QAST exists to support tuckshops
The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) is a not-for-profit membership association that partners with school communities across Queensland to build tuckshop capacity and improve health outcomes for children.
Our vision is Healthy and empowered school tuckshops. We help Queensland tuckshops provide nutritious food and operate sustainably.
Our members
Our members include individual school tuckshops from the state, independent and Catholic education sectors throughout Queensland.
They range from small tuckshops in remote communities, serving meals one day a week, to large secondary schools and colleges in metropolitan and regional centres that cater for more than 2,000 students and staff each day.
The QAST team
The QAST team is employed by the Management Committee to deliver services to members and the Association’s annual operational plans.
The Association also frequently benefits from contributions by volunteers and university students.
Keryn O'Neill
Executive Officer
Keryn joined QAST in 2024 after seven years teaching Health and Nutrition and Business Studies at The University of Queensland. A qualified nutritionist with extensive food and education industry experience, she has also volunteered in tuckshops for 15 years. She is passionate about healthy eating, sustainability and food innovation.
Naomi Blines
Project Manager
Naomi joined QAST in 2025 as Project Manager, leading the Healthier Tuckshops Program. A dietitian and registered nurse, she previously led health promotion for the Queensland Country Women’s Association Country Kitchens program. A busy mum of three, Naomi is passionate about helping Queensland communities improve their health.
Katie Jorss
Project Manager
Katie is passionate about community nutrition and education that enhances societal health outcomes. She has a particular interest in optimising nutrition in our young population. Katie holds a Bachelor of Business Management/Tourism, Bachelor of Nutrition Science and a Master of Public Health.
Chrissy Buzzard
Communications Manager
Chrissy joined QAST in 2021 with more than 10 years’ communications and marketing experience in not-for-profit membership associations. She holds qualifications in journalism, project management and school-based education support, brings extensive digital expertise, and works part-time as a teacher aide at her local school.
Natalie Farrugia
Project Officer
Natalie has been part of the QAST team since 2022. Natalie has a 15-year background as a Registered Nurse and a Master of Public Health. She is passionate about nutrition, especially in childhood, and until recently worked as tuckshop convenor at her children’s primary school. Natalie is currently working on the Healthier Tuckshops project.
Our Management Committee
The Management Committee oversees the Association’s administration and strategic direction on behalf of its members.
Its diverse membership includes tuckshop managers, community members and parent body representatives.
Together, they provide valuable insight into tuckshop operations and their role in the community, helping the Association remain representative of its members and responsive to current sector issues.
2026 Committee
Madonna Jardine
President
Cavendish Road State High School, Co-Tuckshop Convenor
Megan Towner
Vice President
Ferny Grove State High School, Tuckshop Manager
Katie Jorss
Secretary
Community Representative
Emina Shailer
Convenor Representative
Oonoonba State School, Tuckshop Manager
Nicola Chant
Convenor Representative
Tannum Sands State School, Tuckshop Manager
Cathy Condon
Parent Body Representative
Catholic School Parents Qld
Christine Sorbello
Health and Education Representative
Kirsty Elliot
Health and Education Representative
Health & Wellbeing Queensland
In 2021, QAST partnered with Health and Wellbeing Queensland to deliver the Healthier Tuckshops Program. The program is designed to increase opportunities for Queensland tuckshops to offer and promote healthier food and drinks options in Queensland school tuckshops in line with the Smart Choices strategy.
Department of Education
QAST has a collaborative partnership with the Department of Education, meeting once a term to discuss matters about the Smart Choices Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy and its implementation in schools.
QAST has also been involved in the review of the Standing Offer Arrangement for Food and Groceries in 2019.
In 2019/2020 the Department funded the Tuckshop Turnaround Project, which has allowed QAST to work with 21 school tuckshops, 3 in each Education Region to assist them to become profitable.
Funding and sponsors
QAST receives a large portion of its funding from membership fees, in addition to assistance from Health and Wellbeing Qld and the Department of Education.
QAST also has a successful history of winning grants to carry out other special projects and welcomes interest from corporate sponsors and advertisers.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Presented at the 2026 School Business Manager’s Association of Queensland Conference. |
| 2026 | Launched the Financial Evaluation Service to members give them clarity and confidence in their tuckshop’s financial performance. |
| 2026 | Executive Officer, Keryn, attended the National School Food Summit, which was hosted by School Food Matters in Tasmania. |
| 2026 | Continued regional travel, with trips to Far North Queensland and North Queensland. |
| 2026 | Launched the Food Safety for School Tuckshops Course to equip tuckshop staff with the skills to manage food safely. |
| 2025 | Participation on the Advisory Committee guiding the transition from Smart Choices to A Better Choice. |
| 2025 | Presented at the 2025 School Business Managers Association Queensland Conference. |
| 2025 | Active involvement in the FOCIS National Roundtable, advocating for increased resourcing for school canteens and a consistent national approach to regulation and compliance. |
| 2025 | Returned to regional travel for the first time in several years, with staff visiting Hervey Bay and Bundaberg. |
| 2025 | The second A Better Choice Conference is hosted by Health and Wellbeing Queensland with support from the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops, P&Cs Qld, Department of Education and Queensland Health. |
| 2025 | QAST secures a 2-year contract from Health and Wellbeing Queensland to deliver the Healthier Tuckshops Program. |
| 2025 | QAST launches a Tuckshop Management Course, suitable for ALL tuckshop staff. |
| 2024 | We successfully piloted our new Healthy Menu Planning Training and have converted it to an online course, making it accessible for all Queensland schools. |
| 2024 | Our Connections through Cooking program was nominated by TAFE AMEP program for Volunteering Queensland 2024 ‘Volunteering Impact’ Awards. |
| 2024 | Our 2024 Recipe of the Year competition was a standout success, attracting important, positive media coverage for school tuckshops. |
| 2024 | We joined the Health Minister, Shannon Fentiman MP, local member Grace Grace MP, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland CEO Robyn Littlewood at Kelvin Grove State College to announce another year of funding to deliver the Healthier Tuckshop Support Program. |
| 2023 | The Creating Connections through Cooking project achieves a milestone of 100 volunteers placed in school tuckshops and is awarded another year of funding through the Queensland Government’s Celebrating Multicultural Queensland Program. |
| 2023 | Held our first Tuckshop Pop-Up at Parliament House, with approximately 40 MPs attending, including Minister for Education, Grace Grace. |
| 2023 | Connections through Cooking project finalist in the Queensland Community Achievement Awards in November. |
| 2023 | Joined the Canteen Consortium and were successful in securing funding to deliver the For the Love of Veg project for 3 years. |
| 2023 | The inaugral A Better Choice Conference is hosted by Health and Wellbeing Queensland with support from the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops, P&Cs Qld, Department of Education and Queensland Health. |
| 2022 | The Recipe of the Year competition gains extensive media coverage, including WIN News Toowoomba, ABC Online, Breakfast with David Iliffe – ABC Southern Queensland, Drive with Richard Glover – ABC Sydney, Studio 10 equating to $311, 834 ASR. |
| 2022 | QAST launches a Food Safety Supervisor Refresher Course which incorporates COVID-19 information. |
| 2022 | In partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland as part of the Healthier Tuckshops Program, QAST publishes the first episode of The Talking Healthier Tuckshops Podcast. |
| 2021 | QAST’s online, self-paced Food Handlers Course launched. |
| 2021 | QAST revamped website launched |
| 2021 | QAST secures a 3-year contract from Health and Wellbeing Queensland to deliver the Healthier Tuckshops Program. |
| 2020 | Pathway to Profit Course is launched to provide the skills to manage the business side of the tuckshop. |
| 2020 | Healthy Eats program launched |
| 2019 | Connections Through Cooking project funded by a Fostering Integration Grant from the Department of Home Affairs enabled QAST to engage people from diverse backgrounds to volunteer in tuckshops. |
| 2019 | Tuckshop Turnaround financial service funded by Department of Education and Training. |
| 2018 | Convenor Course is launched to provide convenors with the skills and confidence to run a successful tuckshop. |
| 2018 | Survey of Queensland Tuckshops completed funded by Queensland Health. |
| 2016 | Smart Choices Nutrition Advisory Service initiated to respond to enquiries and liaise with food industry. |
| 2016 | QAST remains the only agency assisting tuckshops to implement Smart Choices receiving funding from Department of Health to maintain an annual regional network meeting, to develop resources for eMenu and maintain Smart Choices communications to schools. Department of Education and Training fund a Smart Choices Industry Forum and development of a support program to assist schools with implementing changes to the Smart Choices Ready Reckoner announced early in the year. |
| 2016 | Tuckshop TuneUp on site consultancy service is launched in response to member requests. |
| 2016 | Volunteer Management Course launched in response to member feedback. |
| 2015 | QAST celebrates 20 years. On 2nd December 1995 QAST had its inaugural meeting at Villanova College. |
| 2015 | Team Tuckshop Program provides one on one support to 50 school tuckshops with funding provided by the Department of Education and Training. |
| 2015 | Menu Management Course developed and delivered across Queensland supported by a Bursary program funded by Department of Education and Training. |
| 2015 | New QAST website goes live featuring Members Only access to Tuckshop Toolbox, eMenu integration, online consultancy bookings and the new QASTShop. |
| 2014 | eMenu (version 2) launched with funding from the Department of Education, Training and Employment. |
| 2014 | Tuckshop Finance Workshop |
| 2014 | QAST establishes YouTube channel QTuckshops with video equipment and production funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. |
| 2013 | QAST Tuckshop and Uniform Shop Convention replaces Expo |
| 2013 | Tuckshop Networks Program established to encourage sharing of ideas among convenors across the state with funding from the Department of Education, Training and Employment. 14 regional networks formed meeting quarterly. |
| 2013 | QAST endorsed as a Health Promotion Charity with DGR status. |
| 2013 | Uniform website launched. |
| 2011 | Inaugral Tuckshop Day announced by Education Minister to celebrate contributions of volunteers and convenors. |
| 2011 | QAST reopens and operates Samford State School Tuckshop to trial new strategies and online ordering systems. |
| 2011 | Talking Tuckshops eNewsletter launched, replacing the print version entirely by end of 2013. |
| 2010 | EcoFriendly Food website launched in partnership with Brisbane South Community Nutrition Unit. |
| 2010 | QAST joins the online community with Facebook. |
| 2010 | Good Food for Good Sports funded by a Queensland Community Partnership Grant. |
| 2010 | QAST introduces major new service for members- the Menu Health Check providing an annual report on menu performance in relation to Guidelines. |
| 2010 | Emenu tool developed and launched providing a free online menu design tool funded by Gambling Community Benefit Fund. |
| 2009 | QAST becomes a Registered Training Organisation and launches its Food Safety Supervisor Course training over 500 convenors in its first year. |
| 2008 | Swimmingly Good Food Project funded by a Queensland Community Partnership Grant. |
| 2008 | Survey of Queensland Tuckshops completed funded by the BUPA Health Foundation. |
| 2008 | QAST publishes Over the Counter: A Collection of Recipes Ideal for Canteens funded by the Gambling Community Benefit Fund. |
| 2006 | QAST publishes first issue of the Talking Tuckshops magazine. |
| 2006 | Smart Choices Regional Presentations delivered in partnership with QCPCA. |
| 2005 | New QAST website launched. |
| 2005 | QAST is a lead agency assisting tuckshops to implement Smart Choices receiving funding from Education Queensland and Queensland Health to deliver additional services. |
| 2004 | Fresh Ideas For Fundraising Project funded by Health Promotion Queensland and One Harvest. |
| 2003 | QAST Trade Directory launched with support of Gambling Community Benefit Fund. |
| 2002 | Food Safety Summit. |
| 2002 | Inaugural Townsville Trade Fair. |
| 2001 | Queensland School Breakfast Project funded by the Department of Health and Ageing. |
| 2000 | QAST Business Plan developed with assistance of Gaming Machine Benefit Fund. |
| 1999 | Food Safety in Tuckshops Project. |
| 1998 | QAST hosts the inaugural Queensland Tuckshop Convenor of the Year Awards. |
| 1998 | Survey completed of all Queensland Tuckshops. |
| 1997 | QAST co-hosts the Inaugural Total Tuckshop Conference in Brisbane in conjunction with the Australian Nutrition Foundation’s Annual Trade Fair. |
| 1997 | Regional Tours commenced and continued until 2000. |
| 1996 | QAST becomes an incorporated Association. |
| 1996 | Queensland School Breakfast Project- Parents funded by Queensland Health and Golden Casket. |
| 1995 | First Annual General Meeting of the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops is held |
Get involved with QAST
QAST welcomes everyone’s involvement in the organisation. Consider;
- Becoming a member of QAST
- Taking up a position on the QAST Management Committee
- Choosing to advertise to our members
- Attending a QAST event or Tuckshop Network Meeting
- Volunteering for a QAST research project.