'VU Maribyrnong' is one step closer to hosting Jamie Oliver's Ministry of Food.
Supported by five prominent western suburbs organisations we are the Victorian finalist in the competition to be the Jamie Oliver Ministry of Food Kitchen Australian location for the next twelve months.
The Jamie Oliver Ministry received 170 applications across Australia and they have named one finalist for each State and territory.
Help bring Jamie's Kitchen to Melbourne's west
'VU Maribyrnong' is now asking everyone in Victoria to engage in a social media campaign to bring the Kitchen to Melbourne's west. You can:
- 'like' our Facebook page to "Bring Jamie's Ministry of Food Pop-Up Kitchen to Melbourne's West"
- watch and share our YouTube clip
- tweet using #JamieVU.
The winner will be announced on 23 March.
Victoria University, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michelle Towstoless said, "We are ecstatic that our efforts so far to bring this world renowned health driven initiative to Melbourne's west have been recognised.
Our application
"Our application – supported by Maribyrnong City Council, Leadwest, Western Health, Macedon Ranges and North West Melbourne Medicare Local – means that we are on a mission to improve the health of our community by bringing Jamie's Ministry of Food Popup Kitchen to Footscray.
"We are passionate about health, active living and nutrition – and like Jamie Oliver believe that knowing what we eat and how to cook it has to improve people's lives.
"We propose that the Ministry of Food access the quality commercial kitchens located at Victoria University's Footscray Nicholson campus."
Victoria University, leader in Nutrition and Dietetics, Judy Sheeshka said, "Everyone knows that fruits and vegetables are good for you but they don't understand why. Research shows that if you explain to people how different vegetables help your eyesight or might help prevent cancer, then they are more motivated to make healthy choices.
"The Ministry of Food Pop-Up Kitchen would be perfect for Maribyrnong we have such a rich cultural diverse heritage here. We have so many foods available. People who have grown up in Australia don't know what to do with many wonderful ethnic foods. People who are new to Australia don't know what to do with some wonderful locally grown Australian foods."
Ministry of Food Pop-Up Kitchen
The Ministry of Food Pop-Up Kitchen is about inspiring even the most inexperienced cook to make a meal from scratch. With hands-on cooking classes, people will learn all about food; where it comes from, how to cook it and how it affects their bodies so they can feed themselves and their families' tasty, exciting and nutritious food.
Professor Towstoless said, "To show your support and to assist us in the final stretch of bringing Jamie's Ministry of Food to Melbourne's west, please head to our Facebook page and 'like' the campaign. We would appreciate you sharing this link with your networks to assist us in demonstrating potential high levels of community support and commitment to this innovative and community-based program."
