a day ago
Volunteer shortages, rising cost of food and staff putting school canteens at risk
For many Australians their school canteen order is a lasting memory.
Merryn Bailey remembers writing hers on a brown paper bag.
Gabe Hanmer remembers ordering pizza pockets or chicken and rice curry.
Amanda Sinclair grew up in the Northern Territory.
"We had school canteen once a week on Mondays. You put your $2 in your brown paper bag and you get to choose between a meat pie and a sausage roll, and either a little carton of choccy milk or orange juice," she said.
For decades, canteens or tuckshops have held a special place in Australian school life.
Leanne Elliston from the Federation of Canteens in Schools (FOCIS) said the nostalgia around school canteens is unsurprising.
She said for many children it's the "sheer excitement" of being able to choose what food they buy and eat, often for the first time in their lives.
Canteens can also provide a safety net for busy parents who don't have time to prepare a lunch box.
The canteen at Kingston Primary School in southern Tasmania is run by paid staff and volunteer parents.
Pretty much everything on the menu is made from scratch, including lasagne, vegetable korma, salad wraps, toasties and apple chips.
Unlike the canteens of old, party pies are only served on special occasions.
Kingston Primary School's canteen coordinator, Wendy Thomson, said the canteen was a magnet for students.
"They love the time to come in and count their own money, make their own choices. They all get a say in what's going into the menu, they come in and help us prepare it," Ms Thomson said.
The Kingston canteen does more than just sell food, it also runs a breakfast and lunch program for kids who need it.
"We have free lunches for sections of the school. They come in and sit at the table and have a hot meal," Ms Thomson said.
Toasties are on hand for kids who forget their lunch or who need to eat before taking medications.
There is also a constant supply of free apples from a nearby orchard.
Jen Lea, a project officer from not-for-profit organisation School Food Matters said the group had been actively trying to promote healthier lunch options.
"We have been working with canteens for about 30 years trying to improve the fare and encouraging schools to cook from scratch and use fresh and local seasonal produce."
Despite their popularity, some school canteens are struggling to survive.
The rising cost of food and a shortage of volunteers means many are cutting back the days they open or closing altogether.
Many Tasmanian schools — with the exception of public, Catholic and independent schools — do not provide funding for school canteens.
They're often managed by parent volunteer groups or the school might outsource the running of the canteen to an external business.
The federation is calling on state and federal governments to provide money for staffing and equipment in school canteens.
The federation would also like to see canteens have better access to cheaper food through bulk purchasing arrangements.
"Well-fed children contribute to better educational and long-term health outcomes," Ms Elliston said.
In a statement, federal Education Minister Jason Clare said an agreement with every state and territory would see a $16.5 billion investment in public education over the next decade.
"This is a game changer for public education and it's a life changer for our kids at school today, kids that will be at school in the next few years, and children that aren't even born yet," he said.
"This funding isn't a blank cheque. It will be tied to reforms to help kids catch up, keep up and finish school. The sort of thing that all parents expect."
