Getting started
Are you passionate about the benefits of food and nutrition for your students? Then Pick of the Crop could be an exciting opportunity for your school.
How do you start?
1. Read the overview info
2. Consult with your school
Consult with staff and gain commitment from your school leadership team.
Getting started
What's next?
If your school leaders and community are supportive, you should read the Grant Funding Guidelines and start developing an application that includes a School Action Plan.
Funding is available for schools to help implement their approved School Action Plan. The guidelines provide more information.
Your School Action Plan should:
- Build on your current priorities and activities, and integrate new ways of work focusing on the 3 Pick of the Crop components
- Identify one or more School Champions
- Highlight where any funding supports implementation of actions
- Provide estimated timelines and leads
- Be agreed by your school principal
- Be submitted for approval using the SmartyGrants platform (see information below)
Short Form Agreement and applications via SmartyGrants
It is a condition of the Pick of the Crop grant funding that successful schools enter into a Short Form Agreement with Health and Wellbeing Queensland. The Short Form Agreement comprises of three parts: Short Form Agreement Particulars, your approved application (which includes a School Action Plan) and Short Form Terms and Conditions. These will be provided on approval of your application via SmartyGrants. You can start designing your School Action Plan by previewing the form on SmartyGrants, prior to completing the online application. More information on this can be provided by your Regional Coordinator or by contacting Health and Wellbeing Queensland via pickofthecrop@hw.qld.gov.au.
Program components
It’s your pick – each school sets their own direction.
Pick of the Crop empowers schools to choose locally agreed actions, based on 3 components:
Teaching and learning
Integrating food and nutrition education through Paddock to Plate in the curriculum encourages students to learn and gain knowledge, skills and experiences that promote greater consumption of veggies and fruit. Schools can explore and embed health messages across curriculum subjects, linking with other school priorities and Pick of the Crop activities.
Healthy school environments
The school environment can provide opportunities for students to access to veggies and fruit by incorporating them into the school tuckshop, breakfast clubs, brain breaks and tasting activities and establishing school gardens.
Grower and community connections
Strengthening connections with growers and producers through Paddock to Plate, and implementing engagement strategies with the community, families and parents inspires consistent messages around food and nutrition education between school, home and beyond.
Ideas you could implement
Since 2021, schools have been participating in Pick of the Crop by implementing a diverse range of locally-designed activities that suit their local community and environment. Here are 3 videos developed in 2024 by North Queensland Farmers, who host the Pick of the Crop Regional Coordinator for the region, and funded by Health and Wellbeing Queensland. Each school provides a unique perspective of their participation in the initiative.
Resources
Here you’ll find a selection of resources to support your school in implementing Pick of the Crop with your students and community.
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