Everyone working with food in schools has a personal responsibility to handle food safely. Poor food safety can have serious consequences. Following good food safety practices and developing a positive food safety culture is the best way to ensure the food supplied is safe and high customer satisfaction. Paid and volunteer staff in school canteens need to understand their legal responsibilities, minimum standards and training requirements in their state or territory.
New Food Safety Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety management tools will be enforced Australia-wide from the 8 December 2023.
The tools introduced in Standard 3.2.2A will enable food businesses, including school canteens, to manage food safety risks more effectively which will help prevent food-borne illnesses, outbreaks, loss of revenue and reputational damage to your business. There are three requirements:
- Appoint a Food Safety Supervisor (who must complete accredited Food Safety Supervisor training every 5 years, comprehensive full day training). A food safety supervisor must undergo training by a registered training organisation and complete the following units of competency:
- SITXFSA005 – Use hygienic practices for food safety
- SITXFSA006 – Participate in safe food handling practices.
WASCA’s training covers both units of competency, and the content has been tailored to include school canteen industry specific content. See the Training page for full details and enrolment dates.
- All other paid and volunteer staff must complete Food Handler training* (e.g. FoodSafe, 60-minute online training). WASCA members can access FoodSafe online for FREE
- Show your food is safe by implementing food safety records (e.g. paperwork and procedures).
Department of Education’s Student Health in Public Schools policy, and Appendix B Healthy Food and Drinks
Compliance requires all canteen staff and volunteers to complete FoodSafe Food Handler training (or equivalent) and All about allergens training. Principals must ensure the canteen understands their obligations to sell food in accordance with the Food Act 2008 (WA) including but not limited to:
- canteen workers and volunteers have completed FoodSafe Food Handler training or its equivalent and All about allergens training
- schools notify the local council prior to conducting a charitable or community event involving food
- food prepared for sale is only made in approved premises; food prepared in a home that has not been approved as a food business must not be sold in a canteen.
In May 2023 WASCA hosted an online seminar, in partnership with the Department of Health Environmental Health Directorate to talk about training options, templates for record keeping and answer questions. The seminar was recorded and is now available to watch on the WASCA YouTube Channel.
The PowerPoint presentations are also available
