
				Healthy Eating

				Active Living

Home > 'Go for your life' Canteen Advisory Service > About us

About us

Aims of the 'Go for your life' Canteens Advisory Service
To support Victorian primary schools to provide a healthy food service consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

Objectives

Increase the knowledge and skills of canteen staff regarding the provision of healthy food services.
Improve the commitment from school councils and parent and friends associations to promote and support healthy food choices in their schools and communities.
Increase the availability of healthy foods offered in school food services.
Link with and complement the Kids - 'Go for your life' service and other relevant components of the Healthy & Active Victoria Strategy.
Link with key stakeholders including the food industry, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, local dietitians, local government, community health services and other local and state canteen organisations to support this service.

Who we are
The 'Go for your life' Canteens Advisory Service has been established by the Department of Human Services, funded by the Victorian Government’s Community Support Fund, which aims to support schools with primary school-age children to provide and promote healthy food choices.

Nutrition Australia implements the service via their team of dietitians and nutritionists who have experience working with schools in the area of child nutrition and health promotion. Nutrition Australia is a non-profit, non-government, national community nutrition education organisation. Our mission is to promote the health and wellbeing of all Victorians via a multidisciplinary approach to nutrition education of the community in order to minimise the social and economic impact of nutrition related diseases.

Visit the Nutrition Australia website for more information on Nutrition Australia’s programs and services.

Our philosophy

Optimal health through food variety and physical activity
Promote whole foods
A positive approach to food, nutrition and health
Simplifying the healthy eating message.

Who does the 'Go for your life' Canteens Advisory Service help?
The 'Go for your life' Canteens Advisory Service is a service to all Victorian primary school canteens, including canteen managers, workers, volunteers, canteen committees and other people involved with the canteen. It also provides information for primary schools who do not have an on-site canteen, but provide alternative forms of food services.

What other services does 'Go for your life' Canteens Advisory Service provide?

A telephone and email information service.
Newsletters for canteen staff.
Resources, information and fact sheets on practical ideas for changing to a healthier canteen.
Workshops and training for canteen staff on topics such as healthy menu planning and food ideas, marketing and promotion and developing a healthy canteen policy.
Advice on choosing healthy food products.
Support in the practical implementation of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development Guidelines for School Canteens and Other School Food Services.
Information on existing canteen resources and services in Victoria.

The service will also promote collaboration by linking with key stakeholders including the food industry, Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, local dietitians, local government, community health services and other local and state canteen organisations.

'Go for your life' Canteens Infoline: 1300 73 98 99
The 'Go for your life' Canteens Infoline is staffed by Nutrition Australia dietitians and nutritionists who have experience working with schools in the area of child nutrition and health promotion, and who can provide information and fact sheets on a range of canteen issues.

The 'Go for your life' Canteens Infoline is available to all Victorian primary schools for the cost of a local call (landlines only - not available to mobile phones and interstate callers).

Hours of operation: Monday to Friday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. When the office is closed, messages may be left on the answering machine.

'Go for your life' Canteens email service
You can contact us via email.

Acknowledgement

This information has been sourced from Nutrition Australia.

Last updated: 01/07/2009

'Go for your life' Infoline - 1300 73 98 99