ACT Nutrition Support Service

26/08/2026

28/07/2026

🥦🍅 Can you play with fruits and veggies?

We are super proud to be partnering with the talented Chloe Lim, scientist and baloon artist, this National Science Week for Foodie Fun Play! A free hands-on science show with balloons, stories and playful learning.

Designed for kids aged 3 to 8 to explore fruits and veggies through fun, creative play.

📌 WHAT TO EXPECT

🌈 Science Storytelling Show
It starts with a fun 30-minute show where children build interest and curiosity different fruits and vegetables through a balloon filled story.

🎈 Balloon Fruit & Veggie Station
Meet balloon fruits and veggies, then make your own veggie friend with fun eyes and cheeky smiles to take home.

🍓 Tasting Table
Smell, touch, taste and explore fresh produce, prepared by our dietitians.

Tickets are still available for 17 and 20 August shows so be sure to snap them up before it's too late!

Book here: https://twistyfic.eventbrite.com

02/07/2026

We were delighted to welcome Rebecca Vassaroti MLA to our office and food skills kitchen at the Chifley Health Hub this week! 💚

It was a fantastic opportunity to share the work we're doing to support children and families across the ACT through evidence-based nutrition programs that help give every child the best possible start in life.

As a small team, we're proud of the impact we make with limited resources, but we also know there's so much more that can be achieved with greater investment in early childhood nutrition and prevention.

The latest Australian Early Development Census shows the ACT ranks second lowest nationally for children's physical health and wellbeing. Every child deserves to start school healthy, nourished and ready to learn, and investing in public health nutrition is a critical part of making that happen.

Thank you, Rebecca, for taking the time to learn more about our work and for your interest in building a healthier future for children and families across the ACT.

23/06/2026

So wonderful seeing our Nourishing Little Minds Community program in action in Swan Hill. 🙌

30/05/2026

Proud moment sharing the outcomes of our impressive FEED program at the ACT Allied Health Symposium this week.
This program exemplifies the power of Allied Health working together improving the health and developmental outcomes of children and young people with selective eating behaviour. A collaboration of Dietetics, Occupational Tharapy and Play Therapy all wrapped up in one impressive program funded by ACT Government Health and Community Services Health Promotion Grants Program.

Whilst funding for this pilot program has finished, the need and demand in the community among families continues rise. Being the not-for-profit, equity driven organisation that we are, we feel programs such as FEED, with demonstrated outcomes, deserve ongoing Government support. We eagerly await the upcoming ACT Government 2026/27 budget release to find out if this program will be backed by government investment.

Check out our FEED poster here:https://actnss.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/Fuelling-Everybody-Every-Day-POSTER.pdf

Nutrition Australia

29/05/2026

Attention teachers! Help us improve food and nutrition messaging in schools. There's still time to take part in this important National survey.

A/Prof Gabriella Heruc and the research team at Western Sydney University and University of Newcastle are inviting Australian primary and high school teachers to participate in an online voluntary survey (15 minutes) exploring confidence and attitudes towards delivering food and nutrition messaging. Findings will inform future recommendations on how we can improve food and nutrition messaging in schools.

For more information and to participate, head to: https://tinyurl.com/SHiNE-Teacher-Survey

Feel free to share among your teacher networks.

16/05/2026

Congratulations to our CEO Leanne Elliston, presented with the Culinary Nutrition Award at the Dietitians Australia ACT Branch event last night. A terrific evening that recognised the incredible work of our Canberra dietitians.
Happy

13/05/2026

06/05/2026

Food in schools has played a big part of this week as our CEO Leanne Elliston and dietitian Cara Cook attended the inaugural School Food Summit in Hobart. Such an important opportunity for leaders, researchers and schools to come together to share, learn and collaborate on how we can work together towards a nationwide school meal program.

It was also very timely to see Shane Rattenbury MLA raise an important question in the ACT Legislative Assembly questioning the nutritional quality of certain products being provided by our ACT Government to the five schools taking part in the ACT Meals in Schools program.

Whilst we 100% support this program we encourage the ACT Government to take due responsibility of ensuring nourishing foods are provided rather than highly processed, sugar laden cereal bars that offer little nutritional benefit for learning minds.

Yesterday, Leanne Elliston was interviewed by Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Canberra Radio on this matter.
Listen to the interview here: https://actnss.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/ABC-Radio-6.5.26.mp3

Federation of Canteens in Schools - FOCIS
Nutrition Australia

30/04/2026

The latest National Child Health Poll from The Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne has revealed two in five teens (41%) cannot cook a basic meal but most (65%) want to learn how.
This finding led our ACT Senior Dietitian, Leanne Elliston, into the ABC Canberra studio today to talk about why cooking skills really matter. 🎙️
Being able to cook a basic meal from scratch is linked to better nutrition, helps build independence, and reduces reliance on convenience and takeaway foods. This life‑long skill does more than nourish, it also brings connection, enjoyment, and shared experiences with the people around us.
Greater efforts are needed to support families and young people to learn these essential skills. That means saving school cooking classes and supporting community initiatives that help children enjoy and learn how to cook.

🎧 Listen to the interview here: https://nutritionaustralia.org/app/uploads/2026/04/ABC-Radio-30.4.26.mp3

🔗Access the Health Poll report here: https://rchpoll.org.au/polls/teens-and-food-do-they-know-the-facts/