Photo: Wayne Taylor

Minister for Education James Merlino today visited Pactum Dairy Group in Shepparton to announce it will exclusively supply milk to the Andrews Labor Government’s School Breakfast Clubs program from 2017.

School Breakfast Clubs provide a free breakfast to up to 25,000 children in 500 Victorian government primary schools most in need, setting children up to concentrate and learn so they can reach their full potential.

The new deal will see dairy farmers in the Murray Goulburn region supply around 400,000 litres of milk a year to the program, benefiting the 130 farms in the district who supply Pactum Dairy.

Mr Merlino also announced that from next year School Breakfast Clubs will also include 80 tonnes of Australian grown baked beans from SPC Ardmona in Shepparton each year, helping support local jobs and industry.

The SPC Ardmona factory employs 500 people and supports up to 2,700 grower and supplier jobs.

The Labor Government has partnered with Foodbank – the largest welfare food agency in Australia – to establish and lead the statewide School Breakfast Clubs program, using their existing warehousing, storage and freight network.

The $13.7 million program is another example of the Labor Government building the Education State to ensure every child, regardless of their postcode, has access to a first-rate education.