VSCA offers a range of resources to help you to happy munching in your school canteen, wherever you are in Victoria. For more information on any of these resources, please contact VSCA Yes, you can order from VSCA in 2010! Click here to download details about how to order [pdf, 90kB] To download a BLANK VSCA Order Form (multi purpose) click here [pdf, 103 kB] To download VSCA SPECIAL PRICE LISTS (price lists for just some of the items available to purchase directly from VSCA) - scroll down this page to read more about these items (files in pdf format, approx 100-150kB) click here for VSCA Resources price list click here for VSCA Merchandise price list click here for VSCA Cutting Boards price list click here for VSCA Enviro Packaging price list click here for VSCA Knives price list click here for VSCA Paper Bags price list click here for VSCA Pixie Packaging price list click here for VSCA Thermometers price list click here for VSCA Utensils price list PLEASE NOTE: All VSCA resources are COPYRIGHT and must not be copied or reproduced in any way in any form.

On this page: (click on any of the underlined words in the table below to read about that item - or just scroll down to see all items)
1. Membership : Victorian School Canteen Association Inc
2. Canteen policy : Victorian Government Policy for School Canteens and Other School Food Services
3. Suitable products & services for Victorian school canteens:
	(a) VSCA Online Buying Guide
	(b) VSCA Printable Buying Guide (downloadable, printable version)
	(c) VSCA Rating
4. Product samples & information : Victorian Canteen News 'n' Nibbles
5. Canteen Operations Manual : Management $ense Food Sense
6. Canteen price lists and policies : VSCA Tuckshop Treasures
7. Free e-Newsletters : VSCA Can Chat
8. Volunteers:
	(a) VSCA Frig Magnets for Volunteers
	(b) VSCA "Quote Notes"
	(c) VSCA Cards & Posters for Volunteers
9. Food Safety : VSCA Safe Food Kit
10. Canteen friendly recipes & food ideas :
	(a) VSCA Happy Munching Recipes
	(b) Canteen Cuisine Recipe Book
	(c) Good Food Recipes and Ideas for School Canteens CD
11. Canteen evaluation services :
	(a) VSCA Menu Assessment
	(b) VSCA Canteen Review
12. Canteen workers : Rates of Pay and Conditions of Employment
13. Annual VSCA School Canteen Awards :
	(a) VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards - Winners and Highly Commended
	(b) VSCA Canteen of the Year Honour Board
	(c) VSCA Canteen of the Year Nomination Information
14. Printed lunch order paper bags : VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags
15. VSCA Canteen Merchandise : Aprons, T-Shirts, Carry Bags, Tea Towels
16. Specialised canteen equipment and packaging available to purchase from VSCA :
	(a) Apple Slinky Machine
	(b) Sushezi Sushi Maker
	(c) VSCA Range of Knives & Utensils
	(d) Safe Food Handling Equipment for School Canteens - Extensive range of thermometers, cutting boards, gloves, disposable caps, anti bacterial hand wash gel, etc
	(e) VSCA Environmentally Friendlier Packaging
	(f) Packaging for School Canteens - All sorts, shapes and sizes of bags, cups, containers & lids, cutlery, wrappings, etc in paper, plastic or foil to suit every foodservice need.
17. Links to Other Organisations & Services

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1. Membership of the Victorian School Canteen Association Inc

$60 per campus per year

For more information and membership application form, click here

VSCA is run by school canteen people for school canteen people.

Membership of the Victorian School Canteen Association Inc (July 1 to June 30) entitles school canteen representatives to professional advice, assistance, newsletters, networking with other canteens, sharing of information, peer support, free or discounted entry to VSCA events ... and much more.

Join VSCA to gain all the special membership benefits enjoyed by representatives of hundreds of primary, secondary and P-12 schools around Victoria.

You will also add your voice to VSCA's advocacy on behalf of all those working in Victorian school canteens.

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2. Victorian Government Policy for School Canteens and Other School Food Services

For more information and details, click here

The latest Victorian government policy for school canteens and other school food services was launched in October 2006, mandatory in Victorian government schools from 2009. Includes a comprehensive 'Go for your life' Healthy Canteen Kit.

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3 (a) VSCA Online Buying Guide

Free access at your fingertips, for anyone, anywhere, any day, any time, to the latest information on suitable products and services for Victorian school canteens.

The VSCA Online Buying Guide is updated continually during the year.

It lists VSCA Registered Products and Services in different categories:

It also lists contact details of VSCA Registering Companies so that school canteens can make inquiries, obtain samples and purchase items.

For more information and details, click here

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3 (b) VSCA Printable Buying Guide (downloadable, printable version)

Twice a year, VSCA publishes a downloadable, printable version of the VSCA Online Buying Guide.

This environmentally friendly version of the VSCA Buying Guide can be accessed free of charge via the VSCA website.

Please note that school canteen people can see and sample VSCA Registered Products and Services and meet representatives of VSCA Registering Companies during the year at VSCA events and activities such as the VSCA School Canteen Expo and the VSCA Annual Canteen Rewards Evening.

For more information and details, click here

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3 (c) VSCA Rating

To assist you to implement Victorian government policy in your school, VSCA Registered Products are carefully assessed and a "VSCA Rating" is allocated in accordance with the Victorian Government Policy for School Canteens and Other School Food Services.

The VSCA Rating is listed in the VSCA Buying Guide and the VSCA Online Buying Guide.

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4. Victorian Canteen News 'n' Nibbles

Free of charge for VSCA members!

VSCA's quarterly snail mail news and information pack for VSCA members. Each edition includes flyers/samples of VSCA Registered Products and Services and details of VSCA events, activities and resources for school canteens

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5. Management $ense Food Sense
The essential guide to food service in your school

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6. VSCA Tuckshop Treasures A collection of school canteen price lists, policies and other items of interest shared with VSCA during the past 12 months by schools around Victoria. Ideal if you are looking for sample menus, model policies, new ideas, ways to revive your canteen, finding out what works for other schools, checking how your prices compare, etc. No need to reinvent the wheel - see VSCA Tuckshop Treasures to find out what other Victorian schools are doing! You can also contact VSCA if you are looking for specific information on a particular aspect of your school canteen operations. We will do our best to help. Please note a fee may be charged to cover copying and postage costs. See VSCA Resources price list

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7. VSCA Can Chat - free email bulletins

Subscription is FREE!

VSCA keeps you up to date on events, products and information affecting Victorian school canteens via its free e-mailing list.

Click here for more details and to subscribe!

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8 (a) VSCA Frig Magnets for Volunteers

2 designs are currently available, as shown below. To order, please state design number and quantity of each. See VSCA Resources price list

VSCA Magnet Design #1: "Volunteers are priceless" (Text on magnet reads: "VOLUNTEERS ARE NOT PAID, not because they are worthless, but because THEY ARE PRICELESS!")

VSCA Magnet Design #2: "A bouquet of forget-me-nots" (Text on magnet reads: "A bouquet of forget-me-nots for you. Remember to congratulate yourself today for the wonderful work you do in your school canteen!")

A small token to express your heartfelt appreciation for those precious volunteers who assist in your school.

Ideal for presentation at any time during the year. You may like to include a VSCA frig magnet when you send out your canteen roster, or pop one in with a thank you note at the end of term or end of year or when a volunteer retires (see VSCA Cards & Posters for Volunteers).

Do you have a favourite message you would like made into a VSCA frig magnet? Please contact VSCA to discuss your ideas and requirements.

See VSCA Resources price list

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8 (b) VSCA "Quote Notes"

VSCA "Quote Notes" contain a selection of inspirational quotes relating to volunteering and are available in 3 formats:

• VSCA MINI QUOTE NOTES (set of 8)
• VSCA GIFT CARDS (set of 4)
• VSCA THANK YOU CARDS (set of 2)

These VSCA Originals are printed in black ink on coloured paper. You may order multiple copies of a single quote, a selection of quotes, a single colour or a selection of colours.

You can use VSCA "Quote Notes" in many ways to thank your volunteers. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Include a VSCA Mini Quote Note with the roster when circulating it to your volunteers
2. Select any VSCA Quote Note (see choice of 3 formats above) and use it as a quick, spontaneous thank you (you could write a simple note on it eg. "Dear ABC, This quote reminded me of you. Thank you for helping. XYZ")
3. Insert a VSCA Mini Quote Note into a thank you card, birthday card, Christmas card, or with a gift as a special acknowledgement of good deeds
4. Hand any VSCA Quote Note (see 3 formats above) to a volunteer as you are thanking them for their help
5. Write a few words on the back of any VSCA Quote Note (see 3 formats above) and place it where it will be found as an unexpected surprise - in a pigeon hole, on a desk, in a pocket, inside a (clean) coffee mug … !

See VSCA Resources price list

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8 (c) VSCA Cards and Posters for Volunteers

Exclusively for VSCA members

A range of original VSCA Cards and Posters suitable for

• recruiting volunteers
• welcoming new volunteers
• thanking those who have helped in your canteen
• thanking those who have helped in your school (eg. guest speakers, or those who have helped in office, library, classroom, or with excursions, fundraisers or special days etc)
• encouraging hygienic food handling

A VSCA Volunteer Cards & Posters Catalogue (with full details of the current range) is available on request exclusively only for VSCA members.

All VSCA cards and posters are printed in black ink on coloured paper or card.

A variety of designs, messages and colours is available. Any quantity may be ordered. The design of your choice from the range can be supplied in a mixed variety of colours or in a colour of your choice.

Prices for VSCA Cards:

Cards are available with or without envelopes.

Optional extras for cards are available on request:

• A standard by-line or a by-line of your own choice may be added - no extra charge
• Your school logo may be incorporated onto your cards - extra cost $0.11 (GST incl) per card
• Your own personalised message may be included on your cards - extra cost $0.11 (GST incl) per card

See VSCA Resources price list

Prices for VSCA Posters:

Posters can be supplied laminated on request (double price).

See VSCA Resources price list

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9. VSCA Safe Food Kit

Information on basic food handling, basic hygiene rules for food handlers, cleaning, pest control, bacterial causes of contamination, sources of foreign objects in food.

See VSCA Resources price list

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10 (a) VSCA Happy Munching Recipes

Make more profits for your school canteen by making your own items to sell.

You can use VSCA's "canteen friendly" recipes to help you to happy munching in your school. Also suitable for use at home!

These recipes and ideas have been collected over the past 25 years at VSCA events, from VSCA members in school canteens around Victoria, from friends, from the food industry and from "canteen friendly" professional chefs.

All require only basic equipment and facilities and are simple to prepare. All are quick, easy and nutritious and will appeal to the taste buds of students at primary and secondary levels.

See VSCA Resources price list

If you have recipes or ideas you'd like to share with other school canteens, please send them to VSCA by email, fax or snail mail.

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10 (b) Canteen Cuisine Recipe Book

Developed by the WA School Canteen Association especially for school canteens, this recipe book is a collation of food ideas and healthy recipes from different sources. Many school canteens have contributed their own favourites that have been tried, tested and proven to be popular with students. Recipes are canteen friendly and have been selected for their ease of preparation and simplicity of ingredients. All recipes are quantified to yield 10, 25 or 50 serves, so this resource is useful for all school canteens - primary and secondary, small or large. Many of the recipes are equally suitable to serve at home or for other catering settings. All recipes are rated "Green" or "Amber" according to government canteen policies. A colour coded rating sheet for all the recipes is available from VSCA - if desired, please request a copy when ordering. See VSCA Resources price list

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10 (c) Good Food Recipes and Ideas for School Canteens CD

Over 100 delicious, tried and tested recipes from Natural Kitchen Strategies, specially formulated to suit primary and secondary school canteens. Includes hot main meals, soups, salads and sandwiches, muffins and scones, snacks, drinks, frozen treats, breakfasts. Step by step instructions and full colour photo for every recipe. This is no ordinary CD of recipes. It also contains much more extra information ... ideas for cultural days and festivities; suggestions for canteen menu design, marketing and promotion; and samples of canteen menu, canteen survey, canteen policy and canteen manager job description. See VSCA Resources price list

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11 (a) VSCA Menu Assessment

Are you interested in offering healthier choices in your school canteen? How does your menu measure up against government policy for school food? Would you like your menu assessed by a professional? Looking for some suggestions on simple improvements you could make to your school's canteen menu?

VSCA can help! We can colour code your menu into green, amber and red items. We can show you basic areas for improvement. We can make canteen friendly suggestions.

Contact VSCA for more information.

See VSCA Resources price list

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11 (b) VSCA Canteen Review

Is your canteen operating as efficiently, as smoothly, as safely and as profitably as possible? Is there room for improvement - greater efficiency, more profits?

If your school is a VSCA member, you can invite VSCA as an objective outsider to visit and comprehensively review all aspects of your canteen operations.

Contact VSCA for more information.

See VSCA Resources price list

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12. Rates of Pay and Conditions of Employment for Canteen Workers

As a school canteen worker, you are entitled to the correct rate of pay and basic conditions of employment. You are at risk of exploitation if you, and/or your employer, are not fully aware of your correct rates of pay and employment conditions. VSCA acts as an advocate on behalf of school canteen workers.

VSCA strongly promotes fair remuneration for work done and ethical conditions of employment for school canteen workers.

Click here for information on rates of pay and conditions of employment for Victorian school canteen workers.

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13 (a) VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards - Winners and Highly Commended Full print out of all the information from the winning and highly commended entries in the latest annual VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards. Includes price lists, menus, volunteer ideas etc. Available in "Primary" or "Secondary/P-12" editions. Please state which edition you require when ordering. Ideal for school canteens looking for ideas and inspiration to revise, review or improve their canteen menus and operations. See VSCA Resources price list

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13 (b) VSCA Canteen of the Year Honour Board & online details of Winners and Highly Commended entries

To view details, images and supporting information (where available) of the Winners and Highly Commended entries in all categories of the VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards since they began in 1999:

Click here for the Primary School Division

Click here for the Secondary/P-12 Division

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13 (c) VSCA Canteen of the Year Awards - Nomination Information

Free for VSCA members

For more information about award categories, conditions of entry and how to nominate your canteen manager or your school canteen for a VSCA award, click here

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14. VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags

Especially designed by VSCA for Victorian school canteens

VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags are printed in black ink on brand new, hygienic, recyclable, unbleached, environmentally friendly, brown paper bags.

Use VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags to save time in your canteen and improve food handling. All of your customers' lunch orders will be written in standard format with open end of bag to top, spaces for name and year level, and lines and columns to assist younger students with writing and adding up.

You can use VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags as a fundraiser for your school. Sell them in bundles of 50 or 100 bags to your school families, make extra profits for your school and encourage the use of these bags for safe food handling and to streamline your canteen operations.

See VSCA Paper Bags price list

Choice of 2 sizes and 2 designs available:

14 (a) VSCA "3 Long" Printed Lunch Order Bags

"3 Long" bag size is approx 295mm high x 200mm wide (approx A4 size)

Available in Design #1 only (see 14 (c), below)

14 (b) VSCA "4 Square" Printed Lunch Order Bags

"4 Square" bag size is approx 300mm high x 275mm wide

When ordering 4 Square VSCA Printed Bags, please state your choice of design (Design #1 or Design #2).

Available in Design #1 or Design #2 (see 14 (c), below)

14 (c) Designs for VSCA Printed Lunch Order Bags:

Design #1 (above): Space for name at base of bag so that name is not obscured when the bag is later filled and folded down

* Available in sizes 3 long or 4 square

Design #2 (above): Space for name at top of bag

* Available in size 4 square only

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15. VSCA Canteen Merchandise - Aprons, T-Shirts, Carry Bags, Tea Towels

Upgrade your canteen's image with your staff wearing VSCA printed aprons and T-shirts. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to look like the professional organisation that you are!

Remember, all purchases support VSCA and help us to help you! (Thanks to our VSCA Committee models.)

VSCA Apron - Popover or Bib Available in either popover (tabard) style with white trim, or in bib style. (Both styles have a pocket.) VSCA logo in white on front. Choice of colour: Bottle Green, Burgundy or Navy. Aprons are machine washable but should not be tumble dried. See VSCA Merchandise price list	Left: bib style (burgundy pictured - other colours available) Right: popover style (bottle green pictured - other colours available)
VSCA T-Shirt 100% cotton. Navy blue with VSCA logo in white on front. Fair wear "no sweat" manufacture. Choice of size: Extra Small, Small, Medium (approx size 16), Large, Extra Large See VSCA Merchandise price list
VSCA Cloth Carry Bag Navy Blue drill. 3 handles for hand or shoulder carry. Outside pocket with VSCA logo in white. Reusable for shopping, meetings, canteen papers, etc. (Your purchase of this item supports "Stitches & Prints", a business service of Bega's Tulgeen Group offering supported employment and vocational training for people with a disability.) See VSCA Merchandise price list
Jumbo Tea Towel 100% quality cotton. Approx 60 x 90 cm See VSCA Merchandise price list

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16 (a) Apple Slinky Machine

Increase sales of fresh apples at your school with an Apple Peeler Corer Slicer. Easy to use, simple, quick and a fun way to create "apple slinky" fruit spirals. Can be adjusted for peel on or peel off. Great for all students - even those with wobbly teeth or orthodontic braces! A must have item for every school canteen!

Also suitable for use at home. Ideal as a practical gift. You can sell these to school families as a fundraiser. Contact VSCA for more information.

See VSCA Utensils price list

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16 (b) Sushezi Sushi Maker

Making delicious sushi in your canteen or at home is now just so easy with the Sushezi Sushi Maker. Simple step by step instructions and recipes supplied to guarantee a popular, high profit and nutritious item for your canteen menu or family dinners.

Create perfectly formed, round, bite size sushi quickly and reliably with no guesswork and no trial and error - make perfect sushi in minutes, any time, every time!

Dishwasher safe and easy to use. It is so easy to use that even children can make their own sushi! An ideal gift for family or friends.

Sell these to school families as a fundraiser. Contact VSCA for more information.

See VSCA Utensils price list

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16 (c) VSCA Range of Knives and Utensils

Quality knives are essential for every foodservice. You deserve nothing less in your school canteen! VSCA can directly supply you with every knife you need: paring knives (perfect for slicing tomatoes and cutting fruit and veges); cook's and chef's knives; carving knives, forks and steels; knife block sets; knife sets; knife and scissor sharpeners; bread knives, slicing knives, peelers, sandwich spreaders, corers, pizza cutters, spatulas, table cutlery, mezzaluna, magnetic knife racks ... and more See VSCA Range of Knives & Utensils [pdf, 480kb] for details of the items you can purchase directly from VSCA. Please contact VSCA for more information about your specific needs.

See VSCA Knives price list

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16 (d) Safe Food Handling Equipment for School Canteens

VSCA has a large range of safe food handling items for school canteens: sanitising hand gel, thermometers, thermometer wipes, cutting boards, food handling gloves, disposable caps, sandwich cutting guides, and many more miscellaneous items to help you in your canteen foodservice.

See price lists of VSCA Cutting Boards, VSCA Thermometers and VSCA Utensils, or contact VSCA for more information about your specific needs.

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16 (e) VSCA Environmentally Friendlier Packaging

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16 (f) Packaging for School Canteens

VSCA has a wide range of packaging items suitable for school canteens: bags, cups and containers & lids, cutlery, wrappings, serviettes and much more in all sizes and shapes, in paper, plastic, foil, etc

Please contact VSCA for more information about your specific needs.

See VSCA Paper Bags price list, VSCA Enviro Packaging price list and VSCA Pixie Packaging price list

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17. Links to Other Organisations & Services

PLEASE NOTE: These links are provided in good faith as community information and do not constitute an endorsement by VSCA of any organisation, entity, program or enterprise. All care is taken to ensure links are correct - please contact VSCA if you encounter any difficulties accessing the linked websites.

Australian Education Union (Education Support staff)
* Information for ES staff - http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/sso/
* Advice on working conditions - http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/sso/advice_workcon_front.html
* Pay and conditions for ES staff - http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/industrial/SSOs.html
* Union campaigns for ES staff - http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/sso/campaigns_front.html
* Union support for ES staff - http://www.aeuvic.asn.au/sso/why_join.html

Centre for Health Promotion (South Australia) click here

Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (Victoria) click here

Department of Health and Ageing (Australian Government) click here

Department of Human Services (Victoria) click here

Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) click here

Federation of Canteens in Schools (FOCiS) click here

Food Safety (Victorian Government) click here

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) click here

Fresh For Kids click here

Fresh For Kids Canteen Fresh newsletter click here

'Go for your life' click here

'Go for your life' Healthy Canteens Advisory Service for Victorian primary schools click here

Kids - 'Go for your life' click here

New South Wales School Canteen Association click here

Nutrition Australia click here

Parents Victoria click here

Queensland Association of School Tuckshops click here

Tasmanian School Canteen Association click here

The Parents Jury click here

Victorian Council of School Organisations (VICCSO) click here

Victorian Schools - listings of addresses of every school in Victoria click here

Volunteers click here

Western Australian School Canteen Association click here

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