakfasts to all Tasmanian Government schools will soon begin with the program funded in the interim Budget.

The Tasmanian Government is working in partnership with Variety Tasmania to deliver a universal free school breakfast program.

Funded through the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, $6.5 million will be invested over four years to deliver the program, ensuring every student has the opportunity to start their day with a healthy meal and the energy to learn.

Minister for Education, Jo Palmer, said school breakfast programs are shown to anecdotally improve attendance, boost concentration, and lead to better educational outcomes.

“We know how much breakfast matters in a student’s school day. Hungry students are more likely to disengage, and this can result in a loss of up to two hours a day in learning time,” Minister Palmer said.

“There are many reasons why students might miss breakfast or come to school hungry, including because of cost-of-living pressures, but this program will help bridge the gap.

“Good nutrition and learning go hand in hand, and this program will give students the energy and focus they need to succeed.

“We are delivering for Tasmania by investing in the services families need while being fiscally responsible.”

The interim Budget looks to the future with optimism and a dedicated sense of purpose, building on the success of the past decade.

The program currently operates in 40 Tasmanian Government schools and will expand to 30 additional schools from Term 1, 2026.

An Expression of Interest process will open on 10 November and close on 21 November 2025.

Schools already running their own breakfast programs can continue with those arrangements or transition to the new Variety Breakfast Club.

The new program offers a simple ‘click and deliver’ model, giving schools an efficient, low-administration way to provide healthy breakfasts for students.