A WA parliamentary question addresses concerns about children attending school hungry. The Minister acknowledges existing school-level programs but doesn't provide specific figures or commit to a statewide audit or funding increase, relying on existing support structures.

AnsweredQoN 376Legislative Council
Asked
8 August 2001
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

My question follows an alarming article in The West Australian last week that suggested 16 000 children in Western Australia go to school hungry. (1) Does the minister know exactly how many children in Western Australia go to school without breakfast, and in some cases without lunch? (2) If no, will the minister commit resources to conduct an audit to determine how many children this involves? (3) If yes, will the minister commit funds to enable schools to provide food for children going to school hungry? Hon G.T. GIFFARD

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
(1) Does the minister know exactly how many children in Western Australia go to school without breakfast, and in some cases without lunch? (2) If no, will the minister commit resources to conduct an audit to determine how many children this involves? (3) If yes, will the minister commit funds to enable schools to provide food for children going to school hungry? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
(2) If no, will the minister commit resources to conduct an audit to determine how many children this involves? (3) If yes, will the minister commit funds to enable schools to provide food for children going to school hungry? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
(3) If yes, will the minister commit funds to enable schools to provide food for children going to school hungry? Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
Hon G.T. GIFFARD replied: I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
I thank the member for some notice of this question. (1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.
(1)-(3) A number of government schools organise breakfast and/or lunch programs for students.  The programs are organised at the local level, as the school sees the need, so no total figures are available.  The Education Department supports the provision of meals for students if parents are sending them to school without appropriate nourishment.  School communities run these programs with assistance from the State, the Commonwealth, parents and citizens associations and charitable organisations.

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