In partnership with the Benalla Homelessness Response Group, Waminda House and VET Commercial Cookery trainer Craig Robinson, students cooked weekly meals that were shared with volunteers and community members experiencing homelessness, every Sunday evening.
The project brought people together through food, connection and a shared commitment to care for others — values the students embraced wholeheartedly.
North East Flexible Learning Network - Benalla Campus leading teacher Celine Forster said the idea for the project grew from the students’ course work in personal development skills, which encourages young people to engage in meaningful, real-world community initiatives.
“Instead of completing traditional school-based tasks, the students wanted to contribute to something that made a tangible difference,” she said.
“They were introduced to Craig Robinson, a respected VET Commercial Cookery trainer who works with secondary students across the region.
“His holistic, community-minded approach to food immediately resonated with the group.
“Each week, students prepared home-style meals — sometimes at the school, sometimes with Craig in commercial settings, depending on what was available.
“They completed the Do Food Safely and Safety@Work certificates and practised the health and safety requirements essential for preparing food for the community.
“As the weeks progressed, students found themselves not only learning recipes and techniques, but also forming a deeper understanding of food insecurity and the impact of homelessness in Benalla.
“Their learning was supported through participation in the Deakin University Food Insecurity Survey project facilitated by Waminda House.”
On Tuesday, November 11, the students presented their project to the school community and key partners Eleanor Currie of Waminda House, Kate Holmes from the Benalla Homelessness Response Group and Mr Robinson.
They prepared an afternoon tea as their final shared meal, showcasing their new skills and the pride they had developed in their work.
The presentation included a Pecha Kucha-style talk for the Year 12 cohort, alongside a visual slideshow set to Lean on Me, highlighting the experiences, learning and community connections built throughout the year.
Pecha Kucha is a presentation format that uses 20 slides with 20 seconds of speaking time for each, totalling six minutes and 40 seconds, named after the Japanese term for ‘chit-chat’.
“It was a heartfelt moment for the students, staff and guests who witnessed the depth of insight the young people had gained,” Ms Forster said.
“The success of the project has sparked plans for expansion.
“Curriculum linked to this initiative has now been developed for all four sites in the North East Flexible Learning Network, giving other students the opportunity to take part in a community project that highlights compassion, initiative, and teamwork.
The most powerful testament to the impact of this program comes from the students themselves. Their reflections speak to personal growth, empathy, skill development and a deeper appreciation for community life:
Justin: “The cooking sessions were amazing. It gave me time to learn about how homelessness is affecting Benalla and how serious it’s gotten.”
Callum: “I enjoyed being able to cook new recipes each session and learning new skills in the kitchen to help the situation.”
Keely: “It brought us together and gave us new challenges and achievements to remember.”
Lacey: “Being able to cook meals for our community has been an amazing experience … including making recipes I wouldn’t normally do, like cottage pie!”
Aailyah: “It not only helps the people in need, it also creates a sense of community and belonging at school.”
Daniela: “I’ve developed greater empathy and gratitude … and a deeper understanding of the challenges people experiencing homelessness face.”
Lola: “Knowing I am able to help people who have been in the same situation as me is empowering. I feel like we made a difference.”
Mason: “This opened my eyes to how many people in Benalla struggle with food and housing … I realised how easily anyone could end up needing help.”
Flynn: “It reminded me that small actions, like cooking food, can make a big difference in someone’s life.”
Luke: “It encouraged me to think about ways I can continue helping others in the future.”
Sam: “It felt good knowing our efforts made a real difference. I learned empathy, teamwork and the impact of compassion.”
Zac: “Helping others brings the community together. If everybody took a second to give to one another, the community would strive as a team.”
“As their teacher, I would have to say that it has been extremely rewarding to have ongoing discussions with the students about the impact we make when we choose to turn up mindfully and with purpose in our lives.
“When we focus on helping those around us, and get as much leverage out of our compulsory learning so that it supports a bigger picture, this embeds a greater understanding around the best parts of humanity and connects to the core of what feels right in the world.
“And that’s creating, caring and supporting those around us as a community and enriching our human experience with opportunities to help each other.
“The cooking for homelessness project has shown what’s possible when young people are given the opportunity to learn through doing — especially when that learning is tied to genuine community needs.
“The students’ enthusiasm, the generosity of local partners, and the ongoing guidance of Craig Robinson have created a powerful model for collaboration.”
As the program expands across the NEFLN, the hope is that more young people will experience the connection, compassion and sense of purpose that defined this semester’s work.
For the students, the takeaway is clear: Small acts of kindness can have a profound impact — and everyone has something meaningful to contribute.
