Policies and Guidelines
The Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care has developed guidelines for all school canteens in Australia. These guidelines provide information to school canteen managers who want to supply healthy food and drinks in their canteens.
In 2019, The Good Practice Guide: supporting healthy eating and drinking at school, was published by COAG Health Council and COAG Education Council and endorsed for release by Health and Education Ministers Nationally. The guide “supports school communities to create environments where students are enabled and supported to make informed healthy food and drink choices”.
In addition, there are a number of different government canteen policy/guidelines across Australian States and Territories. Whilst there are some differences between jurisdictions they are all based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines (2013) and most use a traffic light system to categorise food and drinks.
The policy/guidelines are reviewed regularly by policy owners including the Departments of Health and Education.
Below you will find a link to each State and Territory’s policy/guidelines.
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia
Canteen Associations and Networks
Most States and Territories also have organisations who support school canteens to help implement policies and guidelines. FOCIS recognises the important role of Canteen Associations and Networks and aims to advocate for greater effectiveness and efficiency based on collaboration.
FOCIS member Association and networks include:
