November 2004

Never too many cooks in the kitchens of Frankston

The first community kitchens in Australia are now open in Frankston.

Community kitchens enable people to learn about preparing nutritious meals and healthy living habits.

The kitchens include a women’s kitchen in South Frankston, youth kitchen at City Life, Aboriginal kitchen at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, a families kitchen at Mt Erin Secondary College, a healthy eating kitchen at Mahogany Neighbourhood Centre and a men’s kitchen at Frankston Community Health Centre.

The community kitchen concept has been led by Peninsula Health’s Frankston Community Health Service dietician Jenny Trezise.

The Frankston community has collaborated to create the kitchens where groups of people can cook and share food.

‘We hope to have between five and eight people in each kitchen at any one time and we plan to open more kitchens in the future.

‘Community participation and partnerships are key ingredients for the sustainability of the community kitchens,’ Ms Trezise said.

Recent research has found that Frankston is the area of Melbourne where people spend the least amount of money on fresh vegetables.

The community kitchens project is about to help change these statistics.

In 2003, Ms Trezise received a Department of Human Services and Victorian Quality Council Travelling Fellowship to Canada to see community kitchens in action.

On her return, she developed and implemented a similar concept for Frankston.

‘In Canada, it’s a really popular concept.

‘It brings together people from the community on a regular basis to prepare five or six meals for themselves or their families.

‘The group comes away with more than just containers of food—they leave with a little more knowledge about nutrition.

‘The ultimate outcome for the project is improvements in overall health and well-being throughout the community,’ Ms Trezise said.

The project received $296,000 through a Stronger Families and Communities grant.

Individuals and organisations also provided support.

Current partners include Department of Human Services, Frankston City Council, the Brotherhood of St Laurence, City Life, Peninsula Care House, Skills Plus, Frankston Community Health Service, Peninsula Youth and Family Services, Mt Erin Secondary College, Mahogany Neighbourhood House, Menzies Inc., Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, Anglicare, Saints Care and the Pines Project.

• For more information contact Jenny Trezise on 9784 8125.