Healthy Cities Australia (HCA) is excited to share that our much-loved Cook Chill Chat (CCC) program is expanding outside the Illawarra for the very first time, and across into regional NSW! Thanks to funding from COORDINARE Southeastern NSW Primary Health Network, twelve new programs will be delivered between now and June 2026 in Shoalhaven, Goulburn, Queanbeyan, as well as the Illawarra.
Cook Chill Chat isn’t just about learning cooking skills, but also provides a space to build connection, confidence, and community. Launched in 2015, the program brings together small groups of up to twelve participants for six weekly sessions. Over three hours each week, people cook and share a healthy, budget-friendly meal, learn practical nutrition skills, and enjoy meaningful conversations in a relaxed, friendly space.
“It helped me when I wasn’t feeling the best mentally.” – Program participant
Each session is hands-on and inclusive, with a focus on making healthy cooking accessible to everyone — especially those from low-income, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally diverse, or socially isolated backgrounds.
COORDINARE’s regional health assessments identified these new locations as areas of high need:
- Goulburn: Higher rates of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges.
- Queanbeyan: A large culturally and linguistically diverse community facing barriers to healthcare.
- Shoalhaven and Illawarra: Ongoing priority regions with strong local networks and long-term HCA engagement.
These regions share challenges such as poor nutrition, chronic disease, and limited access to preventative health programs, which is exactly where CCC makes a real difference.
Since 2015, HCA has delivered 67 Cook Chill Chat programs, reaching more than 850 participants. Independent analysis by the Australian Social Value Bank found that every dollar invested in CCC generates $1.64 in social and economic value, adding up to a net benefit of nearly $492,037 over five years.
Behind this success are strong partnerships. HCA works with a range of organisations who are working at the grassroots supporting disadvantaged communities, including community organisations, Aboriginal health services and neighbourhood centres to host programs locally. New partnerships in Goulburn and Queanbeyan will ensure the program remains locally relevant and culturally safe.
By bringing people together to cook, share, and talk, CCC helps reduce isolation, boost self-esteem, and build healthy habits that last.
For more information or to find a Cook Chill Chat program near you, contact Healthy Cities Australia on (02) 4283 8111 or email admin@healthycities.org.au.
