Training

Training for canteen staff and volunteers: All about Allergens

Everyone working in food service, from the manager through to the food preparation and service staff, needs to be aware of the risks food allergies pose. It’s also important to be clear on how to identify and manage food allergens and how to respond to enquiries from customers with food allergies.

All about Allergens training is a free online course for anyone working in food service. The comprehensive program details need to know information relevant to those in the food service industry and is presented using videos and interactive activities.

The course takes about 60-90 minutes to complete and a certificate can be printed on completion. Access the course at: www.foodallergytraining.com.au

Public Health Association of Australia

FOCIS presented at the PHAA Public Health Prevention Conference June 2019. about the School canteen online training development including partnering with all Australian states and territories. See the full PHAA abstract here.

Food safety and hygiene training

FoodSafe – training is self-led and training packages can be purchased from Environmental Health Australia

Online food safety courses:

Food Safety Australia https://www.foodsafety.edu.au/
Food Safety First https://www.foodsafetyfirst.com.au/

Training for Canteen Operators

FOCIS offers an online canteen training course that you can complete at your own pace. This eight module course will equip school canteen operators with the skills and knowledge to provide safe, nutritious food in a financially viable food service.

Additional Training courses are run by State and Territory Canteen Associations. Many of these are available online and available to canteen operators in other States. For more information click on the links below:

News and Events

Whole Grain Week

As part of Whole Grain Week 2023, the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council has developed an on-line recipe book full of delicious ways to increase the whole grains in your diet. The recipes can be download here.
Advocacy and Communications Officer

FOCIS is currently looking for dynamic Advocacy and Communications Officer to join our team. If you would like to be part of an organisation advocating for the role of school food services in creating a whole school approach to healthy food environments, this could be the position for you. This role is for 7.5-10 hours per week and you will work from home, so can be located anywhere in Australia. For more information see our advert on SEEK or contact us on admin@focis.com.au.
Creating a whole school approach to healthy eating

The whole school approach to healthy eating is an evidence based approach that works to develop a healthy food culture in schools that positively impacts the eating habits of students. For more information see this recent article written by FOCIS and published in Education Australia.
Queensland's Best Tuckshop Recipes

Congratulations to Southport State School Tuckshop Convener, Angelique Scarpignato, for winning the 2023 Queensland Tuckshops Recipe of the Year competition with her recipe for Butter Chicken.
More information about the competition and this healthy recipe can be found in a recent article by the Bursar.
Food-EPI Australia reports for all jurisdictions

Deakin University have completed their reports for the Food-EPI Australia 2022 initiative. These are now available online.
The Federal Government report was released first as part of the International Congress on Obesity in October 2022, and the jurisdictional reports progressively released, in conjunction with NGOs in each jurisdiction.
Education Australia - Canteen Food and Beverage

The March edition of Education Australia contains some interesting articles on the importance of children eating a healthy diet at school. This article on School Food Services - providing a nutritious food services to support student learning, is written by the FOCIS Executive. The article discusses the importance of a whole school approach to healthy eating and the role school canteens play in supporting student health and wellbeing and the impact a healthy diet can have on brain development and academic achievement.
There is also an article from Nutrition Australia, ACT's senior dietitian, Leanne Elliston, on how staying well-nourished and hydrated at school impacts students energy and concentration levels.
School lunch boxes should be practical and affordable

The pressure to make the perfect school lunch box is on the rise but with parents busier than ever it is important to remember that healthy lunches do not have to be unwrapped or organic. This article from the ABC shows how Queensland tuckshops are providing healthy affordable lunches that children love to eat.
Fact Sheets and Position Statements

FOCIS has developed a suite of fact sheets and position statements that cover topics such as 'Make money not waste' and 'Sweeteners', check them out today.