Jamie Oliver’s Ministry of Food helps Victoria tackle obesity

6 March 2012

Jamie Oliver today joined Minister for Health David Davis to announce the launch of Jamie’s Ministry of Food as part of the Victorian Government’s new attack on obesity – the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise (VHEE).

Jamie Oliver’s successful Ministry of Food program will be established in Victoria as an important part of the VHEE initiative to promote healthy eating.

“This will include a fixed cooking school and mobile kitchen to deliver healthy cooking classes in 14 local government areas,” Mr Davis said.

“Jamie’s Ministry of Food will provide cooking courses for more than 10,000 Victorians, as well as cooking demonstrations to inspire people to get back to basics.”

“The Government has committed $2.87 million to The Good Foundation to support the delivery of the program here in Victoria, with The Good Foundation to work with partners such as The Good Guys to provide an additional $2.54 million.”

The Good Foundation was established in 2010 to focus on programs and projects that promote good health and nutrition, with the first priority program being Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia.

Jamie’s Ministry of Food is a community-focused program that teaches basic cooking skills and good nutrition to non-cooks to improve their quality of life and health.

“Jamie’s Ministry of Food is a practical solution to the problems of obesity and diet-related disease and a successful response to the lack of basic food skills in today’s population”, said Alicia Peardon, Program Director for Jamie’s Ministry of Food Australia.

“Cooking is an important life-skill that everybody should learn. It’s one thing to watch a cooking show on TV, yet standing beside someone and cooking together is what truly makes a difference,” says Alicia.

The site of the first Ministry of Food in Victoria will be announced in the coming months.

Initial partners in the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise include Cancer Council Victoria, the Centre of Excellence in Intervention and Prevention Science, Monash University, FareShare, Food Bank Victoria, the Heart Foundation, Home Economics Victoria, Nutrition Australia, Second Bite, the Good Foundation and VicHealth.

Further information

For further information, visit the Victorian Healthy Eating Enterprise page on the department’s website.