Back to Contents • Previous • Next

Brisbane, QUEENSLAND

Grant gets men into the kitchen

Teaching men to prepare and cook a delicious and healthy meal was the aim of a project launched last year by the Brisbane office of Nutrition Australia.

After running a series of cooking workshops in 1995, staff realised there were men, especially those over 50, who had extremely limited cooking skills.

After seeing the Veteran & Community Grants advertised, Robin Tilse from Nutrition Australia decided to approach the Department of Veterans' Affairs about conducting a cooking course for veterans.

"We approached the Department with our idea to run a series of workshops before filling in the detailed application form. It was also agreed we would produce a facilitators' manual and video."

"The Department was very supportive and guided us through the application process."

According to Robin, the Department's own research shows 17 per cent of veterans live alone. Many others are caring for a spouse or dependent family members.

"Men who have been taken care of throughout their lives are having to cook and clean and look after themselves. Many have difficulty in this new role. This project provides new skills to cope" says Robin. "We want to teach them how to look after themselves so they can stay healthier for longer."

Back to Top

Robin says the grant allowed Nutrition Australia to run courses including one for women, in Brisbane, on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Each lasted for six weeks and included between eight and 12 people.

Participants were taught to prepare and cook an evening meal and were then able to sit together and enjoy it.

"We've had really positive feedback," says Robin. "The men not only learnt to cook but they also enjoyed spending time with each other."

All who have attended the classes have found new ways of cooking healthy meals for one and also enjoyed the social interaction that attending the workshop provided.

A key element of the cooking program was the production of a facilitators' manual and video titled Cooking for One or Two.

To ensure the benefits of this project are ongoing, the manual, video and recipe book together form a kit that will be distributed through DVA and Nutrition Australia to ex-service organisations and community organisations interested in conducting cooking workshops.

Independence on the menu

Project: teaching veterans to cook for themsleves.

Grant value: $64,406

Community benefits: improved health and independence for veterans

Back to top • Back to Contents • Previous • Next