The Deadly Koolinga Chefs Program, (DKCP) a collaborative food literacy project between  Ngangk Yira Institute for Change, and the School of Nursing, has received funding to continue cooking classes in Peel schools. Thanks to the partnerships with Aryzta and Alcoa.

Led by Associate Professor Caroline Nilson, the program’s classes focus on kitchen safety, meal planning and budgeting, cooking and food storage – and includes Traditional Bush Foods.

In December 2023, ARYZTA International Bakery signed an agreement with Murdoch University’s Food Futures Institute to continue funding the Deadly Koolinga Chefs Program. The commitment from ARYZTA, to contribute $120,000 to fund this program to support the building of skills of the students in local primary schools in Peel and Mandurah has been highly successful.

The continued success of the DKCP in the Murray Shire has seen the introduction of the program into three more schools in 2024 and a fourth school in 2025, with funding from Alcoa of Australia. The introduction of the DKCP in these additional partner schools highlights the importance of children's food literacy development as a life skill.

The DKCP is achieving significant impact outcomes in the development of child and adolescent critical food literacy competencies that align with the following national and state goals and strategies including:

• The National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030,
• The National Obesity Strategy 2022-2032,
• The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Plan 2021-2030, the National Action Plan for the health of Children and Young People 2021-2030,
• The National Child’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021 and
• The WA Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Framework 2021-2030;

DCKP has also resulted in improved school attendance which is a key priority goal of the Close the Gap Campaign 2024 and National Close the Gap Targets.

It addresses:

• Target 5: Students achieve their full learning potential
• Target 6: Students reach their full potential through further education pathways
• Target 7: Youth are engaged in employment or education

Child and Adolescent DCKP participants report heightened pride and confidence with their cooking and nutrition skills development, and competence in contributing to healthy family food awareness which correlates with the key principles of.

As foundational sponsor of the DKCP, ARYZTA Australia, has supported key partnerships with schools in the Peel region to respond to the World Health Organisation’s 2021 global standard of making “every school a health promoting school”.

Sustainable Healthy Foods and Futures Roundtable Outcomes

In February 2025, the Coolamon Centre and Food Futures Institute hosted a roundtable - Sustainable Healthy Foods and Futures, at the Food Innovation Precinct in Stakehill, WA, bringing together key stakeholders to review the Deadly Koolinga Chefs Program and plan its future. The program focuses on healthy foods and nutrition and is linked to reduced school absenteeism and strong student engagement, particularly among Aboriginal young people. Discussions focused on expanding to more schools, embedding it into the curriculum, and securing long-term government funding. Stakeholders also highlighted the importance of community involvement, showcasing the program at public events, and publishing evidence of its impact.

Round table participants with representative from DPIRD, Murdoch University, ARYZTA and the Peel Development Commission.  

Caroline Nilson, the Chief Investigator and program designer with Dave Doepel preparing a Calabrese Salad.