Only a few years ago, many school canteens were in a dire situation, struggling to move to healthier menus without going out of business. With new healthy food requirements for public schools, just ordering pre-prepared frozen food is no longer an option. Canteens need to be sophisticated places, but healthier food is often more expensive and takes longer to prepare.

To help, Council successfully lobbied for $200,000 in funding from the ACT Government in 2013 to provide canteens with systems to save time and money, and quality resources and advice.

Now, the last of that funding – over $60,000 in total – has been distributed directly to public school canteens who applied for assistance.

The money will be used for a range of projects. Many canteens will buy new appliances so that they can more easily make more food on the premises from fresh ingredients.

Some canteens’ needs were as simple as new pots and pans. Others will purchase slow cookers, additional ovens, fridges and freezers, or blenders for soups and smoothies to provide new healthy menu choices to appeal to students. Other funded projects include signage and fittings to make the canteen more attractive, and laptops or software to manage finances or make the move to online ordering for parents.

Alex Frawley, P&C volunteer at the Torrens Primary School canteen is thrilled. “The grant gives us the opportunity to embrace fresh food, the tools to make a difference to the canteen, which we couldn’t afford on our own,” she says.

Below: Students queue outdoors at Chapman Primary’s canteen. A new awning, funded by a Canteen Improvement Grant, will ensure they can buy food, whatever the weather.

“Two years ago, the situation seemed almost impossible,” says former Council Vice-president Hugh Boulter. “Through our canteen improvement project we have moved canteens online, joined them up with supportive organisations and paid for menu advice and reviews of their business.”

“We now see an increase in confidence and enthusiasm. Most P&C-run canteens feel better equipped with information and resources. Equipping their kitchens with these grants is an added boost.”

In addition to the latest round of small grants, Council has provided a range of support over the past two years via the Canteen Improvement Project.

‘Flexischools’ and computers

Council purchased the Flexischools online ordering system for 26 school canteens with a negotiated ongoing discount for the use of the system. Ten canteens also received new computers to use with the system.

Canteens have found the system reduces the workload of canteen staff and volunteers, freeing up time for food preparation. In some cases parent preference for online ordering has led to an increase in sales, helping with financial viability.

The system also provides useful sales and financial information which has made it easier for canteens to understand their financial position and improve their business model.

Council also purchased ten Flexischools Point of Sale systems for secondary schools. This allows families to load canteen credit on to a card which students can then use at the canteen counter. The system has been welcomed by the P&Cs running these canteens.

Menu assessments

Council also paid the cost of around 30 school canteen menu assessments conducted by Nutrition Australia. The assessments give excellent feedback to the canteens on the Red, Green or Amber status of each menu item and suggestions for making recipes more nutritious.

Good advice

Council has paid for all P&C-run canteens to be members of Healthy Kids Australia (HKA) for next three years. The closure of the ACT School Canteens Association in late 2012 left ACT canteens without expert advice.

As members of HKA, canteens now have access to management courses, business audits, industrial relations information and support, promotional materials, menu ideas and much more (check out healthy-kids.com.au).

Sharing experiences

Council now has a specialist canteen subcommittee where P&C members involved in canteens can share their ideas and expertise and hear from expert organisations.

A brighter future

Together this assistance has seen some closed school canteens re-open. Other canteens report improvements in their financial position and in several cases this has been dramatic. Canteens have also continued to embrace fresh, healthy food and ‘Green’ their menus.

“The biggest change,” says Mr Boulter, “has been an increase in confidence. Morale is up. P&Cs, staff and volunteers feel more positive about the future of their canteens where, in some cases, continuing had seemed impossible.”

This article appeared in ParentACTion, Term 4, 2015. See other past editions of our quarterly magazine.