The Medibank Community Fund (MCF) has awarded a $12,815 community grant to Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre, Victoria.
The grant will enable the adult and community education provider to teach its diverse community members the vital skills of growing and cooking fresh, seasonal food through a community garden while also being a valuable educational tool.
The long term aim of the program is to publish a cookbook of recipes created by participants as a means to subsidise the ongoing operation of the garden.
The Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre also endeavours to introduce leisure activities focused on health, fitness and wellbeing.
Medibank Retail State Manager for VIC, Mark OShaughnessy said the program embraced the Medibank Community Fund's priorities of promoting healthy eating, physical activity and greater community connectedness -the key selection criteria for the MCF grants program.
"Medibank employees on our Regional Council from across Victoria, expressed overwhelming support for Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre's application because their program gives recently arrived migrants and refugees the opportunity to contribute positively to their own -along with the wider Glenroy community's overall health and wellbeing", said Mr OShaughnessy.
"The Medibank Community Fund grants program supports local, grassroots initiatives that aim to create a lasting and positive impact on the mental and physical wellbeing of people in the community and the Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre and their community garden initiative are doing just that".
Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre Manager, Craig Liddell, said the community garden will specifically promote healthy living and encourage social interaction.
"The community garden is a catalyst to bring diverse community members together," said Mr Liddell.
"Members of the Men's Shed will play a role in building the garden, learners studying language and literacy programs can use the project as part of their education, and young people will learn cooking techniques and prepare healthy meals".
Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre is one of 42 recipients chosen from more than 900 applications across Australia and New Zealand to receive a 2014 Medibank Community Fund grant.