QAST exists to support tuckshops
The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) is a not-for-profit membership association working with Queensland school communities to build capacity in tuckshops and improve health outcomes for children.
Our vision is Healthy tuckshops, healthy schools, healthy children and we exist to support Queensland tuckshops to serve sustainable, affordable, nutritious and safe food choices.
Our members
The Association’s membership base is comprised of individual school tuckshops from State, Independent and Catholic schooling sectors across Queensland.
These members range from small school tuckshops located in remote locations providing meals one day per week, to large secondary schools and colleges in metropolitan or regional centres providing food services to over 2,000 students and teaching personnel daily.
Over 400 schools choose to support and benefit from QAST membership.
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.
Deanne Wooden
Chief Executive Officer
Deanne oversees the QAST team and is a qualified dietitian-nutritionist with over 20 years in the government, non-government, education and health sectors, progressing public health nutrition initiatives aiming to keep Queenslanders healthy. Promoting healthy eating for children is a mission for Deanne, not just a job. She loves cooking good food, serving the community, and volunteers in her children's schools P&C and tuckshops.
Karen Tobin
Administration Manager
Karen has been with QAST for over 15 years. She is your first point of contact at QAST. Karen is a Food Safety Supervisor and has a Certificate IV in Co-ordination of Volunteer Programs. Karen is passionate about working with convenors to help them achieve their goals, she also enjoys creating a range of volunteer resources.
Chrissy Buzzard
Communications Manager
Chrissy joined QAST in 2021 bringing with her over 10 years' experience in communications and marketing for not-for-profit, membership associations. With a Bachelor of Journalism, Cert IV in Project Management and vast experience in the digital space, Chrissy loves working collaboratively and has a passion for developing healthy eating habits for children.
Natalie Farrugia
Project Officer
Natalie joined QAST in 2022 as a volunteer and has been working casually with us since 2023. 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 delivers QAST member services and Healthier Tuckshops activities.
Keryn ONeill
Senior Training Officer
Keryn joined QAST in 2024, joining after seven years teaching Health and Nutrition, plus Business Studies at The University of Queensland. She is a qualified nutritionist and has a passion for healthy eating in a safe and sustainable environment. Keryn has a long career in both the food and education industries and has worked as a tuckshop volunteer for 15 years. She’s also very interested in innovation in food and cooking in a healthy environment.
Our Management Committee
The Management Committee is responsible for the administration and strategic planning of the Association’s activities on behalf of the members.
The Committee is made up of a diverse group of people and includes tuckshop convenors, community members and parent body representatives.
This group provides valuable insight into all aspects of tuckshop operations and their role in the community to ensure the Association remains representative of its members and relevant to current issues in the sector.
2024 Committee
Madonna Jardine
President
Cavendish Road State High School, Co-Tuckshop Convenor
Candice Coopmans
Vice President
Wellington Point State High School, Tuckshop Convenor
Lorie Robinson
Vice President
Community Representative
Barbara Radcliffe
Treasurer
Community Representative
Deanne O'Neill
Convenor Representative
Currajong State School, Tuckshop Convenor
Tania-Lea Nelson
Convenor Representative
Wooloowin State School, Tuckshop Convenor
Megan Towner
Convenor Representative
Ferny Grove State High School, Tuckshop Convenor
Kim Wood
Convenor Representative
Yugumbir State School, Tuckshop Convenor
Raelene Akers
Convenor Representative
Dalby South State School, Tuckshop Convenor
Katie Jorss
Community Representative
Queensland University of Technology
Donna Prez
Community Representative
Westside Christian College
Cathy Condon
Parent Body Representative
Catholic School Parents Qld
Timothy Horne
Parent Body Representative
P&Cs Qld
Health & Wellbeing Queensland
In 2021, QAST secured a 3-year contract from 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.
The Healthier Tuckshops Program is one of six programs that are funded through Health and Wellbeing Queensland.
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 |
|---|---|
| 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 | 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 |
How QAST can help you
Phone Helpline
The QAST team is just a phone call away to assist you with your tuckshop questions.
Recipes & Menus
Take a look at our recipes and sample menus. Our selection is continuously growing.
Resources
Check out our online resources to support the successful running of your tuckshop.
Personalised Consultations
Make use of our free Book-a-Chat, Menu Health Checks and Tuckshop Tuneup/Mini Tuckshop Tuneup services.
Training Courses
We offer a variety of quality training courses for tuckshop staff to expand their skills.
Networking
Our tuckshop network meetings are held across Queensland to share ideas and experiences, while our Facebook page connects tuckshop staff, managers and volunteers.
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
- Becoming a corporate sponsor or advertise to members
- Attending a QAST Convention or Tuckshop Network Meeting
- Volunteering for a QAST research project.
