Community & Business
19 May, 2023
Diane helps to spread healthy recipe message
A MEMBER of the Herberton branch of Queensland Country Women’s Association (QCWA) is sharing healthy recipes with the community as part of her role as a Country Kitchens facilitator.
Joining the QCWA in 2017, Diane Donaldson, who is also the Atherton Tablelands Division Convenor, said she was inspired to become a Country Kitchens facilitator over a year ago.
“At a division meeting one weekend at the Forsayth Branch, Country Kitchens Health Promotion team leader Katy Li demonstrated a couple of Country Kitchens recipes, and I decided to sign up,” she said.
“I love cooking, and I cook everything from scratch, having done so for many years.”
The QCWA’s Country Kitchens program is a health promotion program supporting communities across Queensland to adopt healthier lifestyle behaviours.
It is a partnership between the QCWA and Health and Wellbeing Queensland and the flagship program of the association.
The Country Kitchens program supports QCWA volunteer branch and supporter members, who already have a wealth of cooking knowledge and skills, with training and support to help improve the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders, particularly those living in rural, regional and remote locations.
“I got involved with the Country Kitchens program to promote and raise awareness of the importance of consuming a healthy, balanced diet, and to show how easy it can be to make great tasting healthy meals at home,” Diane said.
The Country Kitchens team of dietitians and nutritionists provide a training pathway and assistance to QCWA members – supporter members and branch members - who volunteer to become facilitators of the program.
Country Kitchens facilitators deliver health promotion activities in their local communities and partner with organisations such as schools, local councils, and a wide range of community groups.
A central part of the program is the creation of healthy recipes which is how the Country Kitchens program is improving food and nutrition literacy, and importantly, influencing behaviour change at a grass roots level.
“I have been involved in a range of Country Kitchens community activities and have recently completed my Level 5 facilitator training,” Diane said.
“I have assisted with a showcase at the Atherton Show for the past two years, and also helped deliver hands-on nutrition workshops for Year 10 students at Malanda High School in conjunction with other facilitators.”
If you or someone you know is keen to work with the QCWA Country Kitchens program, the organisation is always looking to increase its volunteer workforce. To learn more, contact the team on 0417 539 663, or visit www.qcwacountrykitchens.com.au
