PRESS RELEASE: Federation of Canteens in Schools (FOCIS) Backs Dietitians Australia’s Call for Support in Implementing Northern Territory School Nutrition Guidelines

The Federation of Canteens in Schools (FOCIS) backs Dietitians Australia’s urgent call for more help for school canteens to implement the Northern Territory School Nutrition and Healthy Eating Guidelines.

With rising costs of living, families increasingly rely on school canteens to provide affordable meals, while at the same time food insecurity rates continue to climb. FOCIS members are seeing school canteens around the country battling with skyrocketing supply costs and a troubling decline in volunteer numbers, essential to the operation of many school canteens.

On the background of these concerns, Leanne Elliston, FOCIS Chairperson and Senior Dietitian at Nutrition Australia said that asking school canteens to comply with mandatory Government policies on healthy food and drink offerings with no additional support is simply unfair.

“The stark reality is that children in the Northern Territory face many dietary challenges contributing to higher rates of iron-deficient anemia and chronic malnutrition. This underscores the urgency of providing access to nutritious meals in the school environment.

“With over 100 years combined experience working in this space, FOCIS members know that the success of healthy food supply policies and guidelines depends entirely on the support of those implementing them.

“Without sufficient resources, school canteen operators face significant challenges in effectively fulfilling these expectations.”

“There is a real opportunity here for Accredited Practicing Dietitians to be involved in supporting the school canteen sector. We throw our support behind Dietitians Australia in calling on the NT Government to provide the financial and practical support school canteens need to break down nutrition barriers and help students develop healthy eating habits for life.”

For more information, please visit www.focis.com.au.

Media contacts

Leanne Elliston
FOCIS Chairperson and Senior Dietitian/Executive Officer at Nutrition Australia ACT
0406 631 510
[email protected]

Stacey Kershaw-Brant
Communications and Advocacy
FOCIS
0409 690 714
[email protected]

Media Contacts:

Name: Stacey Kershaw-BrantCompany: Stacey Kershaw-BrantEmail: Phone: 61409690714

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As a peak body working with State and Territory Canteen Associations and Networks we know school canteens are an integral part of the learning environment and play an important role in health promotion. FOCIS aims to support, promote, facilitate and empower school communities, State and Territory Canteen Associations and Networks, industry and government to enable stakeholders to make decisions that result in healthy food services. We are pleased to cover contemporary issues and assist in the coordination of the National School Food Network; a platform for collaboration and sharing successes, ideas and resources to support provision of healthy foods and drinks in Australian schools.