Food and Fun For Children at Saranna

Vanessa and Corinne with SECECC Manager Sharmayne Holly

Edith Cowan University nutrition students Corinne Tighe and Vanessa Vidler recently completed five-week community nutrition placements at the WA Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies (WANADA) and recommend other students take up the challenge.

"We were lucky enough to work with Saranna Early Childhood Education and Care Centre (SECECC) which is a long day care centre operated by Cyrenian House," says Vanessa. "The placement gave me exposure to the alcohol and other drug (AOD) sector and emphasised to me the importance of a holistic approach with this population group."


Vanessa and Corinne's project comprised three components:

• a review of SECECC's menu,
• the development and facilitation of healthy eating workshops for children and parents, and
• the creation of a healthy eating toolkit to provide resources aimed at creating a sustainable health promoting environment.

Children at the centre enjoyed learning about different types of vegetables thanks to fun games, while staff  appreciated the students' menu suggestions.

 "The project was very interesting, challenging and varied and therefore proved to be a perfect opportunity for us to develop our skills as student dietitians," says Corinne. "Overall our experience at WANADA was a fantastic one."

WANADA facilitates placement of tertiary-level allied health students at alcohol and other drug services in Western Australia and has so far worked with students from Edith Cowan University, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia.

"Alcohol and other drug services, particularly residential services, are keen to improve the overall health and wellbeing of their clients," says WANADA Project Officer Maree Stallard. "Placements have the potential to bring ideas and resources into a service and provide students with an insight into alcohol and other drug work."

More information about allied health student placements within the alcohol and other drug sector is available on the WANADA's Student Information page.