By Hollie Kempton, OzHarvest National FEAST Education Manager
By Hollie Kempton, OzHarvest National FEAST Education Manager
After years working as a teacher, you learn pretty quickly which initiatives look good on paper and which ones actually change lives.
FEAST is firmly in the second category.
As National Program Manager of OzHarvest’s FEAST program, I’ve had the privilege of visiting classrooms, speaking with teachers, and watching students discover something powerful: they are capable. Capable of cooking. Capable of making change. Capable of shaping a better food future.
Every time I see that moment click, I’m reminded why this program matters.
The challenges facing young people today are complex.
Australia wastes around 7.6 million tonnes of food each year
While most children still aren’t eating the recommended serves of fruit and vegetables. These aren’t abstract issues, they are part of students’ everyday lives.
FEAST (Food Education and Sustainability Training) was designed to respond to that reality.
It’s a curriculum‑aligned program developed by OzHarvest to give students practical food skills alongside a deeper understanding of sustainability, nutrition and food justice. Over 7–10 weeks, students learn where food comes from, why food waste matters, and how to plan, prepare and cook simple, nutritious meals.
One of the highlights for me is seeing students create their own Use It Up™ recipes and learn that food close to its use‑by date, leftovers, or “unpopular” vegetables still have real value. Many classes go on to create a school cookbook or lead a Fight Food Waste campaign, turning learning into action.
This is education that doesn’t stay on the page. It shows up at the dinner table.
One of the first concerns teachers raise with me is facilities.
“I love the idea, but we don’t have a kitchen.”
That’s exactly why FEAST was designed to be flexible.
The program works in regular classrooms and adapts to each school’s context. While some schools may have access to additional cooking equipment, FEAST doesn’t rely on commercial kitchen spaces. What matters most is participation, collaboration and confidence, not fancy infrastructure.
We also invest in teacher training and provide program resources that remain with the school. That means FEAST isn’t a one‑off experience. It builds long‑term capacity, empowering schools to continue food education in ways that work for them.
As a National Program Manager, data matters, but so do stories.
Teachers consistently tell us they see students grow in confidence, teamwork and independence through FEAST. Students who may not thrive in traditional academic settings often emerge as leaders when practical skills and problem‑solving come into play.
I’ve heard countless stories of students cooking meals at home for the first time, reminding their families not to waste food, or proudly sharing what they’ve learned with younger siblings.
One teacher shared this with us:
“Students were shocked by the reality of food waste, but empowered by knowing they could do something about it. Hearing them talk about cooking at home and using food from the fridge was incredible.”
This is the ripple effect we aim for. Learning that moves from school to home and out into the wider community.
FEAST looks different in every school, and that’s by design.
At Christie Downs Primary School in South Australia, the program became a space for cultural sharing and connection. Recipes were adapted to reflect the backgrounds of students, and each session ended with everyone sitting down to eat together. Teachers told us they saw stronger engagement, deeper inclusion, and students who felt genuinely valued.
All schools across the country can access the full FEAST curriculum package and online training completely free of charge. Some schools may also be eligible for additional funding.
Programs come and go. FEAST stays because it’s grounded in real needs, real classrooms, and real outcomes.
It equips young people with skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives, while helping to build a future where food is respected, shared, and never wasted.
As someone responsible for this program nationally, I’m incredibly proud of what FEAST has achieved and even more excited about what lies ahead.
If you’re an educator looking for a program that’s meaningful, curriculum‑aligned and genuinely rewarding to teach, I encourage you to explore FEAST.
Your students, and their future selves, will thank you.
Join hundreds of schools across Australia empowering students to eat well, waste less and become future change‑makers.
Register your school at Home | OzHarvest FEAST.
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