Great food

healthy kids

fabulous life...

VolunteersInTheCanteen

RecruitingVolunteers

Manycanteenshaveproblemsrecruitingvolunteersaspeoplethesedaysaresotimepoorthattheycannot
sparetimetohelpoutinthecanteen.Canteenvolunteerswereoncelargelycomprisedofstayathomemums,
howeverthestructureoffamilieshaschangedwithalargeportionofhouseholdsbeingsingleparent
householdsorfamilieswherebothparentsneedtowork.Thishashadahugeimpactontheschoolcanteen,as
parents,whohavelittlefreetime,aremorereluctanttospenditvolunteering.

Belowaresomeideasforrecruitment:

Sendoutalettertoparentsatthestartoftheyeartoinformthemhowthecanteenoperatesandhow
importantvolunteersare.Includeanoutlineofdailydutieswhenvolunteeringinthecanteensothey
understandwhatisinvolved.
Includeacanteenupdateintheschoolsnewsletter,featuringaphotoofthecanteenvolunteershaving
agreattime.Manycanteenvolunteersbecomeinvolvedasawaytomakefriends.
Somecanteenmanagersfindthattheschoolyardapproachworkswell.Parentsorrelativeswhostand
andchatintheplaygroundafterthechildrenhavegoneintoclassmighthavesomesparetimeto
volunteerinthecanteen.Canteenmanagerscanhandoutaflyertotheseparentstoinformthemthat
theyareinneedofvolunteersandthattheirhelpwouldbegreatlyappreciatedbytheschoolandits
students.
Arrangeanawardsystemandletpotentialvolunteersknowthattheymaywinaprizeforvolunteering
theirtime.
ParentsofKindergartenandYear7studentswillbeattendinginformationsessions.Thisisagreat
opportunitytoletparentsknowthatyouneedtheirhelp.Alsolettheparentsknowthatthecanteen
appreciatesallvolunteerseveniftheyarenotparentsofthestudentsattheschool.Mostcanteensare
happyforgrandparents,aunties,unclesandfamilyfriendstohelpouttoo.
Advertisethevolunteerpositionsinthelocalnewspaper.

RetainingVolunteers

Itsonethingtorecruitavolunteertothecanteenbutitisacompletelydifferentthingtokeepthemcoming
back.Belowaresomesuggestionstoretainvolunteers:

Makesurethateachvolunteeristreatedwiththerespectthattheydeserve.Itisimportanttogreet
thembynamewithawarmwelcomeandtellthemhowmuchtheschoolandtheentirecommunity
appreciatetheirtime.
Developavolunteerpolicyforthecanteen.
Provideanorientationsessionincludingfoodsafetytrainingetc.
Ensureproceduresarereadilyaccessible,forexamplehowtomakeasaladsandwich.Thisalsoensures
consistencyoffoodsfromdaytoday.
Givevolunteersaproperinduction.
Ensureasafeandhealthyworkingenvironment.

Healthy Kids Association Inc.

Suite 1.04, 16 Cambridge Street, Epping NSW 2121
Tel. 02 9876 1300 Fax. 02 9876 1471 Outside Sydney. 1300 724 850
Email. info@healthy-kids.com.au Web. www.healthy-kids.com.au ARB: 127 294 615

Healthy Kids mission is to promote and

influence healthy food choices for children
a

Great food

healthy kids

fabulous life...

Makesurethattheyhaveagoodexperiencewhilevolunteeringinyourcanteen.Ifavolunteerhasabad
timethenitisunlikelytheywillvolunteerforthenextroster.Itisimportantthattheyhavesetduties,
aregiventheassistancethattheyneedandthattheworkloadisreasonableandachievable.
Ensurethatthevolunteershavereasonableandflexiblehours,forexamplesplitshifts.Avolunteermay
beabletoarriveearlyinthemorningsetupandserverecessbutnotbeavailableforlunch.Ifcanteen
managersareflexiblewithvolunteersneedsthenyouwillbothwin.
Smallthingslikesharingjokes,havingacupofteatogetherattheendofthedayorlisteningtomusic
whilepreparingthefoodcanalsobeawaytocreateapleasantandwelcomingworkingenvironment.
Iftwovolunteershaveapersonalityclash,makearosterswapassoonaspossiblesothatyoudonot
loseavolunteer.
Giveeachvolunteertheopportunitytovoicehisorheropiniononthedailyactivitiesofthecanteen(try
asurvey).Iftheyfeelthattheyarebeinglistenedtotheywillbemorewillingtoletyouknowwhatthey
likeordontlike.Thiscanmakethedifferencebetweenretainingandloosingavolunteer.
Makesureallcupboardsarelabelledsothatnewvolunteerscaneasilyfindwhattheyneed.Itisalso
importanttoensurethatallofthetoolsavolunteerrequiresarereadilyavailable,forexamplesome
volunteersmayneedcalculatorstohelpthemaddupthecostofselecteditems.
Makesurevolunteersarerewarded.Seethenextsectionforgreatvolunteerrewards.

RewardingVolunteers

Manycanteenmanagersareundertheimpressionthatrewardingvolunteershastocostmoney.Thereare
hundredsofdifferentwaysofshowingappreciationthatdonthavetocostalotofmoneyandwillhelpyou
retainacanteensmostvaluableassetthevolunteers.

VolunteeringAustralia(www.volunteeringaustralia.org)hascreatedalistofthetop101WaystoThankYour
Volunteers.Herearethetoptenrewardstrategies,whichcanteenmanagerscanadoptintheircanteens.Visit
theVolunteeringAustraliawebsiteforafurther91rewardideas:

1) Say'thankyou'often,andmeanit.
2) Giveacertificatetocommemorateanniversariesofinvolvement.Photographstakeninthecanteenof
volunteerscanbeframedorlaminatedandgiventothemwiththeircertificate.
3) Givethemamug,bookmark,Tshirtorapronwithalogoor'ThankYou'motif.
4) Forlongstandingvolunteers,collectcoinsintheamountofhourscontributed,placetheminavasetied
witharoyalblueribbonandpresenttothemataspecialafternoontea.
5) Hostanannualbreakfast,morningteaorafternoonBBQforallofthevolunteersandsupplythemwith
somenicefoodandbeverages.
6) Arrangediscountsforyourvolunteersatlocalshops.
7) Sendarticlesaboutyourvolunteerswithothercanteenupdatestothelocalnewspaperorrunthemin
theschoolnewsletter.Itisalsonicetoincludetheirnameonrecipestheyhelpeddeveloporanything
elsetheyhavecontributedtowards.
8) Ifpossiblereimburseanyoutofpocketexpenses(suchastollsorpetrol).
9) Runavolunteerofthemonthaward.Displaytheirphotosinthecanteenandgivethemasmallprize,
evenacoffeevoucherfortwoatthelocalcafwouldbeappreciated.
10) Areallygreatwaytoshowcanteenvolunteersthatyouappreciatethemandtokeepthemcomingback
istonominatethemfortheHealthyKidsAssociationsCanteenRecognitionAwards.Checkoutour
websiteformoredetailswww.healthykids.com.au
Healthy Kids Association Inc.
Suite 1.04, 16 Cambridge Street, Epping NSW 2121
Tel. 02 9876 1300 Fax. 02 9876 1471 Outside Sydney. 1300 724 850
Email. info@healthy-kids.com.au Web. www.healthy-kids.com.au ARB: 127 294 615

Healthy Kids mission is to promote and

influence healthy food choices for children
a

Great food

healthy kids

fabulous life...

CarlingfordHighSchoolretainsandrewardstheirvolunteersbygivingeachvolunteeraschoolcoasteratthe
endofeveryyearattheirthankyouafternoontea.Thevolunteersatthecanteenallstrivetocollectasetofsix
coasters,whichkeepsthemcomingbacksixyearsinarow.

VolunteerHours

Canteenvolunteerhourswillobviouslyvarywiththeneedsofindividualcanteens.Mostcanteenmanagerswill
trytokeeptheirvolunteershoursthesametoensureconsistency,howevermanypeoplemaywishtobea
volunteerbutareunabletostartearlyorstaylate.Onewayaroundthisistohavesethoursonyourvolunteers
informationorsignuppackbutnotethatThosewhowishtobeacanteenvolunteerbutcannotspareafull
dayoftheirtimecanarrangespecialhours.Thiswillencouragevolunteerstothecanteenwhomayhave
wantedtovolunteerpreviouslybuthavenotbeenable.

Somecanteenshaveonestandardshiftstartingat9or10amuntil2or3pmwhileothercanteenmanagershave
2dailyshifts,forexample9amto12pmand12pmto3pm.Thisgivesvolunteerstheopportunitytoworkeither
themorningorafternoon,orworkthewholedayiftheyhavethetime.Ifyouarehavingproblemsrecruitingall
dayvolunteersperhapstryintroducingthetwoshiftoption.

VolunteerRosters

Itisimportanttokeeprostersassimpleandconsistentaspossiblesothattheyareeasytoreadandremember.
Mostcanteenssendouttheirremindersintheschoolsnewsletter.

Ifyourosterthesamegroupofpeopleonforthesameday,duringthesameweekeverymonththenitiseasy
forthevolunteerstoremember.Forexample,itiseasierforavolunteertorememberthattheyarerosteredon
forthecanteenonthefirstWednesdayofeverymonth,ratherthanrandomdatesthroughouttheyear.

VolunteersDuties

Itisimportanttokeepthevolunteersdutiessimpleandclear.Makeprocedurecardswhichoutlinewhatneeds
tobecompletedandinwhattime,thiswillhelpvolunteersstayfocusedandkeepbusy.

ProcedureCardExample
9am
Cutallfreshsaladitemsforthesandwiches,wrapsandrolls
9:30am
Warmpieoven,preparecheeserolls,stockprepackagedrecessitems,cutfruitforfruitcups
10am
Placemuffinsinoven,preparejafflesreadyfortoasting
10:30am
Cuttopsofffrozenfruitsticksandstockupstrawsandnapkins
11am
Recess
11:30am
Removetopsfromnoodlesandfillhotwaterkettle
12pm
Placepiesandsausagerollsinpieovenandheatsoup
12:30pm
Preparesandwiches,wraps,rolls,burgersandsalads
1pm
Lunch
2pm
Cleanup

Healthy Kids Association Inc.

Suite 1.04, 16 Cambridge Street, Epping NSW 2121
Tel. 02 9876 1300 Fax. 02 9876 1471 Outside Sydney. 1300 724 850
Email. info@healthy-kids.com.au Web. www.healthy-kids.com.au ARB: 127 294 615

Healthy Kids mission is to promote and

influence healthy food choices for children
a

Great food

healthy kids

fabulous life...

Inadditiontoadailydutycard,itcanalsohelptohaveprocedurecardsmadethatoutlinethestepbystep
detailsofeachtasksuchaspreparingthewraps.Takeaphotoofeachsteptocreateinstructionposters,then
laminatethepostersandhangthemonthewalls.Thiswillalsomakeiteasierforthevolunteer.

Remembertogivevolunteersallthehelptheyneedtopreparethefoodproperlyandservethestudents.Some
volunteerswillhavestrengthsinparticularareassomakesurethattheyaregivendutiesthatmatchtheirskills.

ProblemswithVolunteers

Q.Ithinkoneofmyvolunteersisstealingfromme.HowdoIapproachthissituation?

A.Stealingisacriminaloffenceanditcanbeveryawkwardtoapproachsomeonewhoyoususpectisstealing.It
isbesttoensureyoumentiontheseriousnessofstealingatyourinformationsessionsothatanypotential
thievesarediscouraged.
Otherwaystominimisetheriskoftheftincludenothavinganypocketsoncanteenapronsandensurethe
canteenmanagercollectsallofthenotesregularly.Keepaccuraterecordsofwastagelevelsandperformregular
stocktakes.Thiswillrevealifyouhaveanystockunaccountedfor.

Q.MyvolunteersgetannoyedwithmewhenIaskthemtodothingsdifferently,whatcanIdoaboutthis?

A.Whenvolunteerscomeonboarditisthebesttimetoletthemknowthatallfoodmustbepreparedthesame
wayeachdaysothatpeopleknowwhattheyarepayingforandwhattoexpect.Ifthecanteenmanagerclearly
outlinesthatthereareprocessesthatneedtobefollowedandconstantlyremindsvolunteerswhatthese
processesarethenthereshouldbenoneedtoaskthemtochangewhattheyaredoing.Createprocedurecards
andplacethemonthecanteenwalls.

Iftheystillrefusetofollowprocedureitisbesttohaveawordwiththemandletthemknowthattherehave
beencomplaintsinthepastforinconsistency,whichiswhyprocedureshavebeendevelopedandneedtobe
followed.

Q.Someofmyvolunteersarereallyforgetful.Theyregularlydontshowupanddontcalltoletmeknow.How
canIstopthisfromhappeningwithoutappearingpushy?

A.Thebestwaytodealwiththissituationistointroducearemindercallsystem.Thecanteenmanagerora
volunteercancallthelistofpeoplerosteredonthefollowingdaytoremindthemoftheirshiftandensurethat
theyarentsickorhavemadeotherarrangements.Ifthevolunteerhasforgottenitgivesthecanteenandthe
volunteerafewhourstoarrangeastandinvolunteerratherthenbeingshortstaffed.
Itmightalsobeworthwhileplacingablurbintheschoolsnewsletterabouttheproceduretofollowifa
volunteerhastocanceltheirshift.Somecanteensalsoplacethenextweekscanteenrosterintheschool
newsletter.

Healthy Kids Association Inc.

Suite 1.04, 16 Cambridge Street, Epping NSW 2121
Tel. 02 9876 1300 Fax. 02 9876 1471 Outside Sydney. 1300 724 850
Email. info@healthy-kids.com.au Web. www.healthy-kids.com.au ARB: 127 294 615

Healthy Kids mission is to promote and

influence healthy food choices for children
a

Great food

healthy kids

fabulous life...

Q.Myvolunteersgivefreefoodtotheirchildren.Thisisstartingtobeaproblem.HowcanIpreventthissituation
fromgettingworse?

A.Thebestwaytodealwiththissituationistohaveaninformationsessionatthestartofeachyearortermto
remindthevolunteersofthecanteensprocedures.Itisimportanttostresstheissueofnotgivingfreefood,as
insomecanteensitcanmakethedifferencebetweenaprofitoraloss.Inaddition,placesomefriendly
remindersignsaroundthecanteenaboutwhatcanandcantbedonesoitstaysfreshinthevolunteersminds.

Q.Oneofmyvolunteersdoesntseemtohavethebestpersonalhygiene.Isthisafoodsafetyproblemandwhat
canIdoaboutit?

A.Thisproblemcanbedifficulttoaddressifitdoesarisesoitisbesttomakesurethatitispreventedall
together.Onceagain,thebestwaytodealwiththisistoaddresshygieneataninformationsession.Letthe
volunteersknowwhatisacceptableandwhy,andwhichproceduresneedtobefollowed.
Badpersonalhygienecanbearealproblemwhenfoodisinvolved.Bacteriafromthebodycancausefood
poisoningifitcomesincontactwithfood.Itismoreimportanttosaysomethingtoavolunteerthantobetoo
embarrassedtosaysomethingandriskspreadingbacteria.

WelfaretoWorkReforms

Q.Canvolunteeringinthecanteentaketheplaceofparttimepaidemploymentasawayforprincipalcarer
parentstocontinuetoreceiveincomesupport?

A.Welfaretoworkreformshaverecentlyintroducedparttimeparticipationrequirementsforprincipalcarer
parentsinreceiptofincomesupport.Canteenswhodependonvolunteersandarehavingproblemsrecruiting
volunteerscancontactCommunityWorkCoordinatorsintheirareatodiscusspossibleWorkfortheDoleor
CommunityWorkactivitiesintheircanteen.Principalcarerparentscanreplacepaidemploymentwith
volunteeringinthecanteensolongasthesecommunityworkactivitiesdonotreducethehoursofapaid
worker.

ForfurtherinformationandcontactdetailsofCommunityWorkCoordinatorsvisitwww.workplace.gov.au

Healthy Kids Association Inc.

Suite 1.04, 16 Cambridge Street, Epping NSW 2121
Tel. 02 9876 1300 Fax. 02 9876 1471 Outside Sydney. 1300 724 850
Email. info@healthy-kids.com.au Web. www.healthy-kids.com.au ARB: 127 294 615

Healthy Kids mission is to promote and

influence healthy food choices for children
a