Our Work with community groups

Jamie Oliver’s home cooking program expands footprint in NSW
Community Groups We Have Worked With
OUR EVALUATIONS

Jamie’s Ministry of Food has been delivering cooking courses to communities and community groups for more than five years. We believe a healthier community is a happier community. Our program enables positive behaviour change through teaching people how to cook and feed themselves good, nutritious food, as well as providing them with a chance to feel part of a community. We welcome the opportunity to work with your community group or organisation and to offer advice for any additional assistance your group may require.

Jamie’s Ministry of Food welcomes participants of all skill levels, aged 12 and over. Participants learn how to cook a different dish each week, from simply making eggs to cooking up a memorable roast chicken feast. Participants enjoy eating a meal together in class and leave with another serving to take home to share with family and friends. Comprehensive information on essential food handling and nutrition is provided and a certificate of completion is presented at the end of the program. 

All classes are held in accordance with Government Guidelines on COVID-19 Practices.

Your local Jamie’s Ministry of Food team can offer your group advance access to courses which will work with your schedule, facilitate tailored needs assessments, and arrange alternative payments methods such as invoicing.

FOOD RELIEF – Helping a community in need

In February 2022, the East Coast of Australia was once again hit by a devastating flood. Hundreds of people in Ipswich have once again found themselves deemed homeless or without access to basic utilities, and as a longstanding member of this community we know we needed to help.

In partnership with our funding partner, Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQLD), we launched free Food Relief classes for flood victims in our Ipswich centre.  These classes gave our community members a safe space where they could come together a cook a meal for themselves and their family. We also provided everyone who attended a take-away care package that included food, containers, cutlery, a Tefal pot of pan, dry goods for their pantry, and toiletries.

During the Food Relief program

–   We delivered 15 Food Relief classes in total

–   Helped 225 community members impacted by the floods

–   Prepared and cooked over 900 delicious meals

–   88% of participants surveyed were directly impacted by the floods

–   76% of those surveyed said they found the activation valuable

–   All surveyed said they’d like to see the program continue

The response was overwhelming positive and heartwarming, and the consensus was that the community would like to see these types of programs continue to be made available. This was an example of the greater community working together and is a real credit to everyone involved – the amazing team on the ground, incredible partners, and volunteers.

This initiative truly made a difference to the Ipswich community, and we still hope that we’ll be able to deliver more as the community rebuilds itself again in the years ahead. 

JMOF Food Relief
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The benefits of Jamie's Ministry of Food go far beyond cooking

  • A healthier attitude towards food
  • Willingness to try new things
  • New social networks
  • Increased confidence
  • A sense of belonging
  • Financial and time rewards
  • Emotional connections with family and friends
  • Teaching others
  • Potential for increase in life and career skills
  • A pleasurable and rewarding experience

We are committed to reaching the most vulnerable in our community, including

  • Vulnerable individuals/families on low incomes
  • Single parents
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
  • Young people
  • People with a disability
  • The unemployed

Participants with a disability

  • Our teams work to ensure special needs are accommodated to make sure the participant can operate safely and get the most out of the course
  • A needs assessment is conducted by our Food Trainers upon enrolment
  • Participants who require additional assistance must be under the direct supervision of a carer or support worker, who must also be enrolled in the course and must attend each week
  • The ratio of participants to carer/support workers is determined based on the individual needs assessment.

A note on young people

The minimum age to participate is 12 years; participants aged between 12 and 16 must be under the direct supervision of a parent/guardian or carer at all times during the classes with a maximum ratio of one parent/guardian to every three children. Parent/guardians may participate in the course by making a separate booking and payment.

Young participants with special needs or a disability will also undergo a needs assessment by our Food Trainers; the carer/support worker may also be required to enrol in the class.

Special needs carers must be enrolled on a ratio of one carer for each participant with special needs. If you have a disability or special access requirements, please indicate this during the booking process so that a member of staff can contact you to discuss how your needs can be met.