In the school canteen environment of today, professional development for canteen staff should be considered essential if staff are to keep skills and knowledge up to date that will allow them to keep pace with industry changes and legislative requirements. As the peak body representing school canteens of all education systems in WA, WASCA has a commitment to ensure provision of appropriate industry training for canteen personnel. Subsidised by specific project or grant funding, WASCA also delivers workshops and other short courses throughout the State, using qualified and experienced industry trainers, in conjunction with other government and non-government health agencies.
Training sessions will be scheduled in areas where there is a demand. If you would like to host a training session at your school please contact WASCA to discuss. We require a minimum of 5 people to make any session viable to run and as a thank you the host school will receive 10 Fresh Focus of Food for Families cookbooks to use as volunteer gifts or prizes.
Alternatively, a scheduled can be found on the training schedule page and the WASCA home page.
To find our more or to register you interest in any of our training please contact WASCA on 9264 4999 or wasca@education.wa.edu.au
We also provide a menu, product and recipe assessment service. Simply post or email the details and we will send you a report. This is a free service for WASCA members.
Canteen Network Meetings
Canteen network meetings are all about talking and learning from the experiences of others. These sessions are fun, informal and provide a great opportunity to network with canteen staff, volunteers and parent group representatives from other schools in the area.
The best thing about network meetings is the agenda is set by you! WASCA will bring all the relevant information and resources based on your requests. In addition to hearing about what’s new in the Healthy Food and Drink policy, topics could include food safety, attracting volunteers, recipe costings, nutrition facts, menu planning and marketing. When you register simply tell us the ‘hot topic’ you would like on the 90 minute agenda. Attendance is free.
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in either hosting or attending a session.
Financial Management Training
Running a canteen is equivalent to running a small business. It is essential to understand the financial situation in the canteen at all times to maintain a viable business. During the financial management training, you will learn all about:
- Correctly calculating pricing for menu items
- Recipe costing
- Standardisation, portion control and waste minimisation
- Marketing and promotion techniques
- Record keeping and stock control
- Each school will be given a WASCA USB with pre-formatted templates.
Canteen staff and parent body representatives who are responsible for the canteen are encouraged to attend.
Running time: approximately 2.5 hours Cost : $15 members $20 non members
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in either hosting or attending a session.
Food safety and hygiene
Canteens must ensure that the food prepared in the canteen is safe.
Food safety and hygiene training covers all aspects of the FoodSafe® Food Handler training program. Compliance with the Healthy Food and Drink policy requires canteen staff to complete FoodSafe® Food Handler training or its equivalent. This session includes:
- Food handling and storage
- Cleaning procedures
- Temperature control
- Contamination
- Pest control
- Record keeping
- Allergy and cross contamination
Running time: approximately 2.5 hours Cost : $15 members $20 non members
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in either hosting or attending a session.
In addition to WASCA’s food safety and hygiene courses, other suitable training includes:
- 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/
Kindy and Pre Primary Orientation Sessions
A kindy orientation session is a fantastic way to introduce new parents to the Healthy Food and Drink policy and increase their knowledge about packing a healthy lunchbox. In the Perth metropolitan area a representative from WASCA will join the pre-organised session at your school and provide a brief 15 minute overview, including:
- HFD policy and traffic light system of categorising foods
- The ABCD lunchbox
- We touch on allergy and food safety
- Each family will be given a Packed with Goodness resource, specifically designed to help parents provide healthy food for their children
- Each teacher will be given a resource pack with posters and a Healthy School healthy Student teacher guide.
WASCA works in partnership with other health professional in regional and remote WA, many of whom are available to deliver kindy orientation sessions on WASCA’s behalf. There is currently no cost for kindy sessions.
If we can’t attend your session we encourage you to use this fantastic new Kindy orientation video as a tool to show parents. Contact WASCA for support resources.
For more information or to register your interest contact WASCA on 9264 4999 or amanda.ferguson2@education.wa.edu.au
StarCAP2 Training – Accreditation Program
StarCAP2 is a voluntary accreditation program that recognises and rewards schools whose sales of green foods exceed 60%. StarCAP2 is based on the Health Promoting Schools Framework and embraces a whole of school approach to healthy eating. During the training session we cover the four core areas of the program including, policy, marketing, menu and food safety and hygiene. Training sessions will be scheduled in areas where there is a demand.
Running time: approximately 3 hours Cost : $15 members $20 non members
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in either hosting or attending a session.
Traffic Light Training – Healthy Food and Drink policy
Traffic light training covers all aspects of the Department of Education’s Healthy Food and Drink Policy. Compliance with the policy requires representatives from the school to complete this course.
The face to face session is a great opportunity for you to have a ‘health check’ of your canteen menu and discuss menu ideas with other school and canteen staff.
Traffic light training is also available online at www.waschoolcanteens.org.au/training
Topics include:
- The scope of the Healthy Food and Drink policy
- Traffic light system of categorising food and drinks
- Policy compliance
- Menu planning and assessment
- Linking with the school community
- Food safety and hygiene
- Healthy recipes.
Running time: approximately 2.5 hours Cost : $15 members $20 non members
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in either hosting or attending a session.
Workshops for Students, Parents and Carers – Healthy Food and Drink policy
Parents
Parent workshops are fun and interactive! They include an overview of the Healthy Food and Drink policy, food demonstrations and tastings for healthy and appealing lunches and snacks made from home, and practical advice on label reading. Parents are given resources and are encouraged to apply the ‘traffic light’ system at home. The workshops can be tailored to the specific needs of the school and parents. The sessions are carried out in a very informal and relaxed atmosphere and can be held in a classroom, staffroom or multipurpose room. A flyer advertising the session will be sent to the school for distribution to parents.
Running time: approximately 90 minutes Cost: quote on request
Students
Conducted by a qualified nutritionist, student workshops are held in the classroom and are fun introduction to healthy eating. Students discuss the Healthy Food and Drink policy, categorise products using the ‘traffic light’ system and participate in a food demonstration and tastings. Students receive information on making healthy food and drink choices and resources to take home. We will work in conjunction with teachers to ensure minimum disruption to timetables. A number of sessions can be held at the same school and class sizes of up to 60 can be accommodated in the one group.
Running time: approximately 45 minutes Cost: quote on request
Please contact WASCA to register your interest in holding a session.
