industry & reform
Recipe for success
Canteen manager Sara McHugh with students at St Cecilia ’ s Catholic Primary School , Balgowlah , Sydney . Picture : Dylan Robinson
How school canteens can survive and prosper in the future .
By Wade Zaglas
The school canteen is a crucial part of any school , particularly for students whose parents do not have the time , ingredients or knowledge to provide their children with healthy meals for the day .
But as Australia participated in this year ’ s Celebrate Canteen Week ( May 24- 28 ), questions were being asked about whether school canteens will remain viable in the future . Highlighting this concern is the Australian Schools Canteen Association ( ASCA ), a not-for-profit member association helping more than 6000 of the country ’ s schools . Each year the association helps schools and canteens to “ save millions of dollars ”, as well as supporting important education charities such as the Smith Family and Stewart House .
Celebrate Canteen Week was conceived to acknowledge the hard work of staff and volunteers in school canteens , but also draw attention to what they offer . New menus , theme days and fun activities often feature on the day .
ASCA says that school canteens are in a state of recovery this year , following the impact COVID-19 had on the 2020 school year and attendant school closures . Such are the pressures in canteens to remain profitable and viable , ASCA begs the question : ‘ Will the school canteen as we know it survive ?’
The association contends that , among the 5000 + school canteens in the country , “ it would be rare to find one that is not facing increasing pressure due to working with thinner profits and the difficulty in offering healthier menu choices while competing with local food outlets ”.
However , ASCA ’ s CEO David Edwards says , “ ASCA believes that canteens can be both successful and healthy , as long as these objectives are kept in balance .” He adds that many school canteens have adapted well to the times and have begun to recover .
Having properly trained staff who are aware of the school community ’ s needs is critical for success , ASCA says . It also states that outsourcing school canteen work “ may be a recipe for disaster ”.
A well-equipped school canteen is also critical for ongoing viability . ASCA says that state government healthy eating guidelines have unfortunately not been accompanied by resources to help school canteens prepare and store the meals . Indeed , “ many have little more than a pie warmer ,” the association says .
The integration of technology will also be key to the success of school canteens in the future , ASCA contends . Improving
Canteens can be both successful and healthy , as long as these objectives are kept in balance .
productivity , as well as addressing some of the risks of COVID-19 , can be improved by online ordering and cashless transactions . Smart technological solutions can also cut down on waste .
“ There is no question that more change will be necessary for school canteens to survive and prosper . However , ASCA is confident that schools that adopt best practice approaches to running their canteens will be successful . Celebrate Canteen Week is a time when schools should review whether their canteens are achieving all they want for their schools , and if not , then what should be done ,” ASCA said .
“ Well-staffed and well-equipped canteens were able to adapt last year to the challenges of COVID ; catering for staff needs , providing take home meals for students who were still in the school , and many more innovations .
“ Such canteens have also made a point of listening to parents and students , and providing them with the choices they want , while also increasing the health of the menu .” ■ educationreview . com . au | 9