Cooking up a storm at NEST
Resident Glynis, along with her friends Ivy, Audrey and Ela, and four other neighbours from Banksia Apartments, graduated from OzHarvest’s popular NEST (Nutrition Education Skills Training) cooking program.
The program, led by an OzHarvest facilitator, gives participants the opportunity to learn about different food groups and create easy, budget-friendly meals, while also fostering connections among neighbours.
Glynis said her main motivation for taking part was to learn how to cook simple, delicious meals.
“The social aspect was also very important to me. It was so much fun learning about cooking with others,” she said.
A key highlight for Glynis was the focus on vegan cooking, as well as learning how to reduce food waste and make meals healthier without relying on salt and sugar.
“We’re cooking more at home, moving more, and we have so much more energy,” Glynis shared, reflecting on the positive changes since completing the program.
At the end of the program, every participant received a certificate and a copy of the OzHarvest Everyday Cookbook.
We have been partnering with OzHarvest to deliver NEST programs for several years in various regions. The program is entirely free for participants and usually hosted at on-site community rooms, making it convenient for residents to attend.
Sunshine Coast Housing Officer Angela said, “The residents really enjoyed the program. They were all really engaged with the education side.”
As a community development program, NEST offers value to participants in multiple forms. For some, it is about developing existing or learning new skills, while to others, the tips for making affordable meals support their household budgets. For new tenants or even new developments like Banksia Apartments, NEST is also a safe environment for residents to connect with their neighbours socially.
“The residents worked really well together when it came time to prepare the dishes they made each week, and when enjoying the meal together, you can see the real sense of community amongst everyone.”
Reflecting on the course, Glynis encourages other residents to take part in the NEST program, believing it provides valuable education and practical skills that everyone can benefit from.
We are planning to run more NEST cooking courses in 2025 at the following locations:
- Ipswich – May to June
- Logan (Slacks Creek) – August to September
- Bribie Island – August to September
If you’re a resident who is interested in participating, mark your calendars now and keep an eye out for invitations, which will be distributed once course dates are confirmed.
