Country Women’s Association champions healthier Queensland with Country Kitchens program renewal
Fuelled by fresh funding and community spirit, the Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) is cooking up lasting change in kitchens and communities across the state.
Thanks to renewed investment from the Queensland Government through Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the QCWA’s much-loved Country Kitchens program will continue its vital work, empowering communities to eat and live well. The program is 1 of 6 evidence-based preventive health initiatives sharing in more than $43 million in renewed funding, aimed at reducing preventable chronic disease and easing pressure on Queensland’s healthcare system.
The recipe for healthier Queensland communities
Between July 2021 and December 2024, the QCWA Country Kitchens program has delivered 4,310 community activities, reaching 69,911 Queenslanders through cooking demonstrations, nutrition workshops, and community events. Facilitated by 282 trained QCWA volunteers, the program partners with local schools, councils, and community groups to teach practical health messages and skills.
QCWA Country Kitchens program focuses on 5 core messages:
- Get more fruit and veg into your meals
- Cook at home
- Be aware of sugar in your drinks
- Check your portion sizes
- Sit less, move more
Country Kitchens Facilitator and Division Convenor for Darling Downs, Wendy Gordon, has led workshops in the Toowoomba region supporting refugees and migrants. Ms Gordon was recognised in the 2023 Shine Awards, which celebrate achievements and contributions across rural and regional Australia.
A simple idea for a powerful impact
Poor nutrition and lifestyle-related conditions continue to be major contributors to disease burden in the state, with obesity now surpassing tobacco use as the leading preventable risk factor in 2024.1
With 62.7% of adults and 1 in 3 children in Queensland living with overweight or obesity3, programs like Country Kitchens are more important than ever. The broader suite of Health and Wellbeing Queensland-funded prevention programs has already supported over 352,000 Queenslanders to make healthier lifestyle choices.
‘The Country Kitchens program builds on the skills we already have as QCWA members — giving us the tools, training and confidence to make a real difference in our communities,’ said QCWA State President Tamara Stephensen.
‘Whether you’re hands-on in the kitchen or helping behind the scenes, there’s a place for everyone. It’s a simple program with a powerful impact on the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders, especially in rural and remote areas.’
Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive Dr Robyn Littlewood highlights the broader significance of these programs. ‘When we invest in prevention, as the Queensland Government has done with Health and Wellbeing Queensland, we change futures. Fewer people need treatment, our world-class health system can focus where it’s needed most, and more Queenslanders live healthier, longer lives,’ said Dr Littlewood.
For more information or to get involved with Country Kitchens and other prevention programs, visit the Health and Wellbeing Queensland website or search for your local QCWA branch.
Sources
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Australian Burden of Disease Study; 2024. Canberra: Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/burden-of-disease/australian-burden-of-disease-study-2024
- Australian Bureau of Statistics. National Health Survey. Canberra: ABS; 2022. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/health-conditions-and-risks/national-health-survey/latest-release.
Acknowledgment
Content developed in conjunction with Queensland Country Women’s Association.
