FOCiS

FOCiS Inc is a not-for-profit association whose members are state/territory school canteen associations and other like minded organisations in the health and education sector across Australia. FOCiS (previously known as the Federation of Canteens in Schools) represents school canteens NATIONALLY It has been around for 14 years, and after a significant restructure was incorporated in 2004.

The aims of FOCiS are to:

Promote and facilitate the provision of nutritious and healthy food services in schools throughout Australia
Advocate and campaign on national school canteen issues
Develop and promote national canteen policies and devise strategies to achieve the goals implicit in those policies
Monitor and provide information, analysis, research and reports on national canteen issues to Members, Associates and other appropriate organisations.
Represent canteens in government and non-government, and their school communities, in all relevant forums
Provide support for Members and Associates and to act as a conduit for sharing information and experiences
Work with other organisations on matters of mutual interest
Represent FOCiS views on national issues to Government, education, health and other related organisations.
Provide for ongoing development and regular review of FOCiS’ organisation and administration

National Product Registration

FOCiS conducts a national product registration program. Products that have been registered by FOCiS have been assessed against and met the criteria set by FOCiS and are suitable for sale in a school canteen. In order to reduce the confusion created by the number of differing product registration programs FOCiS assesses against the Smart Choice (Qld) and Fresh Tastes (NSW) government criteria as well. This ensures that everyone knows exactly where a product fits in each strategy. Other food products, such as fresh food items, (eg fruit and vegetables) are also suitable for sale in a school canteen, but have not gone through the FOCiS registration programmer.

The Registered Product list has been created to simplify the selection of appropriate products to be included in a canteen menu, and recognises the traffic light system created by Fresh Tastes (NSW) and Smart Choice (QLD). It provides clear, consistent and accurate information based on sound and scientifically based criteria. Canteen managers can be confident in the knowledge that these registered products meet the criteria and will not jeopardise their nutrition policy and/or government strategy.

Resources

FOCiS has developed a series of resources to assist school canteens. These include the “Management $ense Food Sense” manual, the “Looking After our Kids” video and handbook which relates to food safety and the “FOCiS on Canteens” magazine which is distributed free of charge to all canteens each semester. Copies of the manual and video are available from ACTSCA.

Members

FOCiS members sit on a number of reference groups and are included in many consultative processes. It works closely with industry, government, health and education organisations to facilitate the exchange of information relevant to school canteens.

FOCiS maintains a Nutrition Reference Group (NRG), made up of dieticians/nutritionists, a food technologist and dental therapists from each state and territory. This group provides advice on nutritional aspects of products and nutrition policy development. FOCiS with the expertise of the NRG work with industry to assist them to design or reformulate their products to meet the criteria. FOCiS maintains a strong working relationship with industry without compromising its position.

FOCiS holds an annual conference and its AGM in September each year which is held on a rotational basis in each state/territory. The Executive committee for 2005/06 is:

President	Robin Bromley (WASCA)
Treasurer	Deirdre Love (ACTSCA)
Executive Officer	Sandy Towell (QLD)

For more information on FOCiS please contact ACTSCA or phone (07) 41710753; email admin@focis.com.au; Web site www.focis.com.au.