About Us

FOCiS Inc is a not-for-profit association made up of members and associates from Australian states and territories School Canteen Associations and like minded organisations. FOCiS (previously the Federation of Canteens in Schools) represents school canteens nationally and has been in existence since 1992.

FOCiS was incorporated in 2004 after a significant restructure and its aims are:

To promote and facilitate the provision of nutritious and healthy food services in schools throughout Australia
To advocate and campaign on national school canteen issues.
To develop and promote national canteen policies and to devise strategies to achieve the goals implicit in those policies.
To monitor and provide information, analysis, research and reports on national canteen issues to Members, Associates and other appropriate organisations.
To represent canteens of government and non-government schools and their school communities in all relevant forums.
To provide support for Members and Associates and to act as a conduit for sharing information and experiences.
To work with other organisations on matters of mutual interest.
To represent FOCiS' views on national issues to Government, education, health and other related organisations.
To provide for ongoing development and regular review of FOCiS' organisation and administration.

FOCiS currently conducts a National Product Registration Program, which assesses food and drink products against the FOCiS Nutrient Criteria. Once the products meet these criteria they are registered and promoted to school canteens as a healthier choice. The criteria for this program were based on the latest Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents. The criteria for the program, which has already been in operation for several years, were reviewed and re-launched in June 2005. Regular reviews are scheduled bi-annually.

FOCiS has developed a series of resources to assist school canteens. These have included the 'Management $ense, Food Sense' manual, the 'Looking After our Kids' video and handbook and the 'FOCiS On Canteens' magazine. One copy of each of these resources was provided free of charge to all schools. Additional copies can be purchased through your school canteen association or FOCiS. These resources provide an important source of current, accurate information to assist canteen managers to better operate their food services and train staff.