Healthy Schools Program
Brief ministerial statement
Ms Sabine Winton (Wanneroo—Minister for Education) (1:07 pm): I am proud to be Western Australia's and Australia's first Minister for Preventative Health. The establishment of the role clearly signals just how serious the Cook Labor government is about delivering our priority of promoting active, healthy lifestyles to support the wellbeing of Western Australians.
Combining this with my other portfolios, education and early childhood, I am in a unique position to support initiatives and reforms that have significant influence on the long-term outcomes of our youngest Western Australians. We know that instilling children with positive, preventative health behaviours is the best long-term strategy to support Western Australians to live long and healthy lives. That is why I am pleased to advise the house that 60 schools across WA will receive between $3,000 and $5,000 to deliver projects that promote healthy habits and create supportive school environments.
Through Healthway's Healthy Schools Program, over $270,000 in grants is being provided to WA schools for projects that will support the health and wellbeing of students and the school community. Projects funded this year include healthy cooking and nutrition lessons, school vegetable gardens, mental wellbeing programs, sensory spaces, and professional development for teachers to deliver fun, high-quality physical education classes. These grants mean schools can turn creative ideas into real projects that make a difference for their school communities and give students practical skills that will stay with them for life.
The funding supports schools to align with the health promoting schools framework, which is a whole-school approach to building healthier and more connected communities now and into the future. There are 60 schools, which range from the South West all the way to the Kimberley, that will roll out the project this term and next term, working closely with relevant local health and community organisations to maximise the impact. It is inspiring to see school leaders, teachers, students and local communities working together to build healthier and happier school environments. I very much look forward to seeing the outcomes and positive impacts that these projects will deliver and encourage all schools to apply for Healthway's Healthy Schools Program, which will open again in February 2026.
