Partnerships

FOCiS

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 Vision, Mission and Objectives are:

Vision

Leading the way to healthy food services in all Australian School communities

Mission

FOCiS is the peak national organisation promoting and advocating for healthy food services in all Australian schools and the wider community.

Objectives

• 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.  FOCiS also lists the products under the various government strategies to eliminate confusion in those states.  Once the products meet all of these criteria they are registered and promoted to school canteens as a healthier choice through the Registered Products List.  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. 

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.  Some of these resources are provided at no cost to schools and provide an important source of current, accurate information to assist canteen managers to better operate their food services and train their staff.  FOCiS utilises the expertise of its member associations to develop resources that are nationally appropriate thereby making them more cost effective.

FOCiS members sit on a number of reference groups and are included in many consultation processes.  FOCiS works closely with industry, government and health organisations to facilitate the exchange of information relevant to national school canteens issues.

FOCiS maintains a Nutrition Reference Group, which may be made up of dieticians, nutritionists, food technologists and dental therapists from the various states and territories.  This group provides advice on nutritional aspects of products and nutrition policy development.  The group was instrumental in redesigning the Nutrient Criteria for the registration program.  The Nutrition Reference Group, the FOCiS Registration and the FOCiS Assessment Officer work together with industry to assist them to design or reformulate their products to meet the criteria.  FOCiS maintains a strong working relationship with industry and, in the past year, has assisted in the registration of over 740 products.

The FOCiS website – www.focis.com.au – recently won a prestigious gold medal for design, innovation, navigability and artwork.  It provides relevant, accurate and up to date information for canteens and food industry alike.

FOCiS conducts a conference and AGM around September each year and rotated around the various states.  The 2996 Conference was held in Hobart and was hosted by the TSCA.
The FOCiS Executive Committee for 2006/7 is:

• President - Robin Bromley (WA)
• Treasurer – Deirdre Love (ACT)
• Vice President – Robyn Davies (Tas)
• Vice President – Rob Bryson (SA)
• Executive Officer – Sandy Towell (Qld)

FOCiS’s current activities include

• designing a new style of Buyer’s Guide
• developing National Canteen Guidelines
• reviewing Management $ense, Food Sense
• expanding its services to the broader community
• developing a CD Rom version of Looking After Our Kids
• assisting members (where required) to better support school canteens
• setting up a new corporate structure to meet the growing needs of FOCiS
• trade marking our name and logo to afford us better protection
• raising its profile within government circles
• providing advice on issues affecting canteens and childhood obesity
• building stronger industry links
• strengthening its membership base

FOCiS Contact details

PO Box 268, Nanango 4615
Phone 07/4171 0753              
Fax 07/4171 0182
admin@focis.com.au

Eat Well Tasmania Eat Well Tasmania is a statewide program that provides support and assistance for activities or projects that promote enjoyable healthy eating. The goal of the program is to improve the nutritional wellbeing of all Tasmanians and contribute to the reduction of diet-related health problems, by maximising the impact of nutrition promotion.

Eat Well Tasmania can help you: Find others to work with Develop a nutrition promotion idea or project Raise the profile of your project through media networks Link with the broader nutrition network through use of the Eat Well Tasmania symbol Identify and source funding, sponsorship and in-kind support Access promotional resources and nutrition information. For further information visit: www.eatwelltas.com.au

Move Well Eat Well

The Move Well Eat Well program is currently being reviewed.

Wicked Vegies Wicked Vegies is an innovative and exciting opportunity to encourage and promote vegetables and fruit and health and wellbeing in Tasmanian schools.

What does Wicked Vegies aim to achieve?

• Enhance Tasmanian students’ knowledge of the benefits of eating vegetables and fruits
• Increase skills in food preparation
• Raise awareness of locally grown, seasonal vegies and fruit
• Support partnerships within schools and the community

How does Wicked Vegies link to the school?

• Wicked Vegies encourages students to investigate, design and produce snacks or meals using fresh produce.
• The project encourages a whole-school and broader community approach. For instance, a practical classroom activity can link to the school canteen, school gardens, parents and families, local growers, food retailers, local markets and/or local councils.

What’s involved in Wicked Vegies?

To get involved schools need to:

• Run an activity or activities within the school that involve students investigating, designing and producing snacks or meals using fresh vegies and/or fruit
• Participate in a Wicked Vegies Celebration Day (Competition)
• Seek to work with others in partnerships with the school and/or the community

A partnership means linking in with others, a group or organisation.

Examples of partners could be:

• School canteen
• Community garden
• Local greengrocer or supermarket
• Vegetable or fruit grower
• Local markets
• Local council
• Local café or restaurant

Wicked Vegies schools will:

• Be supported by our staff and partners
• Make a difference to the health and wellbeing of students
• Increase awareness of the benefits of eating vegetables and fruits within the school and broader community

Wicked Vegies Partnerships

The Cancer Council Tasmania auspices the project with support from partners:

• Eat Well Tasmania
• The National Heart Foundation of Australia (Tasmania Division)
• Home Economics Institute of Australia Inc (Tasmania)
• Department of Education
• Department of Health and Human Services (Community Nutrition Unit)

For more information contact

Glen Paley, Wicked Vegies Project Officer
The Cancer Council Tasmania
PO Box 1624
HOBART  TAS  7001
Phone: 03 6233 2030
Fax: 03 6233 2123
Email: gpaley@cancertas.org.au

Family Food Patch

The Family Food PATCH program aims to improve the nutrition and physical activity knowledge and skills of parents of children aged 0-12 years by training peer educators (Family Food Educators) from communities throughout Tasmania. The project is funded by the Tasmanian Community Fund, auspiced by the Child Health Association and supported by the Department of Health & Human Services and Eat Well Tasmania.

What do Family Food Educators do?

• Manning a display promoting good nutrition and physical activity for children at childcare, school or playgroup
• Working with their school canteen to promote healthy menu options or work towards accreditation
• Discussing food and physical activity ideas with family and friends
• Developing a school or community garden
• Manning a stall at a community event such as the Teddy Bears Picnic or local fair
• Using the apple peelers and donated apples at schools, shows, fairs
• Putting inserts into school newsletters promoting physical activity and healthy lunchbox ideas

Benefits of being a Family Food Educator

• Developing confidence, skills and knowledge about child nutrition and physical activity
• Meeting other like minded people
• Becoming involved in the local community
• Feeling good about contributing to the health of young Tasmanians

Quotes from educators

‘We have been using every opportunity really …just to get the message out there’

‘I think there’s a fair need for it ..especially..the amount of media pressure – on healthy eating and things like that, but it also tends to be a very negative focus’

‘Loved it’  ‘Gives you a purpose’

‘More opportunities than you realise and they don’t have to be formal standing up and giving a talk’ eg fairs, fun days, school canteens

For more information contact:
Family Food PATCH Project
Telephone: 03 6224 9198
Email: familyfoodpatch@iprimus.com.au

The Community Nutrition Unit (Dept of Health & Human Services)

The Community Nutrition Unit (DHHS) implements evidence based community nutrition programs consistent with the Tasmanian Food and Nutrition Policy 2004.   The Community Nutrition Unit works in partnership with other agencies and organisations to build the capacity of other health and community workers in the area of nutrition. The CNU provides nutrition advice and support to the Tasmanian School Canteen Association’s (TSCA) Cool CAP program.  The CNU  is also available to school canteens for individual advice and nutrition training when required. The CNU also has a free nutrition resource library located in Hobart.

For more information contact

Community Nutrition Unit
3rd Floor, 25 Argyle Street, HOBART TAS 7000
Ph: 03 6222 7222
Fax 03 6222 7252
email: community.nutrition@dhhs.tas.gov.au

On This Page

FOCiS
Eat Well Tasmania
Move Well Eat Well
Wicked Vegies
Family Food Patch
The Community Nutrition Unit

Downloads

FOCiS Registered Product List